Baseball legend Ozzie Smith's love of golf led to community outreach work and lasting friendships with golf course superintendents. Photo by Jerry Naunheim
Tim Roethler saw a rather familiar face walking his way. A larger-than-life figure. He wondered, could it be?
Oh, it was.
As the GCSAA Class A golf course superintendent at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Roethler was setting up tee markers on No. 4 back in 2001. At the nearby ninth tee, Roethler looked up and witnessed one of the most legendary personalities in not just St. Louis but worldwide hopping out of a cart that included famed announcer Jack Buck. The person who exited the cart headed to Roethler with a purpose.
“I was a St. Louis Cardinals fan my entire life,” says Roethler, who now was face to face with none other than The Wizard of Oz. Not the iconic fictional film figure, of course. No, this was the real deal — Ozzie Smith — the baseball star who in a 1981 article was called The Wizard of Oz for his real-life, jaw-dropping infield play on the baseball diamond.
Since his magnificent playing days on the field ended, Smith now showcases some of his best work as a humanitarian. He’s a baseball star whose impact on communities inspired a major golf organization — the PGA of America — to implement what happened in St. Louis as a blueprint. He’s a proponent for youths to chase their dreams and a champion for veterans. And, yes, he has befriended and championed golf course superintendents.
“He shook my hand and complimented my team and I on the course conditions,” says Roethler, a 32-year GCSAA member. “He has been to several of our Mississippi Valley GCSA events. I am always impressed by how he genuinely engages and interacts with our group. In my experiences with Ozzie, I am truly impressed with how he treats everyone the same, from the team member weedeating creeks to the president of the club. He treats everyone with respect.”
Ozzie Smith received his National Baseball Hall of Fame plaque in 2002 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Photos by Milo Stewart Jr./ National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
It seems fitting that Smith has ties to Old Warson CC. That’s where Arnold Palmer played his final Ryder Cup on U.S. soil, in 1971. Palmer, meanwhile, was the first person GCSAA selected to receive the Old Tom Morris Award, back in 1983.
Forty-one years later, this is happening: Smith is GCSAA’s Old Tom Morris Award recipient for 2025. “When they called me and told me about this award, I said, ‘Who, me?’ But it’s great,” says Smith, the Hall of Famer who is considered in many circles as the best shortstop in history. “I’m just a baseball player that has gotten the opportunity to do all these things. I just give back where I can, to these kids, kids that may not get to experience anything like this in golf.”
The Old Tom Morris Award is presented annually to individuals who, through a continuing lifetime commitment to the game of golf, have helped to mold the welfare of the game in a manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris. Morris was a four-time British Open winner and legendary greenkeeper at St Andrews in Scotland.
“After a stellar major league career, Ozzie embodies the same passion and dedication to the game of golf,” says GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. “His ongoing efforts to grow the game, including for underserved youths, have buoyed communities and exemplify what the Old Tom Morris Award represents. In the process, he has formed friendships and developed a deep respect and appreciation for the numerous golf course superintendents he continues to interact with along the way. He’s a true ambassador for the game.”
Smith will be honored Feb. 6 at the Send-Off Celebration presented in partnership with John Deere at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego. When asked whether Smith might try one of those trademark backflips he showcased during his playing career at the conference, the man who turns 70 this month laughed and said, “I’ve got one word for you. YouTube.”
Smith (right) with legendary Negro Leagues baseball manager Buck O’Neil of the Kansas City Monarchs.
Trading bats for clubs
This version of Smith intrigues Flint Fowler, Ph.D. He likes it. So does the community that benefits from Smith’s presence to make their lives better.
Smith’s transformation from baseball to becoming a significant figure in golf is impressive. He is one of the all-time greats in baseball at shortstop and won 13 consecutive Rawlings Gold Gloves and played in 15 All-Star games with the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. Smith holds the MLB record that still stands for most assists in a season with 621 in 1980. Fast-forward to today: Smith now hits it out of the park in a different sport by serving as a staunch supporter for golf and, especially, youths. For the past 15 years, Smith has served as president of Gateway PGA REACH Foundation. PGA Reach’s vision is to improve lives through the community of golf. Three pillars of its impact are youth, military and inclusion.
“It’s interesting the Ozzie we’ve seen on the baseball field and now this way, seeing how engaged he is with the kids at the club playing golf. Most kids only know him as a golfer and are too young to know him as a baseball player,” says Fowler, president, at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. “I think he’s the ideal sort of ambassador because so many people connect with him. Good character, connected to the city and the region, and he wants to see people prosper, and he cares for the welfare of the kids. It’s important for the community to appreciate the commitment of his work, the impact he has on the community, the children and ultimately making sure there is access for kids and the community.”
After retiring from baseball in 1996, Smith found his second calling. Former Cardinals teammate Ricky Horton imagines Smith takes his role to grow golf with vigor because of his work ethic. “Most determined player maybe I ever met. He wasn’t the biggest guy on the field but found a way to play at the highest level,” says Horton, former pitcher. “A complete player who did it all with hard work.”
Those kids who now recognize him with a golf club in his hand benefit from somebody who never picked up a club in his youth, spending most of that time in Los Angeles as a child who experienced the Watts riots. “When I grew up, golf was not part of our lexicon. Period. It was baseball, basketball and football. That was the out for a lot of kids in the inner city,” Smith says.
Smith never forgot his youth. He sees how sports like golf can offer opportunities to young people. “I want to be proud of the community in which I live,” Smith says, “and I know if my community is going to be better, I have to be part of that solution. And, here again, it’s with a team concept, because if everybody contributes their part, hopefully it makes the team and the city a much better place to live.”
Smith, known for his fielding prowess, developed into a solid switch hitter. Photo by Taka Yanagimoto/St. Louis Cardinals
Taking his swings and hitting a homer with the PGA of America
One swing of the bat — oops, golf club — and Smith was smitten.
Smith was asked to hit the first shot at a golf event named for his Cardinals manager, Whitey Herzog. The issue? He had never played. After multiple practice sessions, Smith dug it. “I got the feel for it,” he says. When the time came to hit that first tee shot at the Herzog outing, he made his former boss proud. “I went out that day, and the first ball I hit was right down the middle. I was hooked for life,” says Smith, whose 6 handicap indicates he’s got game.
That golf passion transcended his life, and he hopes it translates to others. It has.
The PGA of America was in search of a sports city to create a powerful impact for its communities. The organization found it, thanks in part to Smith’s presence and passion. A monumental collaboration between management at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis and the Gateway PGA Foundation brought the 2018 PGA Championship to Bellerive CC. And that, ultimately, created a new mission statement for the foundation that focused on education, diversity and veterans, such as PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), which is a flagship military program of PGA REACH. The name of the Gateway PGA Foundation was rebranded as Gateway PGA REACH Foundation, and it became the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of the Foundation is to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf.
The new direction elevated the region and boosted the community. Smith would announce a generous donation by the membership of Bellerive CC of $155,971 from proceeds of the PGA Championship. A large portion of the donation went to the operational and supply needs of Best Buy Teen Tech Center, housed within the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. The Center offers teens free, year-round, hands-on technology access and education in an after-school setting. Best Buy works with nonprofit partners and local businesses for low-income youth from underserved communities.
Bellerive CC GM/CEO Carlos Arraya, CGCS, met Smith during the PGA Championship. Smith sought out Arraya to say hello. “He’s one of a kind. He talked to me like he knew me his whole life,” says Arraya, a 26-year GCSAA member. “He changed a city. He said how amazing it was how we (Arraya and his team) represented St. Louis in such a professional way.”
Smith with his children, son Dustin Smith (left); daughter Taryn Smith; and son Nikko Smith (right). Photo courtesy of Debbie Dennler
Smith — whose annual Ozzie & Friends Gala & Pro-Am earmarks proceeds to support programs at the PGA REACH Foundation and in the past has welcomed the likes of Bo Jackson, Jim Furyk and Julius Erving while raising over $200,000 a year — certainly has a way about him if you ask Ali Wells, executive director of Gateway PGA REACH Foundation.
“He’s a golf fanatic and such an advocate for the game. He puts a ton of time into it in the community,” Wells says. “We serve communities that haven’t been exposed to the game of golf. He meets with kids with Down syndrome. He loves working with kids. He doesn’t just show up just every once in a while. He serves. He’s always willing to give back. He came out this summer for the junior tour and the First Tee. He’s opened doors for us, brainstormed at meetings, stays up to speed. He gets pulled a million different directions and still cares to spend this amount of time with us. His energy, his passion, surprises me every day.”
The good work continues. Part of Smith’s efforts are with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. For four years, the organization has partnered with PGA Reach Gateway and its Play Through Capital Campaign to raise funds for a $13 million golf training facility to build a golf training and mentoring center for urban youth at the site of an old carburetor factory.
“Like when I became president, I felt that it (golf) was something that if kids were exposed to, and I feel this for all kids, exposing kids at an early age to the game, and not only the game but the business of golf as well, they can find something in their lives that can be very rewarding, whether it be as a golf course superintendent or a teaching pro,” Smith says.
Smith spends time with those in the community. He is a major supporter of veterans. Photos courtesy of Ozzie Smith
Super with superintendents
The Old Tom Morris Award for Smith comes with Honorary Member status to GCSAA. It seems as if he has been part of the association for years, considering the time he spends with superintendents.
“He has enjoyed getting to know superintendents,” says Mike Carron, 38-year association member who is the GCSAA Class A superintendent at Meadowbrook Country Club in Ballwin, Mo. “I know he appreciates what we do. Whenever we’re with him, he spends time with us. It was a little intimidating first meeting him, but he is such a nice guy, a lot of fun. When he plays with us, he’s very competitive, as you could imagine. He likes to razz.”
Smith was introduced to the superintendent crowd over two decades ago when he met George Hobbs. Territory manager for Textron’s E-Z-GO and based in the Kansas City area, he and Smith hit it off and remain tight. Smith comes to KC on occasion and plays golf with Hobbs, who makes it over to the St. Louis area on business and connects there with Smith and superintendents.
“They (superintendents) are my customers. I have Ozzie at outings for the superintendents, and he knows a bunch of them. He loves them. Superintendents are regular people, and he took a liking to them,” says Hobbs, who says that Smith has done speaking engagements for E-Z-GO. “I have a golf day at Boone Valley (golf club in Augusta, Mo.), and he interacts with them, like he’s one of the boys.”
There is a picture that was taken in April 2017 in Augusta, Ga. It was shot during Masters week at the GCSAA Board of Directors’ rental home there. “Ozzie surprised the Board when he swung by and saw them,” Hobbs says. “That’s Ozzie. He’s a very giving person. He doesn’t want recognition, but he has helped the game of golf. He wants to make a difference in kids’ lives.”
It sounds as if Smith’s background of being part of a professional baseball team is something he and superintendents have in common. GCSAA Class A superintendent Rob Kick at St. Louis Country Club says, “I think he understands we’re part of a team that provides excellent conditions. I think he relates to that pretty well,” says the 25-year association member.
As for Carron, it’s a coin flip as to who has cherished the time spent with Smith more — Carron or his 90-year-old father, Chauncey. Thanks to the Hobbs connection, the Carrons, including two other family members, got to play with Smith in Augusta at West Lake Country Club during Masters week in 2015. “I grew up in St. Louis and watched him my whole life,” Mike Carron says about Smith. “It was a highlight for him (Carron’s father) to play with Ozzie. My dad still talks about it.”
Youths are front and center for Smith often, whether it be in baseball or golf.
Mount Rushmore, some advice and another star someday?
Dan O’Neill has a handle on what Smith was. And is.
“A Mount Rushmore of beloved figures in St. Louis Sports history would have prominent space for Ozzie Smith. On the field, The Wizard was one of the few I’ve seen that — on his own — was worth the price of admission. And in his post-playing career, he has become a go-to presence for promoting goodwill and supporting the community. It’s rare air for even the best of professional athletes,” says O’Neill, who spent 33 years as a sports reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and who mentioned other St. Louis sports heroes such as Lou Brock, Bob Gibson and Stan Musial in a class with Smith.
In 2002, Smith was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., 20 years after he helped St. Louis win the 1982 World Series.
Nowadays as a proponent of youth golf, including as a starter for junior league programs, he shares what he learned in his youth and into those days climbing the ladder in his profession. “I always leave kids with this: There has to be some blood, some sweat, some tears. If you’re going to be successful at anything in your life, you have to be willing to spend time,” Smith says. “You have to be committed. That’s whatever you do in your life. Because you’re only going to get out of it what you put into it.”
A father and a grandfather, including to 8-month-old Kingston (“He’s going to be my ballplayer but doesn’t know it yet,” Smith says), Smith never imagined that golf would be part of the equation someday. Thank goodness, though, that his entry into it has not only changed his life, but also so many others.
“I didn’t see it coming. But, here again, this is where I’m supposed to be,” Smith says. “The recognition comes to me because of my name, but it’s the people behind the scenes that do all the hard work.
“I just got into this trying to bring awareness that would give kids an opportunity. Hopefully, these kids will give something back when they go forward, no matter how far they go. Some of them may go work at golf courses through their experience here. We’re doing things that give people the opportunity to better themselves in life.”
What else did you expect from a wizard?
Ozzie Smith was famous for performing his trademark backflip during games, beginning during his time as an infielder for the San Diego Padres. Photo by Taka Yanagimoto/St. Louis cardinals
Flippin' cool
One false move and Marvella Smith, mother of Ozzie Smith, likely would’ve put an end to the backflip before it ever happened.
On the final day of the 1978 season when he played for the San Diego Padres, Smith literally took to the air as the Padres infielder departed the dugout and headed to shortstop by launching a backflip that he first tried in baseball during spring training that season. Fast-forward to the last regular-season game when Smith gave the fans an eyeful.
“People liked it so much, and they (Padres) asked me to do it again opening day next year. Lo and behold, the trademark was born,” he says.
It might never have happened if he hadn’t already cemented his acrobatic ways. Growing up, Smith lived across the street from a business that built pallets, so sawdust was plentiful. He and friends used to go over and tumble into sawdust. Sometimes they found old mattresses for cushions. The trampoline at the local family center was another springboard Smith enjoyed. Then there was this. “We had a 4-foot fence with twisted spikes we jumped over. If you didn’t make it, it wouldn’t be pretty — and mama wouldn’t like it. It gave me incentive to jump higher. I never missed,” Smith says.
He was fearless. “It was something I was able to do and do with confidence because I could jump over that fence,” he says.
His only concern for those career backflips, whether opening day or even in the World Series? “I did not want to be labeled a hotdog,” Smith says.
Today, the backflip lives on in the form of a drink. BackFlip All-Star Craft Cocktails began in 2023 in partnership with Smith for his annual Ozzie & Friends Gala and Pro-Am benefitting The PGA REACH Gateway Foundation. The cocktail is being brought to market as a line of ready-to-drink cocktails.
Howard Richman (hrichman@gcsaa.org) is GCM’s associate editor.