JAMES J. “JIM” SMITH JR.
PGA Director of Golf
The Philadelphia Cricket Club
Flourtown, Pennsylvania
Birthplace: Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania
Birth Date: Sept. 12, 1967
Turned Professional: 1990
PGA Section: Philadelphia
PGA Membership: 1994
Jim Smith Jr. was introduced to golf by his father, and attended Villanova University before transferring to Temple University. While in college he started a successful painting business which allowed him to pursue his love of golf while earning money to attend school.
He graduated in 1990 from Temple with a degree in Finance & Economics in 1990, and took a job in sales. Six months later he decided to pursue a career in golf. In the spring of 1991 he became an assistant to Fred Philipps at the Riverton Country Club. After one season at Riverton, Smith became the PGA Apprentice Head Professional at Abington Country Club in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, where he spent five years.
In 1996, Smith became PGA Director of Golf & General Manager at Talamore Country Club in Ambler, Pennsylvania. At Talamore, Smith hired a superb staff of teaching professionals and founded the Talamore Golf Academy as golf instruction became the focal point of the club.
During his 10 years at Talamore, Smith hosted numerous tournaments, seminars and meetings for the Philadelphia PGA Section. He won awards for his creative merchandising. In the fall of 2001, Smith became a member of the Section’s Board of Directors, and at the 2003 fall meeting, was elected Director of Section Affairs. He held that office for two years and he was the Section vice president for two years. He was elected Section President in 2007, serving as the Philadelphia PGA’s 37th president. During his presidency the Section started the Club Association and Junior PGA Team Match programs, among others. Smith was a delegate to the national PGA Annual Meeting four times. In 2006, Smith moved to the Philadelphia Cricket Club as its PGA Director of Golf, where he oversaw 45 holes of golf.
Among his Section honors, Smith was the 2005 PGA Golf Professional of the Year; the 2002 Merchandiser of the Year (Private Facilities); and the 2006 & 2013 Bill Strausbaugh award winner. Smith is also a member of the Jenkintown High School Hall of Fame given his successes in baseball, football, and basketball at the high school level.
Smith and his wife, Kathryn, live in Jenkintown. They have three children – Justin & Courtney (twins – 21), and Haley (20).