Ron “Red” Smith had a proper excuse for not defending his Connecticut Amateur Championship in 1967. He was serving a 13-month deployment with the Marine Corps in Vietnam. He had won the title the year before, beating Dick Siderowf at Brooklawn CC. It wasn’t the first time Smith was unable to defend the Amateur crown. After defeating John Gentile for the title at Wethersfield CC in 1964, he missed the 1965 tournament because he was leading the University of Houston to the NCAA championship along with 2000 Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Grant.
His stint in Vietnam delayed but did not deter a successful amateur and professional golf career, which accounts for his election to the Hall of Fame.
The state Amateur was not Smith’s only major triumph in 1964. He also won the New England Amateur at Portland (NH) CC and was recognized as the New England Amateur Golfer of the Year by the Boston Sportswriters Alliance.
While still an amateur at Manchester CC he won the Wethersfield Invitational in 1966, and partnered with Peter Zaccagnino to win the New England Four Ball, the Wachusetts Four Ball in 1966, and the Connecticut Pro-Am with his home club professional Alex Hackney. After leaving Vietnam, Smith won the All-Eastern Marine Corps and All-Marine Corps Championships and the All-Service Championship in 1968.
In 1969, Smith turned professional and joined Hackney as an assistant at Manchester in 1970. He won the Manchester Open that year and the CT Section Pro-Pro with John Sutter in 1971. Among his individual championships as a professional were the New Hampshire Open in 1978, the Maine PGA six times and the Spudland Open twice. He was a Monday qualifier on the PGA Tour in 1974-76 and played in two U.S. Opens and one PGA.
As a new pro in 1969, Smith narrowly missed earning his PGA Tour card in the Qualifying School at Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The top six after 72 holes made the Tour.
“I was paired with Johnny Miller for the last two rounds, and was leading the field after 54 holes,” Smith said. “I made an 8 on the final hole, and although I’m not absolutely sure, I think that let Johnny get his card. As fate would have it, that was the best 8 I ever made because it allowed me to return to Connecticut and go to work for Alex.
He started as a caddie at Manchester at 11. In high school he worked for Alex in the golf shop washing and repairing clubs. “He was my mentor really,” said Smith. “I used to shag balls for him during lessons and he would give me pointers.”
Smith left the state in 1971. After a year as an assistant at Shaker Farms (MA) CC and two at Westchester Hills (NY) CC, he moved to Webhannet (CC) in Maine where he worked for three decades before retiring as professional and club manager in 2004. From 1976-88, he worked as the head teaching professional at Pine Tree (FL) GC during the winter.
He and his wife Betty, who won the Maine Women’s Amateur title in 1968, still live in Kennebunk, ME. They have a daughter and two grandchildren.
