Hugh McKinley Smith, Jr.

I am originally from Seaside in the Monterey Peninsula of Northern California and a golfer at heart. My home was approx 10 minutes from Pebble Beach Golf Club, where I was lucky enough to play, practice and caddie as a young man. Upon graduating high school as a top golf recruit, I arrived at Jackson State University on an academic and athletic scholarship in 1993. I went on to work in Colorado as a Grants Manager for the United States Golf Association and then in New York for the Metropolitan Golf Association/Foundation. For the last 7 years I have been the Executive Director for the First Tee of Phoenix, non-profit organization which is made possible by the Phoenix Thunderbirds who coordinate the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale. Our goal is to impact the lives of young people in Maricopa County by creating affordable and accessible golf to serve young people who have not previously had exposure to the game of golf and develop essential values, such as honesty, integrity, respect for tradition, etiquette, sportsmanship, self-esteem, self-discipline, confidence and a solid work ethic in young people – all values inherent in the game of golf. Currently The First Tee of Phoenix is impacting over 70,000 youth a year.