JOSH SMITH

Josh's Painting of the Seventh at Ballyneal

The first time I met Josh Smith was in Valentine, NE. I had just hit a grouse with my sweet PT Cruiser rental. The grouse had gone through the grill and completely disabled the car. I pulled up in front of the hotel after the lone taxi in the area had come fetch me forty miles down the highway. I was short on cash and Josh was quick to cover the last twenty that I owed. I knew I would like the guy right away.

Josh is one of the most interesting people I have come across in the world of golf course design, construction and maintenance. He has seen the business from a wide variety of angles, but perhaps his most unique perspective stems from his immense talents as an oil painter. (Video interview after the jump)

Josh’s path in the world of golf has been long and winding. Like many in the business, Josh has worked hard to find a niche that allows him to be intimately involved in the game he loves. I see some similarities in his story and mine. First and most interesting is the effect that Pacific Dunes had on his thinking on golf course architecture and his desire to be involved in golf course design and construction. Secondly, is the kindness showed to him by the likes of Tom Doak and Mike DeVries. The world of golf is often cutthroat but I know how much effort some in the business take in fostering the dreams and ambitions of people just starting out.

The video above features a number of Josh’s paintings and Josh tells the tale of of his circuitous path in golf. For anyone considering a career in golf, it is an educational and enlightening story. The second part of the video will follow soon.