The dream of every golf-club pro is to own his or her own golf course. That dream came true recently for Silver Creek pro Tim Smith.
He and his course superintendent, Billy Henson, took over ownership of the golf course part of Silver Creek Plantation on April 1.
Prior to that, the course was owned by the Bristol family, who remain the owners of the housing development.
Silver Creek's layout, designed by Tom Jackson, was a hit with golfers from the beginning and features some of the finest greens in western North Carolina.
Smith and Henson plan to keep Silver Creek in the same condition golfers have come to expect and even improve it.
Smith came on board as the club's pro in 1992, when the first phase of the course's construction began. After a short lull in the construction, work resumed and the course was completed in 1995.
Prior to that, Smith spent 17 years at Mimosa Hills, first as an assistant to Joe Cheves and later as a co-pro with Dan Dobson. Before that, he played at the Rutherfordton Golf Club and also worked for Leroy Mull there in his home county.
Smith took up the game at an early age, as he played with his dad, who was a 5-6 handicapper. Smith was shooting in the 1970s as an early teenager and was a four-year player on the East Rutherford High varsity team. The team was a power in the old WNC Activity Association during those years and featured six strong players.
At 19, Mull told him about an opening at Mimosa and after meeting with Cheves, he was given the job.
Cheves became not only a boss but a mentor and great role model for the Rutherford County teen. When I met with him Saturday, we spent a lot of our time remembering Cheves.
Smith made the comment that he thought Cheves was one of those people who "wasn't supposed to die." I'm sure we've all felt that way toward someone. We both agreed we had never met anyone in golf quite like Cheves.
The first time Smith played at Mimosa Hills was a memorable experience. He was in the Pro Shop when Billy Joe Patton came in and asked Cheves to play. "Pro," as many called Cheves, said he was busy and told his new assistant to play with the golfing legend.
Despite the pressure I'm sure he felt, the teenager shot a 76 on his new home course and over the next 35 years, became one of the best players in our area.
Twice Smith shot a 63 during his 17 years at Mimosa and he won the Burke County Open in 1979, 1980 and 1986. Over the years, he played in a number of Carolinas' Golf Association pro-ams.
Along with Quaker Meadows Golf Director John Green and Dobson, Smith plays an important role in putting on the Burke County Open.
He was in the championship flight of the event this weekend.
Roy Waters is a sports columnist for The News Herald. Waters was baseball and basketball coach at Salem High School from 1955-66, where his teams won 18 championships. In 2007, he was inducted into the Burke County Sports Hall of Fame.
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