It’s time again to cheer on one of our own! Brian Smock, Coronado local and the pro-golf instructor at the Coronado Golf Course will be playing at the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines January 28-31. This legendary 36-hole municipal golf course facility features two famous 18-hole courses. Farmers has been sponsoring the tournament since the late 1960s.
Brian’s tee time will be posted the day before tournament play begins.
Competing here has been a life-long dream of Brian’s and he’s preparing for this dream by sticking to his routine and not overtraining.
Mentally Brian feels ready. He explained that he has played in many tournaments and has a lot of tournament experience. He says he knows full well what is needed to stay focused.
When asked how he would define success in the tournament, he responded that success would be providing a good performance, working hard, and doing his best to compete at the highest level he can.
Brian is ready to play at this elite level. He spent over ten years on the Web.com tour. The Web.com tour is a developmental tournament for players who do not score well enough to qualify for the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) tour.  A back injury had him not able to play for a while, but he is now excited to have qualified for the Farmers Insurance Open.
I learned from his website that Brian’s professional playing career spanned 18 years and took him all over the world. He played professional golf on three continents, in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Panama, Chile and Colombia.
Brian has achieved a career high world ranking of 251.
I also learned from the website that Brian has five second-place finishes on the Nationwide Tour, was the leading money winner in two different seasons on the Gateway Tour, with five first place finishes, and is a seven time finalist at PGA Tour Q School.
Brian has nine course records, seven in San Diego County. He carded his lowest round ever at Coronado Golf Course, shooting a record setting 60.
Brian has worked with many noted instructors throughout his playing career, including Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, Joe Mayo, Neil Smith, Stan Utley, Dave Stockton Jr., Kip Puterbaugh, David Orr, Dr. Jay Brunza, Gary Griggs, Scott Mahlberg, Chris O’Connell, Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott.
I asked him what it takes to be a good golfer.  He responded: “athleticism , precision, and talent.” Brian reflected that in the past, you really didn’t have to be in great physical shape, but the culture of golfing has changed. Nowadays most pro-golfers are in good overall physical condition.  He said this doesn’t really make that much of a difference when you are on the course, but it does make a difference in your ability to travel, adjust to time changes, etc.
He emphasized that you don’t have to be a world class athlete to enjoy golf. Brian enjoys teaching golf at the Coronado Golf Course.  His students are grateful for the lessons he’s taught them. Coronado residents, Tom and Lou Ann Fitch, enthused that Brian is a “very personable instructor, but also very focused.”  I got the feeling that Brian wants his students to truly make real improvements in their game.
Congratulations to Brian! I know all Coronado locals, students, and friends, are wishing him the best of luck.
Some video clips.
