Former AFL star Devon Smith eyes golfing career

A surprise career change could be on the horizon for a recently retired AFL star. And his new coach is backing him to go bigger than he might have ever dreamt.

Former AFL footballer Devon Smith has set his sights on an exciting career change into the golfing world.

The 29-year-old is in the second year of completing a three-year PGA Professional course which would put him a step closer to breaking into the sport.

Smith began the theory component of the PGA course in 2022 while he was at Essendon.

His first ever golf round came in 2018 when he arrived at the Bombers and took up an opportunity to play at the Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club through their initiative with AFL clubs which supports players in playing golf in their leisure time.

After entering his first three rounds, Smith received a handicap of 15 which has quickly fallen to as low as +1.5 in less than six years.

Devon Smith in action on the first tee at Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club. Picture: Max Hatzoglou

Asked if golf would be a career path he would pursue Smith said it was a possibility.

“I’m still playing footy down at Lara this year as a player-coach,” Smith said.

“In between that, playing golf and it’s a wait and see. It’s not like I have ambitions to go and play anywhere but I am not saying the door is fully shut on that.

“People think if you’re a scratch golfer and you should be on tour. There is a massive difference there.

“People don’t realise how good they are and what it takes to get to a +5 handicap and then actually go play and do qualifying school and get on tour and all that stuff.

“It’s quite hard, there’s levels to it.”

Smith played 109 games with the inaugural Greater Western Sydney side before moving to Essendon where the midfielder-forward won a best and fairest in his first season and played 73 matches.

Smith’s golfing mentor Geoff Ross, who has been a member of the PGA for more than 25 years, fancied his chances at reaching the highest level.

“Dev has accelerated real quickly with his golf,” Ross said.

“That basically comes down to his sporting background.

“Being an elite sportsman, he has got the discipline, the know how, the endeavour to do it and the passion.

Devon Smith (right) with his golfing mentor Geoff Ross. Picture: Max Hatzoglou

“He has got really good passion which half the guys that I see in my world don’t have the same passion that Dev has for golf.

“So obviously he has the type of personality that when he gets a hold for it, he just runs riot.

“Golf wise, he is elite at this stage.

“There is no limit on what Dev wants to be, that’s up to him.

“Who knows, in three or four years he might go and play on tour.

“He has the ability to do it, it’s up to him.”

Devon Smith is working with the Pro Shop team at Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club as part of his PGA Professional course. Callan Stone, Devon Smith, Geoff Ross and Paul Battaglia pictured.

Ross said Smith was at the “right age” to go for a career in golf at 29.

“Young guys take five, six, seven years to get that elite development in any sport. They’re travelling and it’s all the infrastructure behind it,” he said.

“So the travelling, living away from home, the looking after yourself, he has had that with football so that wouldn’t be a big transition for golf.

“So I think age is good for him, it’s ticked a few boxes.”

Asked if he would go on the PGA tour or LIV golf circuit, Smith said he would take any of the two opportunities.

“Bit more money in LIV golf isn’t there,” he laughed.

“I mean either would be good.

“It would be pretty cool to travel around the world and play golf.

“I saw something the other day which showed where PGA pros play around the world, how far they travel and how many events they play.

“There are plenty of events.”

Devon Smith in action on the first tee at Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club. Picture: Max Hatzoglou

Smith said if a career in golf didn’t eventuated he would take great pleasure out of coaching.

“There is a lot of opportunity in golf for coaching,” he said.

“Naturally I have always got something out of teaching things to people and watching people actually get better.

“Golf’s very technical so if you can give them a little clue here and there to make it a little bit easier for them, I really think that side of the game is really cool.”

Smith was grateful for the initiative at the Mt Derrimut Golf and Community which gave him and other AFL footballers the opportunity to the play golf in their spare time.

“I think back in the day, clubs were a bit hesitant on boys playing golf and being on their feet,” he said.

“But especially if you got carts, there is nothing better, especially in this day and age with how tough it is mentally on players, to get out and do something outdoors with your mates for four or five hours.

“You don’t think about anything else so it’s a great mental relief for boys and obviously they have fun so it’s massive for the industry.

Club PGA professional Geoff Ross, member Paul Nelson, Devon Smith, Jake Stringer in action at the Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club. Picture: Geoff Ross Facebook.

“It’s something that I think AFL clubs are utilising and encouraging people to get out a lot more especially with the scrutiny these days.”

Through the initiative, Smith has spent many hours on the course at Mt Derrimut playing with former teammate Jake Stringer, former Western Bulldogs footballer Tory Dickson and a number of other players.

He has also played with Australian professional golfer Lucas Herbert who incredibly shot seven under par on a windy day at Mt Derrimut on one occasion.

The next steps for Smith were completing the playing component of the PGA course this year which would see him competing in more competitions.