Rick Smith Golf Performance Center

What Rick Smith Golf Performance Center does

Rick Smith Golf is a private, founder-led premium golf instruction and course design enterprise built around the personal brand of Rick Smith, a four-decade veteran instructor ranked #2 in the world by PGA Tour players in a 2009 Golf Digest poll and consistently in the global top 10 since 2000. The business serves three primary customer segments: serious amateur golfers seeking premium instruction, professional PGA Tour players requiring elite coaching, and high-net-worth golf enthusiasts purchasing exclusive retreat experiences. Primary service delivery sites include the Rick Smith Golf Academy at Trump National Los Angeles and the Rick Smith Golf School at Turning Stone Resort Casino (Verona, NY), the latter priced at $6,000 per student for a two-day program limited to six golfers. Elite retreats such as the co-branded Rocco Mediate & Rick Smith experience at Calusa Pines extend the offering into all-inclusive premium hospitality formats. Underlying instructional technology is centered on state-of-the-art swing analysis video tools rather than proprietary software or AI systems.

The business operates five distinct revenue streams: fee-based golf instruction (professional services), elite retreats (professional services), golf course design including nine award-winning USA courses plus international joint projects (licensing/royalties), legacy television content licensing (e.g., 'The Rick Smith Signature Series' on ESPN International, TSN, Fox Sports Net, plus Golf Channel's 'Dream Team of Instructors' content), and brand partnerships/endorsements. The golf course design arm operates through a long-standing strategic partnership with Phil Mickelson Golf Course Design Group, producing joint international projects in Canada, China, and Bali.

Distribution is relationship-driven and event-driven rather than scaled marketing: direct booking via email, dedicated landing pages, and personal follow-up. Marketing leverages decades of television exposure, the @ricksmithgolf Instagram and Twitter/X accounts, Golf Digest editorial positioning as a teaching editor, and brand-amplifying partnerships with Trump resorts, Turning Stone Resort Casino, and Calusa Pines Golf Club. A significant operational event occurred in December 2024 when Rick Smith closed his flagship Golf Performance Center at Trump National Doral (opened January 1, 2018) and refocused the business on course design and elite retreats. The company is managed commercially by SportFive sports marketing agency with agent Eddie Smith handling media and business inquiries; there are no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or public listing.

Name

Rick Smith Golf Performance Center

Legal name

Rick Smith Golf

Website

https://ricksmithgpc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rick Smith Golf is a private, founder-led premium golf instruction and course design firm. It serves serious amateurs, PGA Tour professionals, and high-net-worth enthusiasts through academies, elite retreats, and award-winning course design across North America and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Golf Instruction Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Golf instruction services
• Golf course design
• Elite golf retreats
• Swing analysis coaching
• Private golf academies

Headquarters

HQ city

Verona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Golf Instruction and Schools: Premium golf instruction services offered through golf schools, academies, and private lessons. Revenue generated from fee-based instruction programs at resort locations.
2. Elite Golf Retreats: Exclusive, all-inclusive retreat experiences delivering intimate access to Rick Smith at luxury golf destinations. Premium pricing for comprehensive golf improvement experiences.
3. Golf Course Design: Award-winning golf course design services including design, consulting, and construction oversight for resort, public, and private courses worldwide.
4. Television and Media Content: Golf instruction television programming including 'The Rick Smith Signature Series' (ESPN International, TSN, Fox Sports Net) and Golf Channel content. Revenue from content licensing and broadcast deals.
5. Brand Partnerships and Endorsements: Brand ambassador activities and endorsement relationships leveraging Rick Smith's reputation and client relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rick Smith Golf Performance Center delivers premium, personalized golf instruction through elite golf schools, academies, and exclusive retreats at premier resort venues (Trump National Los Angeles, Turning Stone Resort). The business also offers award-winning golf course design, consulting, and construction oversight for resort, public, and private courses worldwide. Instruction leverages state-of-the-art swing analysis video technology, minimal student-to-teacher ratios, and on-course strategy sessions at Rick Smith-designed layouts.

Product overview

Rick Smith Golf Performance Center operates as a multi-faceted golf instruction and experience business offering three core product lines: (1) Golf instruction programs at physical academies using state-of-the-art swing analysis video technology and personalized coaching for all skill levels; (2) Exclusive golf retreats and schools including the Rick Smith Golf School at Turning Stone Resort and Elite Retreats; (3) Golf course design services with nine award-winning courses designed in the USA and ongoing international projects with Phil Mickelson Golf Course Design. Additionally, the business includes a television content brand (The Rick Smith Signature Series) and an instructional book publication. The flagship Golf Performance Center at Trump National Doral operated from January 2018 to December 2024, with current instruction available at Trump National Los Angeles and Turning Stone Resort.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rick Smith Golf School at Turning Stone Resort Casino Exclusive two-day golf school at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, limited to six golfers. Includes 12 hours of instruction covering full swing fundamentals, short game, putting, bunker play, practice methods, and on-course strategy at the Shenendoah Golf Course designed by Rick Smith. Priced at $6,000 per student.
• Golf Course Design Services Award-winning golf course architecture services including design, consulting, and construction oversight. Nine courses designed in the USA including Threetops, Treetops Signature Course, Arcadia Bluffs, Wuskowhan Player's Club, and the Sharf Course at Oakland University. Ongoing projects in Canada and Bali through Phil Mickelson Golf Course Design partnership.
• Rick Smith Elite Retreats Intimate, all-inclusive golf experiences delivering unparalleled access to Rick Smith in relaxed settings focused on instruction, playing, conversation, and memorable experiences at premier golf destinations. Includes co-branded retreats such as Rocco Mediate & Rick Smith at Calusa Pines.
• Rick Smith Golf Academy at Trump National Los Angeles Golf instruction programs at Trump National Los Angeles offering customized programs for all golfers from beginners to PGA Tour players with elite instructors. Uses fundamentals-focused instruction, club-fitting analysis, minimal student-to-teacher ratios, and state-of-the-art swing analysis video technology.

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, former flagship and minor.

• Phil Mickelson Golf Course DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership with Phil Mickelson for golf course design. Rick Smith is partner in Phil Mickelson Golf Course Design Group. Joint projects include Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Canada, Aqua Championship Course in Kunming, China, and Mickelson Shanghai International. Currently building courses in Canada and Bali together.
• Trump National Doralformer flagshipOthersHost venue for Rick Smith Golf Performance Center from January 2018 until December 2024. The flagship Golf Performance Center was located at Trump National Doral, creating one of the premier instructional destinations in the world.
• Trump National Los AngelescoreOthersCurrent venue partnership for Rick Smith Golf Academy at Trump National Los Angeles. Offers customized programs for all golfers from beginners to PGA Tour players.
• Turning Stone Resort CasinocoreOthersPremier golf destination host for Rick Smith Golf School. Recognized as one of America's premier golf destinations. Host venue for exclusive two-day golf schools limited to six golfers.
• SportFivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSports marketing and management agency representing Rick Smith. Managed by SportFive team including agent Eddie Smith. Handles media and business inquiries.
• Calusa Pines Golf ClubminorOthersHost venue for exclusive 'Rocco Mediate & Rick Smith' retreat experiences. Co-branded intimate golf retreats at this private venue.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ricksmithgolf
• Instagraminstagram.com/ricksmithgolf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rick-smith-golf-performance-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rick Smith Golf Performance Center