Golf in the family

The Smith family can say they grew up on golf courses. Ron Smith, owner of the independent insurance agency Smith Sawyer Smith Inc., in Rochester, Ind., and his brother, Terry Smith, grew up on a small 9-hole golf course where they played every week with their father. As adults, their children also “grew-up” on the golf course.

Two of Terry’s sons decided to make golf their career. Terry’s son Chris Smith splits his time between the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, while son Todd serves as the resident golf pro at the Rock Hollow Golf Club in Peru, Ind., a 300-acre public course owned by Terry and Todd.

Terry, Todd and Chris even live on the Rock Hollow course in a newly built golf course-adjacent subdivision called Rock Hollow Estates.

Ron’s son Craig grew up playing competitive golf with his cousin, Chris, and was ranked one of the top 10 golfers in the state in high school. He enjoys playing golf today, Ron said.

“I was in the construction business when I was raising my family, and Sunday was the only day I didn’t work,” Terry recalled. “Sunday was my day with the family. We went to church on Sunday mornings, and if I wanted to play golf and be with my family, I had to combine them. So I started dragging my kids to the golf course with me, and we just got really into golf.”

When the chance arose for Terry to build his own golf course, it was a perfect fit. “My son, Todd, was a club pro at another club, and Chris was just finishing his college career and was going to turn professional and play professionally. Our other son, Terry, the oldest son, was with me in the stone business, but still played golf.”

After some soul-searching, Terry decided that because of all the ties his family had to golf, they would build their dream course.

“It’s been a family experience, really,” Ron said. “For us, it’s been a real form of enjoyment.”

Terry agreed, golf has been a blessing for the entire Smith family. “It continues to be a passion of our family, and it has afforded us a way to keep our family close to us and be able to enjoy our grandchildren and our children,” he said.