Name: Rick Smith
Title: Owner, Rick Smith Golf Academy
Company, city: Treetops Resort; Gaylord, Mich.
Number of employees: 400
Recent project: Several projects are underway in China.
First job: Teaching professionally at Toledo Country Club in 1979
Little-known fact about you: I hold the record for the PGA’s playing ability test.
Your Business
Essential business philosophy: Have a plan — a plan you believe can work — and implement that plan, which requires adjustments, until you reach your goal. Without a plan, you can’t do anything.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Preparation and awareness are the best ways to compete. Be aware of the mistakes you are making, be aware of what you have to do. The more prepared you are, the easier it is to accomplish the objective, rather than to go in unprepared. And that’s all you can expect.
Yardstick of success: Don’t look back and don’t read your press clips. Continually set new goals as you accomplish the old ones.
Rick Smith as a Traveler
What is the most important item you take when traveling? My shaving kit, with toothbrush, toothpaste, Ibuprofen and razor
How do you spend your time on board? On my flights to China, I’ve got it to where I have my glass of Champagne and then try to catch up on my rest. If I have some work to do, I will do it; but I’ve found it’s best to rest up.
What is your favorite restaurant in the world? In Hong Kong, Top of the Roof. In Shanghai, French Laundry.
What is your favorite destination in the world? Kauai if I want peace and Hong Kong if I want activity
About Rick Smith Golf Academy, Treetops Resort
As an instructor to golf pros and a course architect, what makes the courses at Treetops stand out?
We offer a world-class practice facility for all seasons, and the variety and beauty of our 81 holes of golf are second to none. All five courses are different, and each is great in its own right, from my Signature, Tradition and Treetops courses to the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed Masterpiece to the Premier Course (the only Tom Fazio-designed course in Michigan). We recently added 18 holes of foot golf, combining the best of soccer and golf, available on the front nine of the Traditions Course after 4 p.m.
What’s on offer at Treetops and in the surrounding area?
The resort offers a variety of activities for families — including skiing and snowboarding in winter — and the best golf. With several dining and lounge venues, food and beverage options are good. At the end of an active day, guests can relax and unwind at the Treetops Spa. There are also dining options in town, such as Bennethums and the Alpine Tavern, and the area offers great hiking and biking trails. The resort is only 45 minutes from Lake Michigan.
Read This Next
Lotte Hotel Seoul
2014 / February 2014
Jun 1, 2016All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Apr 23, 20246 Wellness Experiences to Try Around the World from Four Seasons
Plan a wellness-focused getaway at one of these Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts around the world.
Sponsored Content
Revel in a European Summer with AmaWaterways
Pedal through sun-drenched vineyards, hike amidst blooming wildflowers and take a refreshing dip in your ship's sun-deck whirlpool. Indulge in the flavors of the region with delectable dishes featuring luscious Wachau Valley apricots and succulent Serbian plums. As night falls, watch as the cities along the rivers come alive, pulsating with an irresistible electric energy. The sun-soaked days and vibrant nights offer a compelling reason to embark on an AmaWaterways river cruise during the upcoming summer months.
Daily
Apr 23, 2024Italian Airport Adds Vineyard to Its Roof
In Florence, Italy, plans for a new international terminal at Amerigo Vespucci Airport will include a 19-acre vineyard on its rooftop, part of the design by Rafael Viñoly Architects.
Daily
Apr 23, 2024Where to Find Some of Ireland’s Best Lighthouses
Surrounded by ocean on all sides, from the rocky Atlantic Ocean to the Irish Sea in the east and Celtic Sea in the south, Ireland’s beautiful coastlines also come with both historic and captivating lighthouses, many atop dramatic rocks and cliffs.
Sponsored Content
Why Buy Trip Cancellation Insurance?
Don’t risk losing all the money you’ve spent if you must cancel your trip at the last minute. Allianz Travel Insurance can give you:
Daily
Apr 22, 2024Meet 5 Women Shaping the Brixen/South Tyrol Travel Experience
Although a destination’s terrain, cuisine and cultural attributes always draw travelers in, it is often the people they meet that make the trip an enduring memory rather than a box to be checked off. It’s a job responsibility that people working around the Plose and adjoining town of Brixen (in Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige region) take seriously. This is even more true for five women dedicated to introducing visitors to new aspects of the time-honored ski, leisure and hiking mountain destination in the Dolomites.
Explore The Chatwal Brand from City to Countryside
Daily
Apr 22, 20247 Reasons to Put Curaçao on Your Travel List
Slideshow
Apr 22, 2024Turtle Bay Resort Partners with Salesforce
Daily
Apr 19, 2024Daily
Apr 18, 2024Fort George Hotel & Spa Transforms Belize City from Gateway to Destination
Belize City is better known as a business center and a stop en route to Belize’s lush rural destinations, but Fort George Hotel & Spa promises to change things up and reframe the nation’s capital as a destination in its own right. Located in the city’s Fort George neighborhood, the hotel debuted as the first luxury hotel in Belize City, boasting sophisticated design, elevated culinary offerings, expansive guestrooms and an inspiring wellness program. The hotel also features a branded fitness center, plunge pool and K’IN Spa.
Sponsored Content
Reconnecting the World: GBTA Convention 2023 Spotlights the Vital Role of Business Travel and In-Person Connection
In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention remains an indispensable platform for business travel industry professionals seeking to make the most of the power of face-to-face connections. Taking place August 13–15 in Dallas, the 2023 GBTA Convention provides the unique opportunity for professionals and companies to join visionaries, thought leaders and industry experts for meaningful networking, cutting-edge insights and inspiring innovation.
Daily
Apr 18, 2024Explore the Secrets of the Distant Stars with Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas’ New SKY Gurus
Have you ever looked up at the sky and questioned the mysteries of the universe? For travelers looking to learn more about the stars and their secrets, head to SKY at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas.
ShareThis