Charlie Smail: A chip off the old block

By Neville Idour

Golfer Pacific was able to spend some time with 25-year-old Charlie Smail on and off course at The Hills and learn he is something of a chip off the old block, father David Smail.

Charlie grew up in Hamilton where he has always lived.

Caption: Charlie Smail tees off at The Hills Invitation.

“You might think I would have started golf at a young age but as a youngster I didn’t show much interest in golf. I still watched dad playing and stuff but he didn’t get me into golf at all.

“It was a mixture of things, so when I started high school at St Peters I had a few friends who I knew through other sports like cricket who were playing golf. We had a good golf academy at school so everyone got to have a go during school hours as well. I went and had a hit and thought I’m not too bad at it for just starting so thought I will give it a go for a while.”

How did you progress?

``For the first couple of years I was just a regular junior golfer. By the time I got to 15 or 16 I started to play well for my age group in some of the national tournaments. So I made the New Zealand junior development squad and then progressed to the New Zealand development squad. But I never got to play for New Zealand although not too far away at times. Probably my biggest win was the New Zealand Amateur in 2018 which got me in to the 100th NZ Open at The Hills which was cool.

“I had just left school too, and while I made the cut I finished about 50th.”

Smail turned professional early in 2023 and has only played in New Zealand to date.

“I might try to qualify for a few events in Australia in early 2024. Hopefully I can get an Australasian card and then progress to get a Japan card or Asian card in the next few years. At the end of this year I will play the Japan and Asian Q schools.”

Smail said he would grab a LIV Tour place if the opportunity arose.

Smail’s partner Marina Ito, a professional, is playing on the LPGA Epson Tour in 2024.

“We spent a year apart during covid. We have been together for six years since finishing school. She was practising and playing golf in New Zealand when we met because in Japan it snows in winter where she is from and can’t play golf. So she comes to our summer and just lives in summer. Over the last four years she has played a few Charles Tour events.”

Marina was with him at The Hills and happily walked the course following our group with Charlie our professional.

Finally we asked what it was like having a father who was playing on the Japan Tour for many years.

“He would be away kind of three weeks on and three weeks off. Sometimes it could be six weeks away but it kind of felt like it was half the time he was away. He would always have the whole of summer at home from December through to March. Mum (Sheree Higgins) was also a professional golfer. She played in Japan and won on the tour then stopped playing when motherhood beckoned.”

Smail is an extremely likeable young man who is a credit to the game and without doubt a chip off the old block.