Double life works for coal mining pro Brendan Smith

By Peter Owen

LIFE hasn’t always been kind to Brendan Smith.

The former Newcastle golfer, who turned professional in 2010, has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and has recurring disc issues in his lower back.

Despite these setbacks, Smith competed on the One Asia Tour and the Australasian Tour until 2017, when he ran out of money and had to take a job at the Oaky Creek coal mine in Queensland’s Central Highlands.

But he never quite gave up on his dreams of playing professional golf, and for years has lived a bizarre double life – working full-time as a miner, and sneaking in as many golf events as he can on his ‘off’ weeks.

And it works for him. In early January he shot a terrific six-under 66 to win the pro-am at Settlers Run, south-east of Melbourne – his first victory since taking the 36-hole Griffith Pro-Am last April.

“I’ve got a good boss at Oaky Creek,” he said. “He’s changed my roster to seven days on and seven off, which allows me to play a few pro-ams and the occasional tour event.”

Immediately after the Settlers Run pro-am, Smith flew back to Oaky Creek to resume work at the mine, where he’s in charge of a warehouse, looking after machinery, logistics and purchase orders. He’s one of a team of 12 working in three warehouses.

When he can, he plays and practices at nearby Tieri Golf Club, once the home course of Legends Tour stalwart Terry Price.

Smith contested the final stage of Q-School at Moonah Links last July; his campaign disrupted by a wind-blown final round 82, but still good enough to finish in the top 30. 

“It allowed me to play pro-ams and a few tour events,” he said.

He intends competing in the TPS Hunter Valley at Cypress Lakes in late February, an event in which he finished tied 17th last year. Smith has an affinity with the course, where he played junior golf and won the 2019 Jack Newton Celebrity Classic.

He says he’s physically fit and his golf is as good as it’s been for years. 

“Maybe it’s because I’m older and wiser,” he said. “I’ve still got the competitive juices but I don’t stress about it – eight-under or eight-over is all the same to me now.”

And though he insists that mining in his full-time job, with pro golf just a pleasant pastime, you get the feeling Brendan Smith would just love the chance to get back on the tour and chase his dreams.