Dartmouth’s Gordie Smith is arguably the greatest golfer in Nova Scotia sports history  and hours after learning he was to be enshrined into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, he felt ‘kind of good’ about his accomplishments? If there is a hall of fame for humility and understatement, Gordie Smith should be in that one too. Son of two-time Nova Scotia Amateur Golf Champion, Lorne, Gordie spent many summers honing his skills on the greens and fairways at Brightwood Golf Course. Like his father, Gordie would also achieve provincial greatness, winning amateur titles in 1981, 1982, and 1985. Added to his resume were Nova Scotia Midget, Juvenile, and Junior championships.

By the time he graduated from Prince Andrew High School, it became evident Gordie had the talent, ability, and discipline to trade golf for education. The opportunity came in the form of a golf scholarship at the University of South Florida in Tampa. That four-year experience paved the way for his professional career, which was launched in the fall of 1986. Like many new professionals at the time, Gordie paid his dues with stops on both sides of the border. His first professional win came in 1987 at the Labatt Light Ontario Open which brought with it an exemption for the Canadian Open  and that set the stage for one of the more memorable performances by any athlete in Nova Scotia sports history.

At the Canadian Open in 1988 at Oakville, Ontario, not only did he make the cut after two rounds, he finished 7th overall and on the final day of competition  with 30,000 fans screaming his name on every hole  he was in contention to emerge as the overall winner. A first-place finish that weekend didn’t happen, but his stunning four-round performance did cement Gordie’s name and reputation as an up-and-comer in professional golf. Over the next several years he would go on to win several tournaments and make a living as a professional golfer in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the Bahamas.

In Nova Scotia, the name Gordie Smith is now synonymous with gold. That didn’t happen overnight, and it surely didn’t happen by fluke. This inductee has made great sacrifices, traveled many miles, and walked countless fairways to reach this momentous occasion.