Christian Smith

Christian serves as the lead mental conditioning coach for the IMG Academy golf program. Having first interned with IMG Academy in summer 2006, Christian joined IMG full-time in 2007 and since then, has helped develop the mental games of a variety of golfers, from beginners to AJGA East-West team members, winning Curtis Cup team members, NCAA DI champions, USGA champions, as well as multiple major winners at the professional level. In addition to working with our student-athletes and professional golfers, who have played on the Symetra Tour, LPGA Tour, PGA Tour and European Tour, Christian works with international golf federations, high-profile coaches and elite-level players on ways to enhance their mental games. His work has also been featured in major golf publications and on domestic and international television networks.
 
Prior to being hired by IMG Academy, Christian served as the volunteer assistant men’s golf coach under Head Coach, Ryan Donovan, at San Diego State University, a top ranked NCAA Division I program. During his tenure, the team finished as runner up in the MWC Championship in 2006 and delivered four 1st place finishes in regular season events.
 
Personally, Christian has enjoyed amateur success growing up in Nottinghamshire, England and playing NCAA DI collegiate golf at Coastal Carolina University. During his college career at CCU he played alongside Pablo Larrazabal (2002 British Amateur Champion), Alvaro Velasco (European Tour), Zach Byrd (PGATour Canada) and Dustin Johnson (PGATour).
 
Christian carries an abundance of experience from both the academic and golfing worlds, exhibiting an in-depth, holistic knowledge of golf in addition to the mental side of the game. He has competed at the amateur level both individually and as part of a team for his club, county, university and country, in regional, collegiate, national, international and professional events.

Education/Accreditations

• Professional Member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)
• Master of Arts in Kinesiology (emphasis in Exercise and Sport Psychology) from San Diego State University                              
• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Coastal Carolina University