PONTE VEDRA BEACH – A Rogers Towers attorney has been honored as one of six volunteers named to the position of Blue Coat for The Players Championship golf tournament.
Troy Smith, a partner at Rogers Tower law firm, will join The Players Championship as a Blue Coat volunteer for the 2017 tournament. This prestigious golf tournament is part of the PGA tour and offers the largest prize money of any tournament on the tour.
Smith has been involved with The Players Championship for the past seven years, working as a volunteer on several of its committees such as general parking, ecology, commissary, VIP parking, benefactor and volunteer shuttle.
“Reaching the position of Blue Coat represents years of hard work volunteering at The Players Championship while helping lead over 2,000 volunteers to make the tournament better year after year,” Smith told the Florida Record. “Being a Blue Coat also involves educating the Northeast Florida community about The Players, how it impacts local charities and how they can get involved at the tournament through volunteering and/or business. I am looking forward to my first year as a Blue Coat and hope to make The Players better than it was in 2016.”
Smith joins five other Blue Coat members for 2017, comprising of Kevin English, who is chairman; Damon Olinto, who is first vice-chair; and Adam Campbell, Scot Winter, and Andy Carroll, who are all vice-chairs.
More than 2,000 volunteers come together for The Players Championship working in four divisions: players services, spectator services, facilities and volunteer services. In his role as Blue Coat, Smith will be responsible for overseeing the volunteer service Division. This division consists of a variety of departments that make up apparel, supply, Darlene’s Diner, volunteer shuttle and VIP parking.
The Players Championship provides charitable donations to a variety of charities throughout the course of the tournament. Each day of the tournament a different charity is featured from the Northeast Florida counties of Baker, Clay, Duval, St. Johns and Nassau.
“The Players Championship impacts approximately 300 Northeast Florida charities each year,” said Smith. “Since 1977, more than $75 million has been generated for local charities including $8.1 million from the 2015 tournament. The Players will be announcing the amount generated from the 2016 tournament in November. In April 2011, The Players announced a $50 million charitable goal, over 10 years, for local youth-related charities.”
For Smith, who is board certified in construction law, The Players Championship offers an opportunity to be a part of something great.
“Why be a part of The Players? I love being a part of this group and generating charitable dollars for Northeast Florida is something I am passionate about,” said Smith. “The Players is the ultimate platform to do that.”
During his time volunteering with The Players Championship, Smith has had many great memories and got to hobnob with some of the best.
“Seven years ago I began my journey of volunteering for the tournament and have been hooked ever since,” said Smith. “I started working at The Players parking cars with Bob Livingston, spent lots of nights throwing trash with Mark Haines and have delivered food and beverages with Jim Brungard. These individuals represent a small sample of the great leadership behind the scenes that helps make The Players such an incredible tournament.”
The Players Championship will take place on May 9 to 14, 2017, at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.