She’ s a great student, a good volleyball player, and member of the school chorus.

She’ s also just 13. Golf clearly is her first love, and she dreams of playing for Virginia or Virginia Tech. Her time with media will come. Writers at this publication and many others will find her story enticing.

This exercise was supposed to be all about her. But as I listened to Wayne Smith I realized that their story is about a dad, his daughter and the green grass that’ s the canvas for their family portrait.( That portrait includes Christina Smith, who also has made a huge impact).

It’ s about doing right by your child, not forcing them to laser in on one thing to the point of monotony but gladly letting them choose where to go.

One anecdote epitomizes Wayne Smith’ s philosophy. Four years ago, when he determined it was time to find a coach for Phoenix, he arranged appointments with several candidates.

Don’ t teach her a thing, he instructed. Just hang out with her.

“ I was more interested in the chemistry between them than what they knew,” he said.

He approached Butch Liebler. Smith knew that Liebler had coached players on the PGA Tour and college stars at all levels. Would Liebler think he was too good for Smith’ s kid?

“ Instead, he exhibited a gentleman’ s personality,” Smith said.“ He obviously knows the game well, and they get along great.”

Smith isn’ t a sports psychologist or a coach. He’ s in the family landscaping business

. He’ d never set foot on a golf course until Phoenix was born. None of this might have happened had there not been a deal with a Chesapeake course for free golf in exchange for his services.

“ It was helpful not to pay for rounds,” he said with a laugh.“ I was big about not forcing her to play. She’ d get out there, play two holes and be done. We’ d go home.”

But she always came back, and she showed some natural talent. They were learning the game together, but where he’ d whiff, she just kept making solid contact.

Theirs was a process of trial and error, Smith admitted. When Phoenix was 7, he entered her into her first tournament. He knew nothing about junior golf, wasn’ t aware that the rules of the game would be enforced. He put up $ 150 and figured he and his kid would have a good time.

Then he was told he couldn’ t carry Phoenix’ s bag. Then he looked around and saw that most of the players were boys two and three years her senior. Then she hit into a bunker, climbed in and started whacking away until some parents let him know( not so gently) that she was being penalized with each swing. Then it started raining.

“ I thought I’ d made a big mistake and she was going to hate it,” he said.“ Instead, she loved it, just loved it.”

Smith soon discovered the VSGA’ s program of nine-hole events, competition that fueled a quantum leap forward. Two years later, Phoenix was among the throng of kids and parents on the range at a First Tee of Hampton Roads event. Former LPGA star Dottie Pepper was there. Liebler, whom she hadn’ t yet met, was there. Suddenly, someone approached Phoenix. Would she like to close out the clinic with Pepper, hit some balls with her?

“ I couldn’ t breathe,” Smith said.“ This guy is standing in front of her telling her to hit it past him. And she did. Dottie Pepper talked to her for awhile, and has talked to her a couple of times since then.”

Phoenix Smith dreams of playing for Virginia or Virginia Tech someday— and her dad will be cheering her on.

Smith’ s father died when he was a teenager, but he impressed upon him the value of common decency, dedication, competitiveness with sportsmanship.

“ I wasn’ t raising him from the ashes by naming her Phoenix,” he said.“ But I wanted to impart on her the traits my father gave me, not just in sports, but everything.

“ She’ s very unique, got a good handle on things. She’ s very humble, but very confident. She’ s got all of the good virtues that I hoped she’ d have.”

When it comes to stories that are more than about golf, that’ s one you love to hear.

Formerly of the Virginian-Pilot, columnist Jim Ducibella is a regular contributor to Virginia Golfer.

THE SMITH FAMILY