Tatyana Smith: Changing the Face of Golf

At just 18 years old, Tatyana Smith has already spent over a decade swinging clubs and making waves in a sport that hasn’t always welcomed faces like hers. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Tatyana's journey began at the age of six thanks to her cousin Kharynton, who introduced her to the game at Forest Park. It was there, surrounded by new friends and green fairways, that her love for the game took root.

But for Tatyana, golf quickly became more than just a game. “Golf means opportunity and access,” she explains. “It’s opened so many doors for me—doors I don’t think I would have walked through otherwise.” Her passion has led her across the country, into new conversations, and onto bigger stages where she continues to grow both as a player and a person.

She credits early influences like Tiger Woods, whose dominance and presence inspired her to believe she could compete at a high level, and her father, who’s been her biggest supporter off the course. “One day,” she says, “I hope I grow up to be like him.”

Now, Tatyana is focused not only on improving her own game, but also on giving back. “It’s important to uplift the community you came from,” she says. Whether through coaching or community programming, she’s passionate about creating more access for kids who might not otherwise pick up a golf club.

Representation matters, especially in a sport where Black girls haven’t historically seen themselves reflected. “We weren’t necessarily welcomed into this space, Tatyana says. “So to see someone like me, playing at a high level—it can mean a lot to a young girl watching.”

When asked what advice she’d give to that young girl picking up a club for the first time, her answer is simple but powerful: “Be dedicated. Be disciplined. There will be days you don’t want to do it. But if you keep going, you’ll get to where you want to be.”

Tatyana's earliest memory of golf is practicing with her dad on a football field—before she could even hit the ball cleanly. Now, she dreams of turning pro and making her mark on the LPGA Tour. “I want to see someone like me winning out there.”

With a drive fueled by love, family, and ambition, Tatyana Smith isn’t just playing the game—she’s changing it.