Henry Smokler, who has worked in the golf industry for more than a decade, has been named General Counsel for the PGA of America.
Smokler will report to PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Pete Bevacqua and oversee all legal affairs for the organization, which represents the sport’s 28,000 teaching professionals.
“Henry Smokler brings nearly two decades of legal and business acumen to the PGA of America, along with a passion for the game and a great appreciation for the role the PGA Professional serves as the tangible connection between the game and those who play it,” said Bevacqua. “His extensive experience aligns well with the PGA’s strategic plan to serve our members and grow the game of golf.”
Prior to joining the PGA of America, Smokler served as Managing Director, Broadcast and Digital Media for the United States Golf Association (USGA), where he was responsible for developing and managing the USGA’s relationships with its broadcast and digital media partners and overseeing the direction of the association’s digital platforms.
Before that, he served as the Associate General Counsel of the USGA from 2004 through 2012, with responsibility for corporate, governance, tax and regulatory matters.
Smokler began his legal career in 1997 as an associate with Willkie Farr & Gallagher in New York City, and later joined Davis & Gilbert, LLP, also of New York, in 2000.
A native of Boulder, Colorado, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Jim Noel, the former Chief Legal Officer of the USGA and current Senior Counsel for DirectTV Sports, told Sports Litigation Alert that he expects Smokler to do well in his new role.
“Henry is a very bright guy,” said Noel. “He has a long-standing relationship with Pete Bevacqua. I’m sure that Pete’s familiarity with his abilities is a big reason why he added Henry to his team.”
