By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times
Birmingham City Councilmember Crystal Smitherman is an alumnus of Ramsay High School, Hampton University, the University of Alabama School of Law, and Samford University’s Cumberland Law School.
She is also an alumnus of First Tee Birmingham.
“My father (state Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham) introduced me to golf at a young age, and that introduction ultimately led me to First Tee,” Crystal said. “What started as time spent with my dad quickly became something much bigger. Through First Tee, I was able to formally learn the game and become part of a structured program that emphasized both skill and character.”
The younger Smitherman later competed across the country, representing the Birmingham chapter of First Tee. That experience broadened her worldview and instilled a deep sense of pride in the city she came from.
“In addition to learning how to play golf at a competitive level, First Tee taught me discipline, resilience, and leadership,” she said. “Competing nationally required focus, preparation, and accountability — qualities that extend far beyond the course. The program also exposed me to new environments and networks, helping me develop confidence and the ability to navigate spaces where I might otherwise have felt out of place.”
These days, the City Councilor plays golf when her schedule permits. “While I may not compete the way I once did, the foundation First Tee gave me is still there,” she said. “My game reflects life right now — busy, evolving, and occasionally humbling — but always grounded in fundamentals.”
It has long been said that more business deals are made on a fairway than in a boardroom. Smitherman said there is definitely truth in that stance.
“Golf provides an environment where relationships are built over time, conversations flow naturally, and trust develops organically,” she said that as an attorney and public servant, those relationships matter. While decisions are ultimately made in formal settings, the trust and mutual understanding that make effective collaboration possible are often built on the golf course.”
Smitherman is helping to build and direct young lives as a member of the board of Fore Alabama Kids, the Birmingham chapter of First Tee. That gives her a special opportunity to ‘play’ it forward.
“Being an alum gives me a unique sense of ownership and responsibility,” she said. “I know firsthand the impact First Tee can have on a young person’s life. Serving as a board member allows me to ensure that young people in Birmingham continue to have access to the same opportunities, exposure, and life lessons that helped shape who I am today.”
