Soon after arriving he won the Canadian PGA Assistant's Championship in August 1928, winning by 7 strokes and beating the course record with a 70 in his afternoon round.

[6] On his return to England, Smithers worked as a teacher and caddie at Sunningdale Golf Club where he had been before leaving for Canada.

[7] Smithers became the professional at Long Ashton Golf Club in 1948 where he remained until his retirement.

After finishing tied for 8th place in the 1949 Open Championship he was in a short list of 20 for the 1949 Ryder Cup team but was not selected for the final 10.

Paired with Irish amateur Jimmy Bruen he won the 1950 Daily Telegraph Foursomes Tournament at Formby.