Manitoba Golf Guide

Home of the Par 6 TWO FOR ONE/ REGULAR RATES TWO FOR ONE/ REGULAR RATES Valid anytime. Must bring in coupon. Not valid with other coupons or promotions. Expiry date: Oct. 31, 2016. Valid anytime. Must bring in coupon. Not valid with other coupons or promotions. Expiry date: Oct. 31, 2016. TOURNAMENTS WELCOME 18 Holes Licensed Clubhouse La Broquerie, MB | 1-204-424-5046 Toll Free: 1-888-424-5046 Book tee times online: www.lavgolf.ca Manitoba's first FootGolf Course Visit our website for more info. FOOTGOLF 10% OFF FOOTGOLF Expires Oct. 31, 2016 Located in Kenora Ontario 18 hole championship golf course Licenced Restaurant and lounge OPEN TO THE PUBLIC www.kenoragolf.com 1-807-468-7995 KENORA Golf & Country Club PINE FALLS GOLF CLUB Pine Falls, Manitoba 9-HOLE GOLF COURSE AND PRACTICE RANGE ONE HOUR NORTH OF WPG. • LICENSED RESTAURANT • TOURNAMENT RATES Reservations: ph. 204-367-8463 www.pinefallsgolfclub.com *Bring this ad in and 2 can play 18 holes with a power cart for $ 75.00 tax inc. (subject to reservations). Valid 2016* season only ON TOUR, THEY'RE KNOWN AS THE GRINDERS. IF YOU'VE EVER ATTENDED A TOUR EVENT AT ANY LEVEL, YOU'VE SEEN THEM: THE PLAYERS ON THE RANGE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO DIG A GAME OUT OF THE GROUND MUCH AS BEN HOGAN DID IN THE 1930S AND 1940S PRIOR TO WINNING A SLEW OF MAJORS IN THE EARLY 1950S. Derek Ingram was one of those players. Back in the late 1990s, the Winnipeg native decided he wanted to take a crack at playing Tour golf. After qualifying for the Canadian Tour, he threw his clubs in the trunk of his car and began crisscrossing Canada in pursuit of his dream. In his two years on Tour, Ingram won the respect of his peers for his playing ability – the man could flat out play – and his technical expertise. Much like Hogan, he had dug his game out of the ground through trial and error – and his dedication to learning every nuance of the golf swing to get the most out of his game. In his second year on tour, a funny thing happened. "I realized that I was putting more time into my friends' games than I was putting into mine," recalls Ingram. "I loved to compete, but I also really enjoyed helping my friends out." At the same time, the lustre of Tour life had worn off. Intent on pursuing a teaching career and settling down, Ingram returned to Winnipeg and built Golf Central with partner Dave McMillan. He also began working with Garth Goodbrandson with the men's golf team at the University of Manitoba. Not long after, Golf Canada came calling. Eventually, he became their assistant men's coach in 2001. Ingram was never happier: he was in his element. "Those appointments validated my decision to focus more exclusively on teaching and coaching," he says. "I still loved to play, and actually won Manitoba PGA Player of the Year twice (2003, 2007)." The fine play only further cemented his reputation as a premiere teacher and coach. "I think it helped me on the teaching/ coaching side of things because it gave me credibility. It's important to be able to play to a decent standard to coach; it helps you relate to players because you've been there." Ingram's ascent in the coaching ranks continued in 2008, when he was named head coach of Golf Canada's women's team. For a little over three years, he successfully guided the players in that program. Then, in 2011, he was named head coach of the men's national amateur golf team. At present, he oversees the men's national golf team, as well as a young pro squad that consists of promising players such as Adam Svensson, Taylor Pendrith and Corey Connors. Thanks to Ingram's dedication – he works closely with those three players and others to polish their games and (hopefully) ready them for taking a shot a professional golf – he was able to realize a dream in April 2015. "Corey actually ended up qualifying for The Masters," he says. "My wife had said we should go one year as spectators, but I said, no, I'm not going to go unless I'm playing, or with one of my players. When Corey qualified, he said, 'Coach, you're coming with me.' It was very emotional, a dream come true. It was quite a thrill being there in the middle of everything at Augusta." There's another big occasion coming up for Ingram this summer: the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Ingram was recently named head coach of Canada's men's golf team – something, believe it or not, he was prepared for. "It was my dream goal for the last seven or eight years. I started preparing for it back then, and actually went to the Sochi (Winter) Olympics in 2014 to get a feel for what the Games are like. I also coached Canada's men's golf team at last year's Pan-Am Games in Toronto. I'm excited about the opportunity. We'll have a good team, likely with Graham DeLaet and David Hearn." Roughly 18 years after embarking on his dream, Ingram can't help feeling extremely humbled, and grateful. "My motto for the past 15-plus years – which I got from Canadian basketball coach Jack Donohue – is, 'People don't care what you know until they know that you care.' When I work with players, I get to know the person first. Then, once I develop a relationship with them, I do my best to use my knowledge to help them play their best." Simply put, the driving force behind his rise to prominence is a deep love for the game. "I have a passion for golf and people, and I think my players see that. It's a privilege to travel all over the world and work with such good, highly-motived guys. I feel blessed. It's a dream come true." 04 GOLF GUIDE 2016 Manitoba Manitoba M INGRAM'S GOLF ODYSSEY COMES FULL CIRCLE The grinder makes good BY TODD LEWYS "I have a passion for golf and people, and I think my players see that. It's a privilege to travel all over the world and work with such good, highly-motived guys. I feel blessed. It's a dream come true." Derek Ingram (right) says it was a thrill being on hand to help Corey Connors at The Masters.

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