A Conversation With ... Lisa Tinkler

Title: Head women's golf coach

Education: Bachelor's degree in business and social science, Evangel University, "and I lack only the student teaching to have an education degree."

On encouraging other women to golf: "It's the only sport you can play until the day you die ... with anybody you want."

Tell us about Drury’s women’s golf team.

We’re in our fifth season. They announced that they were going to start a (women’s golf) program, so I went back to school to finish my degree … . I actually went back and played golf at the age of 39 for Evangel and got my degree. I called and asked when they were hiring … and drove them crazy to the point that they said, ‘Just take the job.’ I graduated my first recruited class last year. That was six girls. Right now, I have 11 girls on the team. I lose one this year who’s graduating, and I actually have three girls coming in. That’s way more than I need, but I just don’t like to say no, and I like to have all these girls pushing each other to be better.

How did you get involved with golf?

My parents moved to a brand-new golf course and subdivision (in the Kansas City area) in the late ‘60s, and across the street from my front yard was the 18th green. We were told, ‘You can either join the swim team or do golf.’ Swim team was every day and golf was once a week, so I liked the golf idea.

Right out of high school, I went to the University of Iowa on a full-ride scholarship for golf, and hated it, because it snows really early and doesn’t ever melt in Iowa. I just kind of bounced around and ended up with a family, and that kind of derailed the rest of my school. I’ve lived here since 1989.

Do you still golf competitively?

No, I gave up (amateur competitions) when I decided to become a (Ladies Professional Golf Association) teaching professional. They have a coaching division in that, and I can get certified. I just started that, and I’m an apprentice member now, and should be a Class A member, hopefully, before the end of the year. I may go on and become a PGA teaching professional, but I haven’t decided if I need to.

Why do you work to encourage more women to take up golf?

It’s probably the only sport that a woman can play with her best buddies, by herself, with her husband, her boss or with her clients, in the same team group. There’s no limit to who she can play golf with, whereas if they were playing basketball … there’s a limit. It’s the only sport you can play until the day you die, and you can play with anybody you want, because the sport makes those accommodations. I started the Golf News Flash (an e-newsletter for women) in July (after) we did a Women’s Golf Week. I had all of these addresses from ladies that we’d gotten along the way … and I thought I could be informing them about things going on with golf, and why not do it this way?

What’s coming up on the golf calendar?

May 29 kicks off local Women’s Golf Week activities. Clinics will kick off June 1 and run through June 6, with a tournament June 7 at Rivercut. It’s a whole week dedicated to women, and all the clinics are women-only, and they’re only $5 each. And they’re for all skill levels. The golf tournament is $75 a person. We’re working with Family Violence Center, and any proceeds go to FVC.

Who do you want to reach for Women’s Golf Week, and why?

We’re hoping to get more in the banking industry, the real estate industry and investments, because these women are watching their bosses go out and play with their (male) counterparts, and getting to spend all that time with either their customers or co-workers. It’s five hours that you’re spending with that person. If she’s working with men, they get to know her a little better … and create a bond with their client. It’s a great opportunity that your competitor doesn’t have, hopefully. And if your competitor does, you better get it yourself.

Where are your favorite local golf spots?

I love Highland Springs, Rivercut and Silo Ridge in Bolivar. Rivercut’s great access for people, and so affordable, whereas Highland’s private – I can’t even get on there that often, but we practice over there on Fridays.

Tell us about your family and what you enjoy besides golf.

My husband, Casey, had to take golf up. Instead of saying ‘I do,’ he said, ‘I will learn.’ He’s a sales manager for Springfield Freightliner. (My daughter) Adriane is 23 and works at Freightliner. She learned to be a mechanic at an early age. My son Travis is 20, and he works in the same industry, servicing the big tires. Olivia is 16 and she plays every sport known. They all play golf. I have a house that I like to landscape around. I like to travel, which is usually with golf, but it’s fun.

Interview by Features Editor Maria Hoover. You can e-mail her with suggestions for future installments of this feature at mhoover@sbj.net. [[In-content Ad]]