Tom Kinsman was the consummate golf professional during his long career in Manitoba. He excelled at teaching and coaching the game of golf while managing a busy golf shop and mentoring a generation of aspiring golf professionals and junior golfers.
Tom was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario on June 5, 1958. Growing up in Winnipeg, he enrolled and played collegiate golf at Bemidji State University in Minnesota and after obtaining his Bachelor Degree in Physical Education, turned professional as an Assistant Golf Professional at Southwood Golf & Country Club. Tom worked under Honoured Member Barrie McWha at Southwood from 1980 to 1987. In 1987, Tom accepted a position at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver. Under Head Professional Jack McLaughlin, Tom was an Associate Professional and Golf Shop Manager until 1991.
Returning to Southwood as Head Golf Professional in 1991, Tom made an immediate impact and was recognized as PGA Manitoba Professional of the Year in 1995. He played an important role in the move of the golf course to a new site in 2011. A skilled golfer in his own right, Tom won 6 individual titles on the PGA of Manitoba schedule.
From 1995 through 2002 Tom served on the Board of Directors of the PGA of Manitoba and was President from 1998 to 2000.
Tom is a graduate of the PGA of Canada Teaching and Coaching Certification Program and was a facilitator for that program from 1996 to 2000.
During his time at Southwood, Tom mentored many aspiring professionals who have gone on to successful careers on and off the golf course. These men and women have won titles and become Head Professionals themselves. Many have become successful off the course as well.
Players who Tom has taught and coached have won over 40 provincial golf titles and, so far, 4 national titles. The PGA of Manitoba awarded Tom four Teacher of the Year Awards (1999, 2000, 2004 & 2011) and in the words of Honoured Member, Rhonda Orr, Tom was “…my ‘PGA Teacher of the Year’ every year”.
Honoured Member Todd Fanning described Tom this way: “He taught us how to practice, conduct ourselves on and off the course, and the process for entering and playing in tournaments. Tom always encouraged us to compete against each other even while practicing, which was invaluable as a way to prepare for tournaments”.
The final round of Manitoba Junior Tournaments invariably saw Tom walking the course and showing his support and commitment to the junior golfers he had impacted.
Tom retired from Southwood in 2018 as Golf Professional Emeritus.
Tom Kinsman is an inductee into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Inc., May 10, 2022.