RCGA Names Derek Ingram as Women’s Head Golf Coach for Team Canada

Manitoba native and former Men’s Assistant Coach takes on senior role with RCGA National Amateur Golf Team coaching staff

Oakville, Ont. (RCGA) – The Royal Canadian Golf Association announced today that Derek Ingram of Winnipeg has been named Head Coach of the Women’s National Amateur Golf Team.

Prior to being named Women’s Head Coach, Ingram formerly served the past five years as Men’s Assistant Coach for Team Canada. Ingram, a seven-time winner of the Manitoba PGA Teacher of the Year Award, has been involved with the RCGA’s High Performance Program for the past nine years.

“Derek has been a valuable member of our Team Canada coaching staff over the past nine years and we are pleased to have him take on the role of Head Coach for the Women’s National Amateur Golf Team,” said Jeff Thompson, Chief Sport Development Officer with the RCGA. “Through his passion and contagious enthusiasm, he has proven himself to be a world-caliber coach and gifted teacher with a tremendous ability to both educate and motivate high performance athletes.”

Ingram takes over the role of Team Canada Women’s Golf Head Coach from Dean Spriddle who stepped down from the position last week.

“I am thrilled with the opportunity to take on an increased coaching role with Team Canada,” said Ingram, a two time recipient of the Canadian PGA Teacher of the Year Award. “Dean (Spriddle) is a great coach and has been an excellent colleague and friend so I wish him the very best of success in his coaching journey and family life. We have some tremendously talented young golfers involved with the National Amateur Team Program and while Dean has left some big shoes to fill, I am excited about building on the team’s previous success and helping to develop world class athletes.”

Besides Ingram, Team Canada’s coaching staff includes Men’s Head Coach Henry Brunton as well as Women’s Assistant Coach Robert Ratcliffe. RCGA Chief Sport Development Officer, Jeff Thompson ,will continue to oversee the program working closely with Doug Roxburgh, the RCGA’s Director of High Performance as well as the sports science team of Dr. Penny Werthner, Dr. Greg Wells and Greg Redman. The search to fill the position of Men’s Assistant Coach will begin immediately.

ABOUT DEREK INGRAM
Derek Ingram is one of Canada’s top golf coaches. He is a two time recipient of the Canadian PGA Teacher of the Year Award (2003 & 2007) and a seven time winner of the Manitoba PGA Teacher of the Year Award. Derek has been selected as one of the top 10 coaches in Canada by the National Post, Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, and a Top 50 Teacher in North America by Golf Range Magazine.

For the past nine years, he has coached Canada’s National Teams over 10 times internationally and co-authored two books on improving your golf mental skills. Derek is a very skilled player as well, competing on the Canadian Tour for two years and winning the Manitoba PGA Player of the Year Award in 2003 and 2008. Derek is always engaging in higher education and has a thirst for acquiring knowledge that will help his students.

ABOUT THE RCGA NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM
The RCGA National Team Program incorporates advanced coaching, sport science expertise, training camps and world-class competition. The RCGA allocates over $1 million of its resources annually to the National Team program, encompassing strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, biomechanics and technique development. Players who are selected to the National Amateur and National Developmental Teams represent Canada at six to 10 internationally-sanctioned golf competitions throughout the year. The intent of this comprehensive program is to aid Canada’s top up-and-coming amateur players in all areas of their development, helping Canada produce the best golfers in the world.

Team Canada, the pinnacle of the RCGA’s High Performance Program, provides access to world class resources including coaching, nutrition, sport science, mental management, equipment, and elite competitive opportunities and builds on the support that team members have received in their development years from their family, member clubs, personal coaches, university programs and provincial golf associations.

The RCGA’s High Performance Program and Team Canada are proudly sponsored by Titleist, Foot-Joy and Under Armour.

For more information about Team Canada or to make a donation towards the development of Canada’s future golf stars, please visit www.rcga.org.

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA’s mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.

For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support golf in your community please visit www.rcga.org.