Lori Stinson incorporates golf into her busy lifestyle

Club under Bill Kratzert.

Lori Stinson began playing golf at a young age, and it’s now key to her life.

Not only does she compete throughout the year, but as a Realtor at North Eastern Group Realty, she golfs with clients. Plus, she plays on teams with her 80-year-old mother, Judi Stinson.

In part, she credits her list of golf instructors over the years for her skills.

“My folks started playing golf after they got married,” she said. “They got my brother, Brad, and me involved in the game when I was about nine. Pat Riley at Colonial Oaks had $5 lessons for kids, and we started there. I was fortunate to take lessons from Bob Kruse at Brookwood growing up and my instructor through high school and college, Rick Hemsoth at McMillen and Coach Sam Carmichael at IU.”

Golf has, in part, been her ticket to seeing the country. She golfed for four years at Indiana University, winning two Big Ten championships in 1990 and 1992, which qualified them for nationals at Hilton Head, S.C., and Arizona State’s course.

She’s done it all through the years, especially as a high school athlete: golf, basketball, baseball, tennis and downhill skiing.

When she runs through her golf experiences, it’s like a who’s who of local golfers. It’s clear she’s not only been competitive, but has had fun along the way.

“I volunteered as a coach at Snider the fall after graduation in 1992 and loved working with my high school coach, Dave Lindquist. After college, I worked a year at the Fort Wayne Country

“That fall, there was an ad in the paper for a women’s golf coach and assistant pro at TriState University. In 1994 and 1997, we were fortunate enough to win the NAIA National Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla. We played the course over spring break and several members got tattoos over spring break. They asked, ‘Coach, if we win nationals, what are you going to do?’ I said, ‘If we win nationals, I will get a tattoo.’” So, I have a custom-made tattoo.”

After Tri-State, she became head coach at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and managed to take teams to nationals seven out of eight years.

“After coaching for 14 years, I came back to Fort Wayne to join my family selling real estate. Now, I enjoy my time with the Fort Wayne Women’s Golf Association and LPGA amateurs,” she said.

In her adventures, she’s made two holes-in-one. It’s often still a family affair. In 2014, on Mother’s Day, she played with family members. She made a hole-in-one.

“A tradition at the Women’s City Golf Tournament was having my dad caddie for me,” she said. “He was on the bag since my first city when I was 13 years old at Pine Valley. He was there for my wins in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 2018. In 2019, his sister, my Aunt Bonnie Hess, was on the bag for the win. His advice was, ‘Whatever you do, don’t lay it up into trouble.’”

Not resting on her many achievements, she continues to up her game and to keep her fitness level high.

“I have been working out at LONGevity Fitness on my strength and flexibility,” she said. “They have great group classes and Zach Lear is a Level II Titleist Performance Institute instructor. I also hit indoors at Apex Golf and take lessons from