By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Ryan McGinnis’s journey in golf began when he was just four years old, when his parents, who were avid golfers, introduced him to the great game.
“My mom used to work summers at our local course, and I would tag along with her to work, where I would play and practice all day long,” McGinnis recalls. “I still seeing how many holes I could play in a day. I think I got in 54 walking!”
McGinnis, a PGA of America Teaching Professional at Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York, is a two-time Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional and earned the Central New York PGA Section’s Assistant Professional of the Year Award in 2018, Player Development Award in 2020, Patriot Award in 2022 and Teacher of the Year honors in 2024. He’s only been a PGA Member since 2019, so what an impressive resume McGinnis is assembling in Upstate New York!
McGinnis played high school golf and attended St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York. After college, he took an internship with the Central New York PGA Section, which was followed by a new position as the Section’s Player Development Coordinator.
“I was responsible for all growth of the game activities, including Junior Tour, Drive, Chip and Putt, PGA Jr. League, and more,” he explains. “After a few years, I joined the team here at Turning Stone Resort Casino, where I am a PGA of America Teaching Professional.”
At Turning Stone, McGinnis conducts private lessons and group clinics, hosts PGA HOPE programming, facilitates PGA Jr. League matches and practices, runs Drive Chip and Putt clinics and administers Decade Golf Course Management and Team Builders sessions.
“We have one of the largest PGA HOPE programs in the country, serving over 300 participants every year,” McGinnis boasts. “The program is a way for us to use golf as a tool to better the lives of the men and women who have or are serving our country. The story isn’t about any individual. It’s about those who risked everything for us, and these classes are their way back to normal life by having the opportunity to interact with fellow vets, enjoy the challenges golf brings and sometimes just have someone to listen. The impact is life-changing for them, and Turning Stone is very supportive of this program!”
When asked about mentors he’s had over the years, McGinnis said, “Other than my parents, who are my two biggest mentors, I’ve been fortunate to have two PGA of America Golf Professionals help shape me into the Professional I am today – Richard Winstead, PGA and Marty Nowicki, PGA.
“Richard was more than just a mentor to me; he was a friend and brother. I would meet Richard at the club every morning at around 5:30, and we’d talk about life, golf, teaching styles, etc. I owe a lot of my success to him. Even though we lost Richard to cancer back in 2022, I still follow his life lesson that was located in his office – ‘Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.’ I follow this in my teaching and in my personal life.
“Marty Nowicki, PGA, has been my instructor since I was 16 years old. To have someone who I work with and can bounce ideas and philosophies off is special. We talk about the golf swing daily and work together to create the best learning environment for our students.”
Looking ahead, McGinnis sees a unique opportunity in golf when it comes to social media and the digital space. He sees online instruction and coaching via digital platforms only getting bigger as technology advances and golfers understand the opportunities available to them in online game improvement.
