Ryan McGinnis

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
PGA Section Teacher of the Year, GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Other (Indicate specific awards below in 3-a)

Other awards won:
CNY PGA Assistant Professional of the Year , CNY PGA Patriot Award , CNY PGA Player Development Award

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 1200
Female: 200
Junior: 300

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
72

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
At Turning Stone Resort, my mission remains rooted in creating pathways for every player to learn, enjoy, and stay engaged in the game of golf. In 2025, we expanded its player development and community outreach through a comprehensive series of programs focused on inclusion, accessibility, and long-term growth. Key Programs and Impact: PGA Jr. League: Hosted two teams with 16 juniors, fostering teamwork, mentorship, and skill development in a fun, competitive environment. PGA HOPE: Continued our strong commitment to serving veterans, offering three six-week sessions with 15 classes each. This initiative reached over 300 veterans in 2025 — our largest participation to date. Drive, Chip & Putt Clinic: Provided five local juniors the opportunity to learn competition skills, rules education, and course etiquette in preparation for the national competition pathway. Ladies Clinic: Averaged eight participants weekly, emphasizing confidence, fundamentals, and community among women golfers. Open Clinics: Brought men and women together to develop key skills in a welcoming group setting, encouraging retention through the off-season. Junior Academy: Engaged over 20 juniors monthly throughout the winter season with weekly Saturday sessions designed around skill progression, on-course application, and long-term player development. Summer Jam Program (in partnership with The First Tee of Syracuse): Offered Native American youth the opportunity to experience the game through structured instruction and play. The program hosted 10–15 participants throughout the summer months, promoting inclusion and accessibility to underserved communities. On-Course Group Lessons: Provided players of all levels with real-world course management experience, reinforcing the connection between practice and play. Through these initiatives, I remain dedicated to growing the game at every level — from introducing beginners to nurturing committed players.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
Two specific programs developed this year to enhance engagement and player retention were the PGA HOPE League and the Decade Golf Program. PGA HOPE League: Designed to provide ongoing playing opportunities for PGA HOPE graduates, this 6-week league created a fun, competitive, and supportive team environment. Participants competed in a variety of team formats—fostering camaraderie, confidence, and continued participation in the game. Graduates embraced the opportunity to stay connected with their peers and coaches, culminating in a season where 23 teams competed to determine the 2025 league champion. This program has become a model for sustaining engagement and ensuring our veterans remain active in golf beyond their initial introduction through PGA HOPE…… Decade Golf Program: This program brought PGA Tour-level course management education to my students. By tracking and recording every shot, players learned to make smarter, data-driven decisions on the course. The system encouraged greater focus and accountability during each round, transforming how players approach strategy, target selection, and scoring. Beyond the technical improvement, it kept students highly engaged between lessons and built measurable awareness around performance and decision-making.