If it is a people person that you are looking for, then Ryan Mansalle would fit the bill. Friendly, gregarious, and very down to earth are just some of the descriptors that come to mind regarding this young man. Ryan not only enjoys golfing itself, but also the people involved with the sport. People who, as he puts it, are just happy to be doing something that they love – away from a stressful everyday world that’s not always so much fun. On the course they can forget about a bad day at the office, clients who are not always happy, ringing phones, the latest workplace crisis, or the just the rigors of everyday life in general. They are ‘tickled’ to be there, and their moods and attitudes show it. Ryan not only enjoys his job, but he also looks forward to getting to go to work everyday. Who among us would not want to work in an environment like that?
Ryan spent his childhood growing up in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Missouri, where his father and grandfather introduced him to the game of golf at the age of 10. He then moved here with his family around the age of 12, settling in the Eldon area. Around the age of 16, Ryan started working at the Eldon Country Club, remaining there until graduation. The summer after his high school graduation, he landed a job at Osage National Golf Course as a helper in the Pro Shop, and handling of the golf carts. Ryan then attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City for the next four years, graduating with a Major in History. While there, he was a member of the school’s Golf Team, and continued working at Osage National in season. Upon graduation in 2002, he was offered a full-time job at Osage National as a tournament coordinator, and Assistant Golf Pro. Working his way up to Golf Pro, Ryan has been with Osage National for 8 years now. During this time he has been in charge of the weekly Men’s Leagues and Ladies Leagues, the monthly Couples Outings, buying and merchandising of the Pro Shops’ inventory, coordination of course events, is a member of the Gateway PGA of St. Louis, and is a member of the Mid-Missouri Golf Pro Association. This association hosts 12 tournaments per year, and encompasses the Lake of the Ozarks area, the Jefferson City area and Callaway County.
Even with all of this on his plate, Ryan is not stopping there. He has helped start a new annual tournament for a previously unrecognized area of the local golfing community. This tournament will be taking the form of The First Annual Tri-County Championship Tournament, to be hosted at Osage National Golf Course on May 29, 2006.
It will decide the best amateur player in the Tri-County area, consisting of Morgan, Miller and Camden counties.
When Ryan does have some down time, he enjoys playing a little basketball, and traveling with his new wife, whom he had the pleasure of marrying last August. They try to get away whenever they can, but any more travel is on hold until the end of the season.
When asked if Ryan could offer any tips to an up-and-coming golfer, he had one tip that he believes is the most important one of all – “To have FUN with it! Too many people turn it into such a competition that they end up frustrated and loose they enjoyment of the day. Just relax, and have fun – that’s what the game is really all about.”
