Jim Ryan, Jr. has been fascinated by golf architecture for as long as he can remember. From childhood, when his school notebooks were filled not with class notes but with sketches of golf holes and course layouts, Jim has always been drawn to design. What began as a fascination has evolved into a lifelong pursuit and profession.

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As a kid, Jim discovered the computer game Sim Golf, which allowed him to design and play his own courses. Each week’s PGA TOUR event became a new source of inspiration, exposing him early to a range of design philosophies. In high school, he deepened that passion through a senior thesis on golf architecture—complete with a routed, rendered, and 3D-modeled course on the proposed site of an actual golf club.

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Jim’s career in golf design began after graduating from Penn State University. He joined Mottin Golf Course Renovations in Philadelphia as a Project Manager, overseeing multiple construction projects. He later moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina, to apprentice under noted Donald Ross restoration architect Richard Mandell, ASGCA. After two years in Pinehurst, Jim returned to Philadelphia to work with Tyler Rae, helping establish Rae’s firm while simultaneously launching his own practice in 2020 to serve select independent clients.

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Jim’s work focuses primarily on historic golf course restorations and new course design. He takes pride in his artistry both in the office and in the field, and is an accomplished golf course shaper—constructing his own greens and bunkers to achieve a detailed, handcrafted, and refined final product.

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Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia—arguably the most influential city in American golf architecture—Jim subscribes to the design principles of the Philadelphia School of Golf Course Architecture. Exemplified at courses such as Merion and Pine Valley, these principles emphasize strategic design that challenges expert players while remaining enjoyable for beginners.

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Jim’s connection to this design lineage runs deep. He attended the same primary school as George Thomas, architect of Riviera and Los Angeles Country Club, and was even born at a hospital built on the former site of a Donald Ross and William Flynn–designed golf course.

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Outside the office, Jim can often be found on the golf course with family and friends at his home club. When not playing or designing, he enjoys spending time with his fiancée, Candace, and cheering on his beloved Penn State Nittany Lions—home or away—every Saturday in the fall.

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Jim Ryan, Jr. ~ Golf Architect
641A N Providence Road
Media, PA 19063
(610) 505-4517
JimRyanGCDesign@gmail.com