Ryan Mello , PGA is the Director of Golf/Club Manager of the spectacular Craft Farms Golf Resort in Gulf Shores, AL. I recently had an opportunity to speak with him about golf, Craft Farms, and what he enjoys doing with his time off. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little more about Ryan Mello.
JJ: Tell us a little about your experience in golf and about your experience in the industry?
RM: I’ve been a Class A professional since 2007, was a top junior golfer while living in Bermuda. Played Division I golf at GW before transferring out to Clemson to pursue the business side of golf, partaking in the Clemson PGM program. Named Golf Professional of the year in 2014 for the GA section East Chapter.
JJ: What originally interested you about golf?
RM: My grandfather and father got me interested when I was young, about 8 or 9, and I took the game very seriously at the age of 12 and beyond.
JJ: What do you most like about being a golf professional?
RM: I love being around people and meeting new friends. I love teaching the game of golf and the challenge it brings on any given day. Golf has given me so much and I could not see myself doing anything differently…. It is where my passion lies…
JJ: What made you decide to make it a career?
RM: I knew when I was 19 that I wanted to be a golf professional. I was teaching some football players at Jacksonville University how to play golf on the 9 hole campus course. I knew then and there I really enjoyed teaching and wanted to make a career in golf.
JJ: What do you like do for fun?
RM: I love spending time with my family, my beautiful wife Emily Mello and 3 beautiful children, John, Elizabeth (6 year old twins) and my baby boy Bill who is 3. Also, traveling and of course following my Clemson Tigers. I am a huge college football fan.
JJ: Who is your favorite golfer?
RM: Payne Stewart was my idle growing up, one of the reasons I took to golf was because of Payne Stewart.
JJ: What is one thing about you that might surprise most people?
RM: The fact that I am from Bermuda, not many people believe me when I tell them… moved to the states when I was 15 to pursue the dream of becoming a Professional Golfer.
JJ: If you could change one thing about the game, what would it be?
RM: PACE OF PLAY… this is one of many issues the golf industry faces.
JJ: Tell us what makes Craft Farms special.
RM: I have only been here at Craft Farms for a year but this is an amazing property that is located in Gulf Shores which is a stone’s throw away from our pristine beaches. The golf courses which are the only ones in the State of Alabama to be designed by Arnold Palmer are both fun and challenging. You have Cypress Bend that is more of our Resort Style and then Cotton Creek which is more tree lined and challenges your course management skills. Our Restaurant can host a variety of groups from weddings, Christmas parties and everything in between. Craft Farms is truly a special place, one in which I am blessed to be a party of and look forward to creating lasting memories for our members and guests.