Daily Inspiration: Meet Ron Gring

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ron Gring.

Ron, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been around golf my entire life, first as a player, then as a coach. From 1978 through the mid-80s, I chased the dream of playing professionally — competing on the American mini-tours, the Asian Tour, and the South American Tour. I came heartbreakingly close to the PGA Tour, missing qualifying by just a single shot in 1981. Although that experience was humbling, it really was one that shaped me; it gave me empathy for every golfer who has ever faced the game’s challenges head-on, come so close, and not had the victory they expected.

After my competitive playing days came to an end, I discovered my true calling: helping others unlock their best golf. I started at Lakewood Golf Club in Alabama as an assistant professional and soon realized that teaching and coaching allowed me to combine my love for competition with a passion for improving people’s games. Along the way, I earned recognition as Player of the Year and Teacher of the Year in the Dixie Section PGA, and I’ve been honored multiple times with awards from both the PGA and Golf Digest. Since 2003, I’ve been named to Golf Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Teachers in America.

Today, I serve as the Director of Golf Performance Improvement Programs at Terravita Golf & Country Club in Scottsdale. I run our “Total Game Improvement Fundamentals” program, (TGIF) which blends the best in measuring tools and technology with proven coaching methods to help players of all levels — from beginners to tour professionals — improve not just their swings, but their entire approach to the game.

Looking back, I realize my journey has never been just about golf; it’s about, growth, determination, and the joy of helping others achieve breakthroughs. That’s what continues to drive me to learn more and to be available to help someone every day.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, the road has been anything but smooth. Competing at the highest levels in golf was always very difficult for me, but I prided myself on working harder than anyone I knew. Slowly, step by step, I improved to the point where earning my PGA Tour card was within reach.

In 1981, at PGA Tour Qualifying School in Fort Washington, California, I came agonizingly close. I missed by just one shot in the very same tournament that launched the careers of Fred Couples and Mark O’Meara. That near miss is something I’ll never forget — it showed me both how far I had come and how fine the line is between making it and falling short.

Years later, I was sitting in a theater watching the movie Tin Cup when Cheech Marin’s character told Kevin Costner about making an 8 on a par 3 at Fort Washington and missing his Tour card by a shot. I nearly fell out of my chair — because that didn’t happen to Kevin Costner. It happened to me.

What could have been a devastating disappointment actually became one of the greatest learning experiences in my life. Missing by one shot gave me a unique perspective on perseverance, resilience, spiritual toughness and what it truly takes to succeed. Those lessons are in the foundation of everything I teach today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in Golf Performance Improvement — helping golfers unlock the best version of their game. My work blends decades of experience with today’s most advanced technology. I use 3D motion capture with HackMotion, 2D video analysis with V1 Sports, and a wide variety of tools and teaching aids that accelerate the learning process by helping golfers actually feel the changes they need to make.

What sets me apart is that I’ve been studying the game from this perspective since the very beginning. My father was in the ministry, and one lesson I learned early on was the value of learning, discipline and preparation. I discovered that if I could out-study, out-practice, and outwork those who were more naturally talented, I could catch them — and eventually surpass them. That approach has defined my entire career, both as a player and now as a coach.

I’m most proud of the breakthroughs I’ve seen in the players I have the privilege of coaching. Whether it’s a tour player winning on the PGA Tour or a weekend golfer breaking 90 for the first time, being part of that moment of transformation is incredibly rewarding. At the end of the day, I’m known for blending hard-earned experience, cutting-edge tools, and a relentless commitment to helping others improve.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
In golf, one of my favorite childhood memories was the first time I ever shot even par. That day wasn’t just about a number on the scorecard — it was about the end result of the joy of practicing, improving, and learning by surrounding myself with players who were better than me. Watching how they approached the game inspired me to keep raising my own standards.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the game’s greatest teachers and coaches — Mac O’Grady, Alex Sloan, David Leadbetter, Chris Como, Mark Blackburn, and Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, the founders of the Titleist Performance Institute, where I also met my wife, Yvette. Those mentors and relationships shaped both my career and my life.

What I treasure most, though, are the accomplishments of the players I’ve coached and worked with. Seeing Anthony Delisanti win the Northeast Amateur and the New York State Amateur or watching my cousin David Lee Gring thrive as the head coach of Valparaiso University’s men’s golf team, fills me with tremendous joy and satisfaction. And to have played even a small role in the careers of PGA Tour players like Joe Durant, Kenny Perry, Jerry Pate, and Brad Faxon is overwhelming when I pause to reflect.

Looking back, I realize that the greatest gift of my career hasn’t been trophies or titles of my own, but the blessings of mentorship, relationships, and the joy of helping others succeed.

Pricing:

• Individual Session – 60 Minutes $175.00
• Series of 6 Sessions $900.00
• TPI Golf Fitness Screen $175.00
• TPI Golf Swing Screen $175.00
• FlightScope and HackMotion 3D $225.00

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gringgolf.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gringgolf/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gringgolfperformance
• Twitter: @gring_ron
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnL9L7ALvOowT4HiC1SgqkdTPpq7rBXbB
• Other: https://web.v1sports.com/gring-golf-online/