Shangri-La Resort, Oklahoma’s top-notch waterfront golf and outdoor recreation destination, has announced the appointment of golf industry stalwart Ryan Snyder as its new Director of Golf.
Hailing from West Virginia, Snyder brings a wealth of experience from his 13 years in Florida’s golf scene, including stints at Island Country Club in Marco Island, Eagle Creek Country Club in Naples, and The Boca Raton Resort & Club.
His most recent role was as the Director of Golf at Indian Spring Country Club in Boynton Beach. Snyder’s golf journey began at Kanawha Country Club in South Charleston, W.Va., where his father was a member.
His career then took him through various prestigious courses in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Georgia.
“The Shangri-La team is extremely pleased and fortunate to have Ryan Snyder as our director of golf,” said General Manager Lance Funderburk.
“Ryan’s experience in the golf industry, expertise in operations, personality, and talent at managing a golf staff is an ideal fit for our world-class golf operation.”
Snyder, a Certified PGA Member in every advanced field, including Golf Operations, General Management, Player Development, and Teaching and Coaching, holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from West Virginia University. He shared that Shangri-La felt like home right from his first visit.
“Since I got here six weeks ago, everybody I’ve run into says this is a great place to live and raise your kids,” says Snyder.
“As for the property, we have one of the best-conditioned facilities in the state. The conditions are so good all the time.
This spring, summer, and fall, golfers can expect peak playing conditions. I actually called the superintendent before I took the job and talked to him for several hours, to make sure he wasn’t going anywhere.
There is no weed penetration on the entire property, which is absolutely amazing and led to me actually taking the job.”
Shangri-La’s visionary owner, Eddy Gibbs, has transformed the resort into a pride of Northeast Oklahoma, investing over $100 million into the property since taking over in 2010.
This investment has elevated the resort’s accommodations and leisure amenities to a national level.
In addition to the 119-room resort hotel, Shangri-La features an indoor pool, a 6,500 square-foot outdoor resort pool with a splash pad and tanning ledge, a luxury spa, a full-service marina on the sparkling 46,500-acre Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, and six distinct dining and cocktail venues, making it an unforgettable destination for golfers, families, groups, corporate retreats, and weddings.
Encircled by the waters of Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, the revered 27-hole championship Shangri-La golf course – comprising the Heritage, Legends, and Champions Nines – winds through picturesque parkland with elevated Bentgrass greens, strategic bunkering, and more open, flowing fairways accented by ponds, streams, and stunning lakefront views.
The exceptional-year-old par-3 course, The Battlefield, with elevation changes over 100 feet, has already been celebrated as “the most incredible par-3 course” that “sets new standards in short course experiences” by leading golf publications.
Each of the 18 holes on The Battlefield honours a military serviceperson from Oklahoma who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.
Snyder believes Shangri-La is a fantastic destination for group getaways, with many renovated and new amenities like the hotel, marina, dining venues, tennis courts, simulators, and boat rentals.
“This place is at the top of the list in Oklahoma,” says Snyder. “People love to use this place as a retreat.
They just want to come play golf and enjoy the peacefulness. That’s what this place is about.
We are a little more laid back and relaxed than some of the other upper-echelon clubs, but Shangri-La is an incredible place with an interesting history.
The executive team and staff here are amazing, so I don’t plan to leave anytime soon.”
For more information, visit shangrilaok.com.
