Ryan Walsh shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Ryan , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something that’s been bringing me a lot of joy lately is the birth of our baby daughter, Colette. Life at home has felt extra full in the best way, with a newborn in the house and our two-year-old, Charlie, always keeping things interesting. It’s been a season of little moments: early morning snuggles, spontaneous giggles, and watching the sibling bond start to take shape. I’m doing my best to soak it all in and be present. It’s been a beautiful reminder of how special the small, everyday things can be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Ryan Walsh, a San Diego native, lifelong golfer, and the founder of Fairway Finder, a new platform built to make finding tee times a breeze. If you’ve ever spent way too much time bouncing between golf course websites or calling pro shops like it’s still 1998, you’ll get why we built this. Fairway Finder brings every course into one simple app so golfers can finally search and compare tee times without the usual hassle or annoying fees. I started this project out of my own frustration as a public course golfer grinding it out to play more golf, and it’s grown into something much bigger. We’re just getting started, but the mission is simple: help golfers play more and stress less.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was the kid who zigged when everyone else zagged. I grew up in a very traditional Irish Catholic household with a clear blueprint for how life was “supposed” to look. But even from an early age, I couldn’t help but question everything; why things were done a certain way, what rules made sense, and which ones didn’t. At times, that made me feel like a bit of a black sheep. But over the years, that mindset became a compass. I’ve navigated both my personal and professional life with a healthy skepticism of the status quo and a deep curiosity about how things could be better. That sense of questioning and not just accepting things as they are, has shaped almost everything I’ve built and believed in.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been countless moments where I felt like giving up. It can feel like there’s a new challenge every week that tests my patience, my confidence, or both. But over the years, choosing not to give up has become a habit. Every time I push through, I build a little more resilience, and that resilience compounds. It doesn’t mean things get easy, but it does mean they get easier to face. I’ve learned that sticking with it, especially when it’s hard, is usually where the real growth happens.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
For better or worse, the public version of me is very much the real me. I don’t have much of a filter, it’s just not in my nature to put on a front. I’ve always found it exhausting to try to be anything other than myself, and honestly, I get pretty frustrated when I see people being inauthentic just to fit in or impress others. Life’s too short to play a character. I’d rather be fully myself, even if that means not everyone gets it.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I had 10 years left, I’d ditch my phone. I’d stop letting it steal my attention from the people and moments that actually matter. I think so much of life slips by while we’re staring at a screen, reacting instead of being present. With limited time, I’d want to live slower, deeper, and way more offline. I think we’ll look back on these devices as we now look back at cigarettes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fairwayfinder.io/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairwayfinder.io/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanwalsh27/
Image Credits
Trevor Farrow
