Gulka, 24, is a bright, handsome young man who can probably become a success at anything he decides to go after. But what he’s going after right now is a career as a professional golfer.
Gulka has always appeared to have a future in golf, growing up as the son of a respected teaching professional, Greg Gulka, the former head professional at Knollwood Fairways. But that future took a detour in 1998 when Ryan lost his father to cancer.
At the age of 16, Ryan found himself looking for direction.
He attended Lees-McRae, planning to play college golf, but that didn’t work out. He enrolled at N.C. State, but that didn’t prove the right move either. So he left school and worked at a variety of jobs, including a stint with The Golf Channel and finally as a bartender in the Charlotte area.
While he was working in Charlotte, Gulka made friends with some of the young players on the Tar Heel Golf Tour, a mini-tour that has gained stature and respect in the state over the past couple of years.
“I started playing with those guys and learned that I still had a pretty good game,” he says. “Playing with them gave me confidence that I needed.
“I had gotten into school and a couple of jobs and I just lost my drive to play golf. I was still playing recreational golf, but I wasn’t serious about my game.”
Gulka took his new confidence to Orlando, Fla., a few weeks ago and was impressive enough to be offered two sponsors’ exemptions into Canadian Tour events in March.
“The Golf Channel televises several of the Canadian Tour tournaments and my connections there helped me get the spots,” he says. “So I decided to declare myself a professional and give it a shot for a while.”
Gulka knows he has a lot of work ahead to get his game in tournament shape, but he’s working with Eric Alpenfels, director of golf instruction at Pinehurst Resort, and regarded as one of the top instructors in the nation.
Can a guy who hasn’t really played tournament golf in years, make it against the more seasoned players he’ll be facing?
“I just don’t want to have any regrets later in life about not giving it a shot,” the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Gulka says of his decision. “I work out and I’m in fairly good shape. I’m going to give myself two years and see how my game develops. I’m just hoping to make a few cuts on the Canadian Tour and a few checks on the Tar Heel Tour in my first year.
“I’d also like to qualify for some of the PGA Tour events in the state, like Greensboro and the Wachovia in Charlotte. My goal is to learn if I can play out there and I feel I have that ability.
“Mainly, right now, I’m looking to develop my game and gain some experience. I’m going through some swing changes, but I’m hitting the ball really good. My long game is solid and my putting has improved. Putting used to be my weak point, but it’s improved. I’d say my game from 40 to 100 yards out is probably what I need to work on hardest right now.
“I was 16 when my father died, and I know he would want me to do this. When he died, I lost not just my dad, but my teacher and my best friend. He structured my swing and I still carry those lessons he gave me around in my mind.
“Being back in the Pinehurst area and meeting a lot of people who knew him brings back a lot of memories.”
Gulka feels the strength of his game is in his length off the tee, a prerequisite for contending on the professional level.
“On holes where I use the driver, I’m averaging about 310 to 315 off the tee,” he says. “I hit a 9-iron from 150 yards out.”
Gulka is grateful for the generosity of friends who are helping to make his dream become a reality.
“I’m practicing at Pinehurst Country Club and at Knollwood, and I thank Eric Alpenfels at Pinehurst and Bob Klug at Knollwood for making that possible.
“I’m staying with my mom (Bridget) right now and she’s always been there for me. She’s excited at seeing me play again because she watched me as a junior golfer and while I was in high school.
“And I’m grateful to Tom Hughes of First Tee Transport for his help and encouragement as well as the people at The Golf Channel, who helped me get the exemptions on the Canadian Tour.”
Both of those events are scheduled in early March at Barton Creek in Austin, Texas, a course owned and operated by ClubCorp, parent company of Pinehurst Resort.
Gulka knows he needs to make an early impression in his professional career because he’s working without a sponsor.
“Basically, I’m backing myself,” he says, “but my grandmother (Delores Simpson) is helping financially.”
Although Gulka isn’t actively seeking sponsors at this time, anyone interested in exploring the possibility can call him at (919) 295-4550, or at (910) 295-4550.
