#41 Ryan Moore

Home Course: Meridian Valley Country Club (public-course upbringing: High Cedars Golf Club – Orting, WA)

The Pacific Northwest’s Public-Golf Prodigy

Ryan Moore is one of the most accomplished amateur golfers in American history and a five-time PGA Tour winner. While he eventually trained at private facilities, his foundation was built on High Cedars Golf Club in Orting, Washington, a true public golf course where anyone with a few bucks for greens fees could tee it up.

His path from the wet fairways of the Pacific Northwest to Ryder Cup heroics represents exactly what the Muni Kids Muni 50 celebrates, players who came from open-access courses, not exclusive country clubs, and proved they could thrive against the very best.

Growing Up in Orting, Washington

Born in Tacoma in 1982, Moore grew up in the small town of Orting, a quiet community tucked near the foothills of Mount Rainier. His earliest golf experiences came on the public side of the game, at High Cedars Golf Club, a semi-rural muni where the greens roll a little slower and the rain is more frequent than sunshine.

Moore’s father, Mike, was instrumental in nurturing his love for golf. They spent countless hours on High Cedars’ public range and walking the course together, often in misty or cold conditions that demanded a toughness many warm-weather players never develop.

The Muni-Bred Mindset

Public courses in the Pacific Northwest, especially in the 1990s, didn’t offer pristine conditions or elite-level practice facilities. The rough could be thick and patchy, the greens bumpy after a hard rain, and the fairways soggy during much of the year.

But that muni reality shaped Moore into a shotmaker:

• Trajectory control to fight wind and rain.
• Short game creativity from imperfect lies.
• Mental grit from competing in less-than-ideal conditions.

College Dominance at UNLV

Moore’s talent carried him to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a school with a rich golf tradition. There, he became one of the greatest collegiate golfers of all time:

• 2004 NCAA Individual Champion
• 2004 U.S. Amateur Champion
• 2004 Western Amateur Champion
• 2004 U.S. Public Links Champion

That 2004 season was historic, Moore became the first golfer since Tiger Woods to win the U.S. Amateur and NCAA Championship in the same year, and his sweep of elite amateur titles cemented his status as a future PGA Tour star.

Notably, his U.S. Public Links victory was symbolic, the championship was specifically for golfers whose backgrounds were outside private clubs, making Moore a fitting champion.

PGA Tour Career Highlights

• PGA Tour Wins: 5 (including the 2009 Wyndham Championship, 2012 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, and 2016 John Deere Classic)
• Best Major Finish: T9 at the 2017 Masters
• Ryder Cup: Member of the victorious 2016 U.S. team, clinching the winning point

Moore was known for his classic, understated style of play, accuracy over raw power, precision iron shots, and clutch putting under pressure.

A Different Kind of Tour Pro

Moore has always had an independent streak. Early in his career, he chose not to sign a traditional equipment contract, instead mixing clubs from different brands to suit his game. That self-directed mindset is rooted in the muni culture, learning to make do with what you have and focusing on results over appearances.

Giving Back to Washington Golf

Moore has been involved in junior golf programs across Washington, hosting clinics and tournaments at courses like High Cedars to inspire the next generation of players. His success has also brought national attention to the Pacific Northwest golf scene, proving that great players can come from rainy, public-course beginnings.

Why He’s #41 on the Countdown

Ryan Moore is a perfect example of muni golf’s quiet strength. No flash, no privilege, just skill, hard work, and a love for the game fostered on a community course. He went from the public fairways of High Cedars to winning on the PGA Tour and clinching Ryder Cup glory for the United States.

In the Muni Kids Muni 50, he stands as a reminder that some of golf’s sharpest competitors are forged on soggy muni turf, not in private-club luxury.

Key Stats

• Born: December 5, 1982 – Tacoma, WA
• Public Course Roots: High Cedars Golf Club, Orting, WA
• Professional Wins: 5 PGA Tour
• Major Highlights: T9 – 2017 Masters
• Teams: 2016 Ryder Cup (winning point for USA)

Quote

“I’m proud of where I came from. High Cedars wasn’t perfect, but it taught me how to play the game — and how to compete.” – Ryan Moore