Q&A with this month’s #PlattProfile, Ryan Goodwin.
Goodwin shares insights on his journey at Villanova, his Service to Golf role, and how the J. Wood Platt Scholarship has impacted his life. Read more!
(This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)
Q: How old are you?
A: I am 20 years old.
Q: What school are you currently attending?
A: Villanova.
Q: When do you graduate?
A: May 2026.
Q: What is your major?
A: I am a finance and accounting major.
Q: How did you decide on both of those majors?
A: I feel like I’ve always been a math guy. It’s very popular at Villanova, and I’ve always had an interest in business. I was in the stock market club in high school, I took an accounting class, and I’ve always had an interest in investing. I feel like what I eventually want to do is help other people and invest their money. So, I felt like finance was the best way to achieve that. And then accounting – I took it in high school, and I took it freshman year, and I was pretty good at it. I enjoyed it, so I decided to pair that with finance to give me some more options.
Q: Do you participate in any school activities or clubs?
A: I’m part of the Special Olympics inclusion crew. Villanova does a Fall Fest every year – it’s a big Special Olympics event where teams from all over Pennsylvania come. Me and a group of friends follow a team around, get to know the players, and root them on for a weekend, which is a lot of fun. I’m also involved in Delta Tau Delta, the fraternity, where we do a lot of philanthropy and raise money for suicide prevention and diabetes. Then I was also a part of the finance group freshman year.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: I’m a big Philly sports fan, always watching whatever’s on. I’m trying to get more into golf, not great right now, but I spend a lot of time trying to get better.
Q: What golf club do you work at?
A: I work in the bag room at Bidermann Golf Club in Wilmington, Delaware.
Q: How long have you been working at your club?
A: I started last summer and continued this past summer.
Q: How did you start at your Service to Golf position?
A: I really had no experience in golf growing up, but I saw the golf culture at Villanova and wanted to be part of that. So, I applied to all the golf courses near my house in Wilmington and landed on Bidermann, and it’s been a great experience – no regrets there.
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at your club?
A: The culture. It’s very laid-back and relaxed in terms of how people interact with each other. It feels like a family there, but also everyone acknowledges how nice of a course it is. There’s a certain level of respect everyone has for the course and for all the other members. I like the balance of how friendly everyone is and how serious they can be in terms of respect.
Q: How did you hear about the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship?
A: Through the golf course. The head professional, Anthony Malizia, made it clear to all of the workers at Bidermann that this was a great opportunity. I initially showed a little bit of interest, and he said that they definitely needed some more applicants, so I pursued it, and it’s been really rewarding.
Q: What are your long-term goals? Think 5 to 10 years.
A: I am striving to become an asset or wealth management analyst in a big city at a reputable firm, where I can help clients achieve their financial goals. I also want the ability to travel to continuously build and strengthen professional relationships.
Q: What is something that happened to you while working at the club that you will never forget?
A: This year, I was approached by a member who congratulated me for being awarded the J. Wood Platt Scholarship. It exemplified the friendly and caring nature of the membership at Bidermann, as well as the extensive outreach that the J. Wood Platt Organization has.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self?
A: I would tell myself to try out golf earlier. Since starting last year, I’ve made countless memories and have seen the true value of relationship-building on the course.
Q: How has J. Wood Platt changed your life?
A: J. Wood Platt has not only relieved both my family and me of financial stress, but also introduced me to the wonderful network of scholars, alumni, and other professionals who genuinely want the best for one another.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created in 1958 and is the charitable arm of GAP (Golf Association of Philadelphia). The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust’s mission is to financially aid and empower qualified caddies and those working in golf operations in the pursuit of higher education. Along with aiding caddies financially, J. Wood Platt’s EMPOWER program strengthens scholarship investment dollars by providing caddies with exceptional benefits and leadership training through access to the wide network of J. Wood Platt donors and alumni. To date, more than 3,700 young men and women have received $25 million in aid from the Trust.
