From Blueprint to Bunker: Massive Excavators Elevate Golf Course Developer's Work

On the eastern coast of South Florida, a team of site prep pros has grown from their humble Midwestern roots into one of the country’s premier certified golf course builders. Ryangolf Corporation, based in Deerfield Beach, has transitioned from railroads to highways to a wide variety of industrial, residential and recreational projects over its 125 years.

As the fourth generation of Ryans took over in the mid ’80s, the crew began specializing in golf course development and renovation while still taking on other kinds of site development work. The name Ryangolf was born out of its founding as P.W. Ryan & Sons and its dedication to the golf industry.

“For as big as they are, if you walked into their office, there’s five people in there,” said Jason Silvestri, the company’s sales rep from Alta Equipment Company. “You don’t often see a company this size that’s that lean in their corporate office. It’s pretty much run as a family company, and the guys have been there a long time.”

In early 2024, Ryangolf embarked on a major project near Ft. Myers, Florida, with a vision to fully transform the landscape. The task: Dig out a large aqua range for golf course irrigation and use the displaced dirt to build both a golf course and a housing development.

The team turned to Silvestri and Alta to find just the right equipment for the job.

“Volvo machinery is good for their operation because they’re production-based,” Silvestri said. “The more we can keep them running, the more dirt they’re moving and the more money they’re making.”

To meet that expectation, he helped Ryangolf expand their fleet with two new Volvo EC950 excavators. These 100-ton crawlers offer up to a 10-cubic-yard bucket and 603 horsepower to maximize tons per hour moved.

“Volvo haul trucks are number one in their class, and I never have a problem with our EC480 and EC550 excavators,” said Jeff Dormire, superintendent at Ryangolf. “I like these EC950s a lot, and they haul a lot of dirt.”

The excavators join Ryangolf’s robust lineup of Volvo equipment, which is now made up of four excavators, 10 40- to 45-ton articulated dump trucks and a wheel loader.

So how do the operators feel about their massive new diggers?

“I like the controls and I like the way I’m seated in it,” said Joaquin Batres, a main haul operator. “I like it because it’s strong. I don’t strain myself to do what I need to do, and I don’t have any problems. It’s very powerful.”

Batres moves about 5,000 cubic yards of dirt per day with the EC950.

The Volvo haulers pull their weight too — literally.

“When we back in, we have to go slow since it’s a heavy truck, but when you hit the gas, you feel the power,” said Deika Corchado, haul truck operator. “When you go down into the lake and come back up, you really learn how strong the truck is. Volvo, for me, is the best.”

On top of the strength and power these big jobs require, durability is another key reason Ryangolf trusts Volvo machines.

“If you want your machines to last, Volvo is definitely what you want,” said Dormire. “They last a long time, they’re built nicely and they’re easy for us to maintain. You cannot compete with Volvo.”

Dormire also attributes his team’s consistent productivity to the 20-year relationship they’ve built with Silvestri and Alta Equipment.

“If I need something from Jason, it’s a phone call and the next day I get production from him,” he said. “It’s a really nice partnership.”

With their giant new workhorses and a trusted dealer partner, the Ryangolf team is more equipped than ever to tackle larger projects, bringing quality and efficiency to every endeavor.

Watch a video about the Ryangolf project: