RYP Academy / Team / Founder
The team
Dr. Luke Benoit
PhD, Motor Learning · PGA
The architect of the RYP system and a national voice on motor learning. Luke is a 12x Golf Digest "Best Young Teacher" and author of The Golf Textbook. He's coached 13 Minnesota "Players of the Year" and Caleb VanArragon, Korn Ferry Tour player. Luke's priority is ensuring the entire staff is trained with the same curriculum and coaching philosophy.
Luke brings 20+ years of experience to RYP Academy.
The staff
Our Team
Swing
Six swing coaches
6 coaches
Blaize Baumgartner, PGA
A teaching professional at Interlachen Country Club since 2014. She graduated from Ferris State and worked at Grey Oaks in Florida before making Interlachen her home.
Jenn Huber, PGA
A teaching professional at Interlachen Country Club. Before Interlachen she taught at Hazeltine and Braemar, and before that she played on the LPGA Tour.
Noah Norgren
An elite club fitter and teaching professional at The Tee Box golf simulator in Hopkins. Returning for a second season with RYP Academy.
Teddy Kaste
Played college golf at Gustavus Adolphus. Returning for a second year on the academy staff.
Kathryn VanArragon
The most decorated golfer in Minnesota junior history, and the most decorated in this program: 21 Minnesota titles — seven MGA Player of the Year awards, three State Amateurs, two State Opens, three straight Girls’ Junior PGA Championships from 2021 to 2023, and two high school state championships. In 2026 alone she took the Women’s Amateur, the Match Play and the Four-Ball. She now coaches here.
Brock Winter
2019 boys’ state champion (AAA, Stillwater) and winner of the 2023 MGA Players’ Championship. A top player at the University of Minnesota who played professionally for two years before joining the RYP Golf team as a teaching professional. He coaches the swing inside the training blocks and runs the course-management work.
Fitness
Strength, speed and athletic development.
1 coach
Director of Performance and Fitness
Phil Herder, M.S.
Golf-specific fitness and athletic development. Runs the strength and speed work, and handles onboarding, app tracking and the monthly family check-in calls.
Mental performance coach
Yannick Artigolle, M.S., CMPC
Certified Mental Performance Consultant with an M.S. in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. Four years of Division I golf at Northwestern. Helps junior golfers build routines, reset after bad holes, and perform under pressure.
The academy
Manages RYP Academy
1 director
Academy director
Makel Mackbee
Runs the academy day to day and is the main point of contact for parents.