Head Professional

Hillary O'Connor

A lifelong golfer, Hillary represented Canterbury for over a decade, spending three years as the region's number one player. She also represented New Zealand internationally, won the Under-16 South Pacific Championship, and was part of Canterbury's victorious 2015 New Zealand Women's Interprovincial team. Today, as a qualified NZPGA Professional, she brings that experience into every lesson.

Hillary believes golf should be enjoyable, encouraging, and easy to understand. Her positive, approachable coaching style creates a relaxed environment where golfers can build confidence, develop their skills, and achieve their goals, whether they're picking up a club for the first time or looking to lower their handicap.

With her friendly personality and tailored coaching approach, Hillary is committed to helping every player enjoy the game and become the best golfer they can be.

Director of Coaching

Ben Guilford

I am a fully qualified NZ PGA Coaching Professional with a decade's worth of experience. I began my career in Rotorua on the circuit and transitioned to become a coaching professional in 2014. I coached at Akarana and Pupuke Golf Clubs in Auckland before relocating with my family to Queenstown to be the head teaching professional at The Hills and now onto Christchurch to take up the Head Professional position at Russley Golf Club.
I love everything about golf and want the best for my clients. I use some of the best technology in golf to inform my work with quantifiable data such as Trackman, BodiTrak, K-vest and more. Many of my clients have found my coaching valuable especially lessons in combination with the Trackman. I have plenty of experience coaching people of all ages and abilities -from multiple winning tour players, to beginners who have never swung a club. I look forward to bringing my passion and expertise to help you improve your game.
Professional Achievements

•    Coach to numerous New Zealand and overseas professionals

•    Former Head Teaching Professional at Pupuke Golf Club

•    Former Head Teaching Professional at The Hills

•    NZ P.G.A Trainee Championship Winner 2014

•    NZ P.G.A Tour Professional since 2010

•    Coach to Auckland, North Harbour, Otago and Bay of Plenty Reps

•    Numerous top 10 finishes in Pro Am events New Zealand and Australian P.G.A

•    Representative Golf for Bay of Plenty from 2002 through to 2009

• https://www.benguilfordgolf.co.nz/

Trainee Golf Professional

Shaun Jones

Former professional Tour player, now ready to share everything I’ve learned over my last 25+ years playing the greatest game in the world and fast-track you to success.

I started golf at a young age, but it became my main sport when I was 14 years old, which is when I joined Russley Golf Club as a junior member.

I represented Canterbury golf for 8 years.

• Vardon Trophy Winner: 2009 - 2010

• Canterbury Player of the Year: 2009 – 2010 – 2011

I turned professional in 2014 (with a +4 handicap) after attending the NZPGA qualifying school, which I won by 6 shots. This was my ticket into the next 10 years of playing professional golf throughout New Zealand and Europe on the Alps Tour.

I played in 2 New Zealand Opens and 2 NZ PGA Championships.
My best round as a professional was 8 under par in the second round of the 2017 NZ PGA Championship.

I look forward to getting to know you, working with you, and taking your game to the next level.

Golf Professional 

Moonhak Lee

Born in South Korea, Moon is fluent in both English and Korean and has a wealth of experience instructing junior groups as well as long-term private mentoring for golfers of all ages, skill levels, and experience.

Moon started playing golf at the age of 12 and has represented Canterbury at both junior and senior levels.

He is a passionate coach with over 5 years of experience in coaching, guiding, and designing effective training programs to help players reach their maximum performance level in a fun and easy way.

Moon is well known for his friendly, light-hearted character and enjoys building positive professional connections and rapport with his clientele.

Slices, hooks, and any fix you need—Moon will help you raise your game for maximum enjoyment!

Golf Professional

Mark Guy

Mark’s professional career began in Melbourne, Australia 1979, as a Trainee at Mornington Country Club, Victoria. After returning to New Zealand and playing the professional golf circuit for a time, he was appointed Resident Professional at the Christchurch Golf Club in 1983 and later Harewood Golf Club in 1988. Predominantly as a Teaching Professional, coaching experiences have covered a broad cross-section of golfers, genders & ages, including social and competitive settings, from beginner students to more accomplished players having higher performance aspirations.

Mark's coaching philosophy, whatever the golfing aspiration, sees instruction serving to motivate learning and encourage better Technical Awareness across all Physical, Mental, and Psychological divides. Learning the game and how it's played extends to a shared teacher/student commitment to better understand how to train, practice & perform on course.

Trainee Golf Professional

James Robinson

James is the latest member of our coaching staff to join us at the Russley Golf Centre. James has been a passionate golfer for most of his adult life and has an extensive background in working with young people through his career as a Primary School
Teacher.

James has coached and instructed young people in many sports and played golf all over the world including learning at the Butch Harmon School of Golf in Dubai. James has completed the PGA Gateway Coaching Certificate and is excited to be coaching juniors and people new to the game. James uses a fun, games-based approach in his junior coaching where student enjoyment is at the forefront of every lesson. With the more developed players, James loves discussing swing mechanics and is passionate about helping golfers improve their golf.


We are excited to have James join our team to look after our junior golf program space as well as helping new golfers transition into the game of golf.