August 30, 2024 • 8 mins
Former pro Shaun Jones is back at the club where it all began.
He started at 14 at Russley Golf Club, and has now returned as their teaching professional, as well as doing a bit of work on the turf.
Shaun spoke with Lesley about his transformation into coaching, in association with the Elmwood Trading Company.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Time now in association with the Onward Trading Company to
go out to the Rustley Golf Club and talk with
Sean Jones. He is, of course, well he'll tell us
what he is. Sewan, good morning, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good morning?
Speaker 1 (00:11):
We're very good. So lovely morning for golf out there.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
It is. It is a beautiful nights and warm springs
arrived early maybe.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Well maybe, of course, a lot of people think the
first of spring is tomorrow, but some don't. But you
are the teaching professional at the Rustley Golf Club and
you joined it at fourteen years of age. I don't
want you to have to feel that you've got to
give us your age now. But you've obviously been out
there for quite a long time.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, well I'm thirty eight. I think there we are
thirty nine, so yeah, definitely a long time.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Well, you also represented Canterbury as a top amateur player.
That was for eight years. That's a good swag of time.
You must have some great memories from that.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah. Absolutely. It was an honor really to where the
Red and Black. Very proud of yeah, very proud to
just even get named in those teams, let alone played
alongside everybody else and.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Then of course, you turned professional and for the next
ten years played in tournament golf in New Zealand, Australia.
You went to Europe and you based yourself in Switzerland.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, so my wife is Swiss, so it was sort
of a no brainer really to go over there and
be based in central Europe. Really it was pretty easy
to get around as then we're right in the middle
of everything. So yeah, that was the reason.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Well, you've got great perspective on a lot of areas.
But so how come did you come back here to
christ Touch.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
The plan was to always sort of come back to
New Zealand. My wife Swiss, but she loves New Zealand
as well, although Switzerland is very, very beautiful, but we
definitely have it pretty good over here in New Zealand.
So it was always a plan to come back. The
plan was to go over and try golf for two
three years, to give it a real crack, and it
turned into almost well, pretty much six years just due
(01:57):
to COVID really.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Right, and so as mentioned, fourteen years of age, you
joined Rustley as a junior member. So how did you
get into golf?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Then? Definitely through my father. My father plays There are
photos of me holding onto a golf club at about
the age of three years old, but soccer was my
main sport from about three to fourteen, and then sort
of got really hooked into golf at the age of fourteen.
And it was quite easy to get to after school
(02:26):
and yeah, as you know, it was quite individual, so
I didn't need my teammates to go and practice. So
I think that's sort of why I liked it so much,
as I could go and do it when I wanted
to do it.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Well, you've quickly transitioned then into or from a professional
golfer into being a teaching professional, So how have you
made that transition?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
So I actually did a little bit of coaching over
in Switzerland, just in an indoor simulator for my last
season while I was over there, and that was sort
of my taste into coaching. I was on the phone
talking to Rodney Ee back here and he's only he
was like my mentor in a way, still is. But yeah,
with things changing it rossly three coaches have moved on.
(03:08):
It's sort of made my opportunity to jump in and
have a go at coaching faster than I was expecting.
But yeah, very excited to obviously get going well. I
am I started, but turn it more into full time.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So do you have a particularly a particular philosophy around coaching,
because on our program this morning we have spoken to
quite a few different coaches of different sporting codes. It's
an area that is really critical to where our high
performance athletes end up and to introducing young people and
getting them good skills early on.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah. I think with me sort of, I've been out there.
I'm not saying that I've been super successful, but I've
kind of played for Canterbury. I didn't play for New Zealand,
but you know, played professionally professional golf. I won some
tournaments here in New Zealand and did quite well in
New on PJA and he's on Open and then obviously
going over to Europe and flying the flag. I guess
(04:05):
it's my coaching really comes from my experiences really, And
when I did start playing golf, I was on a
thirty six handicap, so which is the highest handicap you
can have as a male. So I definitely went through
all the levels. Yeah, so I just used my experiences.
I guess, well.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
That's probably the best way. What's your biggest challenge as
a coach.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Just I don't I don't know really, players come to
coaches and expect it to me to tap them on
the shoulder and all of a sudden made you know,
wave the magic wand and they're away. But as I know,
it takes a lot of work and there's always that
velofs or do something ten thousand times. So yeah, when
(04:53):
we're working on golf swing trying to change it, it
does take a lot, and normally it doesn't happen within
that half an hour or our session that we have.
So for me, it's as long as the player leaves
a lesson understanding what they're actually trying to do, because
straight away timing will be completely out, so they won't
(05:14):
be seen results straight away. That's probably the hardest thing.
It's very rewarding as well when they come back to
you next time and they've actually caught the move that
you're looking for and then you're literally just working on
the next move.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
No good answer, And I guess you know, these days,
much better to have a golf lesson in the flesh
rather than looking at it through YouTube or something like that.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Yeah, I mean everybody's different, right, you know. I've got
players that come to me, and I can't get you
to swing it like Rory mccroy because you know you're
You're not Rory. Every every swing is unique, and it's
about understanding what makes your swing tech. And yeah, like
I say, it's about understanding whether your poor shots come
from and where your where your good shots come from.
(05:58):
So that's why I try and get my players to understand.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Well, I'll tell you what we've been treated, haven't we
in the last Well, I guess three weeks with Lydia Coe,
and we always knew what a wonderful golfer she has been,
right from such an early age, and her discipline and
her ability for a hard work ethic. But to see
her come back win that gold, win the Open over there,
it's and Andrews and her modesty and her understated way.
(06:27):
I mean, she just makes golf look a million dollars,
doesn't she.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, you just you can see that in there as
well on the way she talked. She's very proud of
what she's done. She's very proud that she she flies
in his own flag. And yeah, it hasn't come from
you know, it's sorry, It's only come from hard work.
And we all know this yeah, no shortcuts, Yeah, exactly,
no shortcuts.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Well, we're grateful that you've come back, Sean Jones, and
that you are the professional out at Russeley Golf Club.
How do people contact you if they want a one
on one? Do you do that?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah? Absolutely. I've got sort of thirty minute sessions, sixty
and ninety minute sessions, have even got learned to play sessions,
So I sort of cater for everybody, not just the elite.
If you're a beginner, middle of the range. As long
as you're you know, you're obviously getting lessons because you
want to improve, and I believe everybody plays golf because
(07:21):
they want to shoot their best possible score. So the
best way to get a lesson with me is potentially
just go online RUSS the Golf Club, the website and
click on the coaching area. And now you can actually
book online, which is just something new that's come and
started be available in the last three weeks. But you
(07:42):
can book yeah, through that, it's probably the best. You
can book three weeks up in advance, or if you
want to book, let's say you want to book a
lesson in December for your dad or yourself, you're probably
best to get in contact with the pro shop.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Very good, very simple. Great, it's online booking. We all
love that we do. Yes, well, you have a fantastic weekend,
Sean Jones. Keep up the valuable work because people in
the end do get lessons because they want to get better.
So you're doing a fantastic job and you will speak
again soon.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
That's all right, Thank you very much, thank you, good
day you too.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Thank you. That is Sean Jones, the teaching professional out
at the Russeley Golf Club, and thank you to the
Onward Trading Company. For more from News Talks ed B
listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on IR Radio
Time now in association with the Onward Trading Company to
go out to the Rustley Golf Club and talk with
Sean Jones. He is, of course, well he'll tell us
what he is. Sewan, good morning, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good morning?
Speaker 1 (00:11):
We're very good. So lovely morning for golf out there.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
It is. It is a beautiful nights and warm springs
arrived early maybe.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Well maybe, of course, a lot of people think the
first of spring is tomorrow, but some don't. But you
are the teaching professional at the Rustley Golf Club and
you joined it at fourteen years of age. I don't
want you to have to feel that you've got to
give us your age now. But you've obviously been out
there for quite a long time.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, well I'm thirty eight. I think there we are
thirty nine, so yeah, definitely a long time.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Well, you also represented Canterbury as a top amateur player.
That was for eight years. That's a good swag of time.
You must have some great memories from that.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah. Absolutely. It was an honor really to where the
Red and Black. Very proud of yeah, very proud to
just even get named in those teams, let alone played
alongside everybody else and.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Then of course, you turned professional and for the next
ten years played in tournament golf in New Zealand, Australia.
You went to Europe and you based yourself in Switzerland.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, so my wife is Swiss, so it was sort
of a no brainer really to go over there and
be based in central Europe. Really it was pretty easy
to get around as then we're right in the middle
of everything. So yeah, that was the reason.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Well, you've got great perspective on a lot of areas.
But so how come did you come back here to
christ Touch.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
The plan was to always sort of come back to
New Zealand. My wife Swiss, but she loves New Zealand
as well, although Switzerland is very, very beautiful, but we
definitely have it pretty good over here in New Zealand.
So it was always a plan to come back. The
plan was to go over and try golf for two
three years, to give it a real crack, and it
turned into almost well, pretty much six years just due
(01:57):
to COVID really.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Right, and so as mentioned, fourteen years of age, you
joined Rustley as a junior member. So how did you
get into golf?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Then? Definitely through my father. My father plays There are
photos of me holding onto a golf club at about
the age of three years old, but soccer was my
main sport from about three to fourteen, and then sort
of got really hooked into golf at the age of fourteen.
And it was quite easy to get to after school
(02:26):
and yeah, as you know, it was quite individual, so
I didn't need my teammates to go and practice. So
I think that's sort of why I liked it so much,
as I could go and do it when I wanted
to do it.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Well, you've quickly transitioned then into or from a professional
golfer into being a teaching professional, So how have you
made that transition?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
So I actually did a little bit of coaching over
in Switzerland, just in an indoor simulator for my last
season while I was over there, and that was sort
of my taste into coaching. I was on the phone
talking to Rodney Ee back here and he's only he
was like my mentor in a way, still is. But yeah,
with things changing it rossly three coaches have moved on.
(03:08):
It's sort of made my opportunity to jump in and
have a go at coaching faster than I was expecting.
But yeah, very excited to obviously get going well. I
am I started, but turn it more into full time.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So do you have a particularly a particular philosophy around coaching,
because on our program this morning we have spoken to
quite a few different coaches of different sporting codes. It's
an area that is really critical to where our high
performance athletes end up and to introducing young people and
getting them good skills early on.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah. I think with me sort of, I've been out there.
I'm not saying that I've been super successful, but I've
kind of played for Canterbury. I didn't play for New Zealand,
but you know, played professionally professional golf. I won some
tournaments here in New Zealand and did quite well in
New on PJA and he's on Open and then obviously
going over to Europe and flying the flag. I guess
(04:05):
it's my coaching really comes from my experiences really, And
when I did start playing golf, I was on a
thirty six handicap, so which is the highest handicap you
can have as a male. So I definitely went through
all the levels. Yeah, so I just used my experiences.
I guess, well.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
That's probably the best way. What's your biggest challenge as
a coach.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Just I don't I don't know really, players come to
coaches and expect it to me to tap them on
the shoulder and all of a sudden made you know,
wave the magic wand and they're away. But as I know,
it takes a lot of work and there's always that
velofs or do something ten thousand times. So yeah, when
(04:53):
we're working on golf swing trying to change it, it
does take a lot, and normally it doesn't happen within
that half an hour or our session that we have.
So for me, it's as long as the player leaves
a lesson understanding what they're actually trying to do, because
straight away timing will be completely out, so they won't
(05:14):
be seen results straight away. That's probably the hardest thing.
It's very rewarding as well when they come back to
you next time and they've actually caught the move that
you're looking for and then you're literally just working on
the next move.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
No good answer, And I guess you know, these days,
much better to have a golf lesson in the flesh
rather than looking at it through YouTube or something like that.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Yeah, I mean everybody's different, right, you know. I've got
players that come to me, and I can't get you
to swing it like Rory mccroy because you know you're
You're not Rory. Every every swing is unique, and it's
about understanding what makes your swing tech. And yeah, like
I say, it's about understanding whether your poor shots come
from and where your where your good shots come from.
(05:58):
So that's why I try and get my players to understand.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Well, I'll tell you what we've been treated, haven't we
in the last Well, I guess three weeks with Lydia Coe,
and we always knew what a wonderful golfer she has been,
right from such an early age, and her discipline and
her ability for a hard work ethic. But to see
her come back win that gold, win the Open over there,
it's and Andrews and her modesty and her understated way.
(06:27):
I mean, she just makes golf look a million dollars,
doesn't she.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, you just you can see that in there as
well on the way she talked. She's very proud of
what she's done. She's very proud that she she flies
in his own flag. And yeah, it hasn't come from
you know, it's sorry, It's only come from hard work.
And we all know this yeah, no shortcuts, Yeah, exactly,
no shortcuts.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Well, we're grateful that you've come back, Sean Jones, and
that you are the professional out at Russeley Golf Club.
How do people contact you if they want a one
on one? Do you do that?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah? Absolutely. I've got sort of thirty minute sessions, sixty
and ninety minute sessions, have even got learned to play sessions,
So I sort of cater for everybody, not just the elite.
If you're a beginner, middle of the range. As long
as you're you know, you're obviously getting lessons because you
want to improve, and I believe everybody plays golf because
(07:21):
they want to shoot their best possible score. So the
best way to get a lesson with me is potentially
just go online RUSS the Golf Club, the website and
click on the coaching area. And now you can actually
book online, which is just something new that's come and
started be available in the last three weeks. But you
(07:42):
can book yeah, through that, it's probably the best. You
can book three weeks up in advance, or if you
want to book, let's say you want to book a
lesson in December for your dad or yourself, you're probably
best to get in contact with the pro shop.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Very good, very simple. Great, it's online booking. We all
love that we do. Yes, well, you have a fantastic weekend,
Sean Jones. Keep up the valuable work because people in
the end do get lessons because they want to get better.
So you're doing a fantastic job and you will speak
again soon.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
That's all right, Thank you very much, thank you, good
day you too.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Thank you. That is Sean Jones, the teaching professional out
at the Russeley Golf Club, and thank you to the
Onward Trading Company. For more from News Talks ed B
listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on IR Radio
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