Meet Our Pros

Roly Hitchcock joined the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) in 1996 and started his training at Stoke by Nayland Golf Club, where he is now Head PGA Professional.

So far during his career, Roly has held a variety of significant teaching posts including U16s Girls Coach for England Golf’s east region and Essex County Coach. He has also worked for various development academies.

In 2013, Roly qualified as a PGA Level 4 coach, but his personal and professional development didn’t stop there! He is in the process of studying for an MSc in Sports Coaching that will further his understanding of the wants and needs of every golfer that he teaches.

Roly believes that impact is the most important part of the game and is often the area that many golfers neglect in all aspects of the game.

Simon turned professional after a successful amateur career achieving representation for England and winning the England U18 Schoolboys Championships.

Having enjoyed over fifty professional wins across Europe, he has now turned his focus to developing golfers to maximise their potential. Having gained valuable experience from training with Master Professional Pete Cowen (the most successful coach on the European tour) and Mike Hebron, Simon has a wealth of knowledge on swing mechanics and believes you have to instil constants to gain consistency, something every golfer needs. He has worked with all standards of golfers to bring out the best in them from beginners, County players, International golfers, and Professionals.

He draws on his experience in his previous role as Head of Schools for the Lee Westwood Golf School to provide a structured learning approach, working with what players have in a simple but successful way. His motivation to improve a player is infectious, his strong people skills and communication help provide a unique coaching experience.

Ranked No.1 Amateur in the World in 2007, Jamie’s amateur wins include the 2006 Lytham Trophy and the 2007 Brabazon Trophy.

Jamie moved to the professional ranks after competing in the 2007 Walker Cup. In 2011, he recorded his first professional victory at the Acaya Open in Italy on the European Challenge Tour, which led to Jamie earning his playing rights on the European Tour the following season.

With a wealth of knowledge to share and experience to pass on, Jamie is now offering range lessons, short game-specific coaching and on-course tuition at Stoke by Nayland Resort.

Paul has worked in the golf industry for thirty-four years with thirty of those as a PGA Professional.
Having retired as a Club Professional in June 2020 he now lives in North Norfolk and coaches part-time to help golfers of all abilities understand how they can enjoy the fantastic game of golf even more.

Paul has a natural way of making you feel comfortable and relaxed so you can enjoy your lessons while getting the information you need to progress. His coaching style is methodical but not overloading, he understands the limit of application and will only ask you to achieve the possible.

Paul has worked for international coach Denis Pugh and shadowed a number Golf World daily schools where Denis & David Leadbetter were the coaches.During the nineties, he also worked for a local Colchester company called Coverdale Studios where he frequently traveled to Brunei as a golf commentator interviewing many famous sports stars for pre and post-match Q & A.

As a PGA member Paul has held many positions that include Suffolk’s PGA Captain & Chairman, East of England PGA Captain & Vice Chairman, Director of Golf at Fynn Valley GC, and Club Professional at Haverhill GC amongst others. Paul has also won many Professional events during his career including The Futures Tour at Royal Norwich in 1997 and in the same year The Suffolk Open Championship at Stowmarket GC.

Paul is ready to welcome you and looks forward to starting your journey to more enjoyable golf.

PGA Professional for over 25 years, Nick has given in excess of 40,000 hours of coaching. His passion for golf and coaching is evident from the moment of meeting him.

Testament to his many regular clients who haven’t just returned again and again, but have built up lasting relationships that have stood the test of golf’s up and downs. His warm friendly approach and infectious enthusiasm allows all his clients to enjoy the process of learning to play golf.

Max has been a member at Stoke-by-Nayland for over eight years and is now following a long line of talented juniors at the club who have gone on to pursue a career as a Golf Professional. He has started his PGA Professional Golf Studies degree this year and is looking to develop his coaching, club-fitting and retail skills at the resort, whilst also continuing to build on his playing career.

Tom has played golf at Stoke by Nayland for over 15 years, representing the club in county and national level competitions. Tom turned professional back in 2022 after winning the Jamega tours amateur order of merit and is now competing in the PGA East region events.

Tom has begun his PGA professional golf studies having previously completed a degree in sport and exercise science, writing his dissertation on the kinematic sequence and the relationship to injuries in golf. Tom has a keen interest in the mechanics of the golf swing and believes he can help improve your game.