Instructor Bios

Learn more about our top of the line golf instructors.

John Connelly

John Connelly has been a PGA member since 1994 and a golf professional for more than 25 years. With a degree in mathematics and a minor in education, John brings a unique blend of science and an understanding of how we learn to the lesson tee.

John has studied the golf swing as a student and fellow coach with some of the world's top golf instructors, including:

  • Mike Hebron, Mike Hebron Golf Academy
  • Jim Mclean Golf Academy
  • Patti McGowan, David Leadbetter Golf Academy
  • Chuck Hogan, Chuck Hogan Sports Enhancement Associates
  • Mike Bentley, Bentley Golf and K-Vest Inventor
  • Tim Stafford, Roland Stafford Golf Schools

John believes in the importance of staying current and continues studying the golf swing by taking lessons and attending educational seminars. He attended the 1998 and 2004 PGA Teaching and Coaching Summits, as well as local PGA educational forums ('08-'09) with featured instructors, Jim Hardy, Mike Adams and Hank Haney.

John is also a certified "Golfing Machine" instructor.

John started at Randall's Island in 2000, and is currently the Head Professional. He has also been at the New Jersey National GC, the Pelham and Split Rock GC and the Midtown Indoor Golf Club in NYC.

Matt has combined his accomplishments as a PGA professional with entrepreneurial skills by starting/running a successful business. In 2006, Matt founded an after school golf program in Maryland. In just 3 three years the business grew to over 25 schools throughout Montgomery, Frederick and Baltimore Counties and was sold in September, 2009.

In 2010, Matt was named the new head golf coach at Polytechnic Institute of NYU, located in Brooklyn. It is Matt's goal to help the team reach the NCAA Division III Championships in the spring.

Matt's teaching philosophy is based on the pre-swing fundamentals:

  • Grip
  • Posture
  • Alignment
  • Stance
  • Ball Position

Your swing evolves from your setup. Applying the pre-swing fundamentals habitually in your practice and play will improve consistency and your execution of the golf swing.

Matt's instruction includes video analysis which allows you to compare your swing to the top golfers on the PGA Tour. The software makes it particularly easy to send swings from one person to another and to analyze the swing of a student or friend. To see what your actual swing looks like makes all the difference in improving your ability, whether you're a beginner or advanced golfer.