Golf Lessons

All Canterbury staff professionals are qualified and experienced in providing lessons at every level.

Our professionals are also SafeGolf accredited, which means they are qualified to provide coaching and instruction to children.

Head Teaching Professional: Aaron Galbraith

After turning professional in 1998, Aaron gained a highly-regarded reputation for his coaching and for helping golfers of all abilities, from pros to absolute beginners, to find their natural swings. This is his ultimate objective when coaching.

Aaron started his pro career as a full-time coach and custom fit specialist at Manston Golf Centre, moved to Head of Game Improvement at North Foreland and advanced to Head Professional at Sene Valley before being appointed Canterbury's Director of Golf in March 2020. Then, in November 2024, Aaron decided to concentrate solely on a teaching role.

He says: "I believe every golfer already owns their natural swing but basically they've gone against it from the time they first started playing. In my experience this is due to the vast amount of misconception surrounding the swing and the often technical and complicated way it is taught and written about. It is my intention to remove the misconceptions and interference golfers have added to their natural swings and allow them to realise just how easy it can be to improve and enjoy their golf."

Aaron is a qualified PGA Class AAT professional and also an affiliated easiestswing.com coach. He can be contacted at aaron@canterburygolfclub.co.uk

PGA Senior Professional: Fred Dores

Fred arrived at Canterbury in November, his latest move in a coaching career that has taken him from one side of the world to the other, during which he has gained considerable experience.

His first overseas placement after qualifying was on a seasonal contract in Mexico before he moved on to spend three years in Thailand and then 14 more in Indonesia, where he set up and developed a junior academy and branched into corporate golf.

He returned to the UK in 2016 and worked in management for American Golf, with whom he qualified as a master custom fitter. He also coached at Pachesham Golf Centre, Leatherhead, before joining Canterbury.

Fred's specialities are in the short game tuition, creative shot-making skills, teaching with the use of imagery and the mental game. He takes great satisfaction from seeing players develop and flourish under his guidance.

PGA Playing Professional: Richard Wallis

Richard arrived at Canterbury in 2016 with an impressive playing record and a sound coaching reputation.

He has won numerous county, regional and national competitions - most notably the PGA National Play-Offs title on two occasions - and has played on the European Tour and the Challenge Tour and has more than 130 professional wins to his credit.

In 2013, he went into the Guinness Book of World Records after shooting a 14-under-par 59 in the PGA Southern Open Championship Pro-Am at Drift GC in Surrey.

And, for good measure, in September 2016, Richard set a new Canterbury course in winning the Kent PGA Championship.

In recent years, he has used his wealth of playing and PGA experiences to become a highly successful and popular teaching professional covering all aspects of the game.

PGA Professional: Maxine Burton

European Tour winner Maxine brings a wealth of experience with her to the pro shop and to the coaching division at the club.

As a youngster, Maxine's many successes included the South Eastern Girls' Handicap Championship, the Surrey Girls' Championship on three occasions and the English Girls' Championship. She also represented England in a number of team events.

She turned pro in 1978 and became a founder member of the WPGA European Tour. Her debut win came in the Carlsberg Tournament at Arcot Hall in 1980, and this was later followed by a 1984 Spanish Open victory at La Manga. Maxine also played on the WPGT Mini Tour in the United States, the US Futures Tour and the Asian Ladies' Tour.

In 1994, she was appointed head professional at Hurtmore GC, Godalming, and four years later became general manager.

She joined Canterbury in August 2019 where she assists in the pro shop and is available to give lessons.

Trainee Professional: Lily Cook

Lily took up golf in 2018, when she was attending the Canterbury Academy, and started playing at Boughton GC. She swiftly got her handicap down to single figures and she now plays off 1.6 but is keen to reduce that even further in the coming year when she is also expected to sign PGA apprenticeship forms.

After starting a Saturday job in the North Foreland GC pro shop, Lily, whose father and grandfather are both golfers, was offered a full time position at Canterbury and has been at the club since June 2023.