About us

General Manager:  Russley Golf Club

Tel 03 358 4687

As the General Manager of Russley Golf Club, situated adjacent to the Christchurch International Airport, Tony transitioned to the golf industry in 2024 following a distinguished 30-year career in Transport and Logistics, with a focus on marketing and management.

Navigating the complexities of a premier, high-traffic club has proven both challenging and rewarding. Tony attributes much of this success to the support of a professional and dedicated Board of Directors, whose members expertly balance financial profitability with a steadfast commitment to the member experience. A recent highlight for the club was hosting the 2024 NZ Interprovincials, an exceptional event that showcased New Zealand’s finest emerging golfing talent.

Tony has found significant value in collaborating with regional peers and leveraging a national network to share innovations and resolve operational challenges. He highly recommends membership with the Club Managers Association (CMA NZ), noting that its extensive resources and network of experienced managers are invaluable assets for any club professional.

General Manager: Pupuke Golf Club 
Phone: (09) 410 7906 

Email: gm@pupukegolfclub.co.nz

Matt is the new President and Chair of the Golf Managers Association of New Zealand and the General Manager of Pupuke Golf Club on the Noth Shore of Auckland New Zealand, having previously been a member of the Board for a number of years before that. My love of sport and golf in particular made the choice of a switch from management at a trust company an easy one. Having worked offshore for over a decade before making the switch to come and live in NZ I have no regrets about making Auckland my home and especially Pupuke my club.

Having been on the other side of the desk whilst sitting on the Pupuke board it has been a steep learning curve seeing how the club runs as the GM. Every day brings new challenges and the journey that we are currently on to take Pupuke forward has been enjoyable and rewarding, for the most part! The challenges that covid has brought to the industry have meant reworking a lot of the traditional ways that a golf club is run and adapting to the world we now live in.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working my way through the BMI qualifications and being able to chat with other GM’s, Des and Stephen has helped me tremendously on a personal and professional capacity. GMANZ is a wonderful organisation that is always giving back to its members and one I am proud to be a part of.

Outside of golf I have a young family which keeps me happily occupied and am also a member of the Big Buddy program.  

Matt Guzik 

General Manager

Tara Iti Golf Club

Ph: 027 369 6288 

Email: matt.guzik@taraiti.com 

Matt joined the Tara Iti opening team in December 2013 from the United States of America. Tara Iti Golf Club debuted at 29^th in Golf Magazine’s top 100 courses in the world and currently ranks 6^th in Golf Digest top 100 courses in the world outside the US.

Matt is a Certified Club Manager, Certified Club Executive and Fellow through the Club Managers Association of America. Matt came to Tara Iti Golf Club with a wealth of experience gained in 40+ years of club management. He has been around golf and involved in club life since he started out as a caddie at 11 years old. Matt has been instrumental in opening and managing several prestigious clubs across the United States, most notably The Stock Farm Club in Hamilton, Montana; the Golf Club at Newcastle in Bellevue, Washington and the Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona. He also oversaw the clubhouse renovation and successful bid and securement of the 2002 Solheim Cup at Interlachen Country Club, Edina Minnesota.

Matt is a regular guest speaker at BMI for GMA NZ and Club Managers Association of NZ. He also spoke at CMAA's World Conference on “Everything I needed to know about Club Management – I learned by running marathons and participating in triathlons”.

 Manager: Mount Maunganui Golf Club

Phone: (07) 572 7044
Email: michael@mountgolf.co.nz

I was born and raised in Hawkes Bay where I played junior golf at the Napier Golf Club. After leaving school I attended Massey University and completed a Sports Business Management Degree.

After completing my studies I was fortunate to become the General Manager of SquashGym Palmerston North. At the time this was NZ’s largest Squash Club and combined with the Gym had 1100 members. We also hosted the 2021 World Women’s Teams Squash Champs. In 2011 I was appointed General Manager of the Manawatu Golf Club. I had six very busy and satisfying years there which included the club going from a $800K turnover a year club with most things contracted out, to a $2.7M business which included inhouse catering, bar and pro shop. In 2017 the club hosted the NZPGA Championship which was a build up from three previous Charles Tour events.

 In 2017 I made the move to be the General Manager at the Mount Maunganui Golf Club where I still currently reside. The Mount is NZ’s third busiest 18 hole golf course for rounds played. In 2018 we were named NZ Golf Club of the Year.

 I am married to Megan and together we have a son (Maverick) who was born in 2019 and twins Marshall and Meah who were born in 2021. I still enjoy getting out and playing the game and happy to talk to anyone about the current state and future of our sport!

General Manager: Tieke Golf Estate

Phone: 07 843 6287
Email: gm@tiekegolf.co.nz

I was born and raised on Auckland’s North Shore. After leaving high school I attended the University of Otago and completed a Bachelor of Physical Education, majoring in Sports Management and Marketing.

On graduating from University, I took on a Golf Operations role at North Shore Golf Club, which I held for two years. Following that, I pursued my O.E. in the UK where I travelled and worked at the British Tennis Association in a tournaments and events role.

After enjoying my time in the UK, with friends in Perth I decided it looked like a great place to live and work. I spent ten years there working at two well-regarded golf clubs, the Western Australian Golf Club as Golf and Membership Manager and The Vines Golf & Country Club as General Manager – Golf & Sport. In Perth, I met my wife Sammy and we had our first child Archie, later having our daughter Zara in NZ.

In 2019 my wife Sammy and I decided that we would like to be closer to family, so we moved to the Bay of Plenty where I took up the position of General Manager of Omanu Golf Club, a club with a great culture and one of the busiest in the country for rounds played.

After three years at Omanu, the opportunity became available to fill the position of General Manager at the newly opened Tieke Golf Estate, a role which I am thoroughly enjoying, there is so much opportunity to build on the great facility built here.

I enjoy the networking and educational component that the Golf Managers Association offers, at the time of writing I have attended two New Zealand conferences as well as three Australian and have completed two BMI courses.

General Manager: Boulcotts Farm Heritage Golf Club
Phone: (04) 567 4722 
Email: admin@boulcottsfarmhgc.co.nz

Amy was born and raised in Lower Hutt and comes from a strong sporting family.  Amy attended the local Hutt Valley High School with now golf professionals Mark Brown, Glenn Naylor and John Thwaites  and was introduced to Golf Professional Alastair Sidford whom she then went on to marry.  Amys introduction to golf was initially caddying for Alastair in events on the Australian Tour and they spent 2 years in Australia, on the Tropical ProAm Circuit.  2004 saw Alastair secure the Golf Services Contract at the then Hutt Golf Club – and Amy worked alongside Alastair to establish the Golf Services Operation.  Amy briefly returned to her prior financial corporate career -although the demands of the pro shop and golf services business saw her move full time to club.  2010 saw the Hutt Golf Club merge with Boulcott Golf club to become Boulcotts Farm Heritage Golf Club which had undertaken a full course re-construction and the addition of modern clubhouse facilities.  Amy and Alastair switched their contracted positions to employees of the club, and Amy moved into the General Manager role in 2018. 

Amy has a keen interest in the affairs of the Golf Managers Association and is a participant in the CMAA BMI Education programme.

Amy and Alastair have 3 children who all have an interest in golf (and many other sports) and they place a high priority on Juniors and women in golf.  When time allows Amy fits in a spot of golf and plays to a 20 Handicap.

General Manager Royal Wellington Golf club

Phone:(021) 1089465

Email: dylan.lindstrom@royalwellington.com

Dylan Lindstrom serves as the General Manager of the renowned Royal Wellington Golf Club, where his passion for the sport and strong leadership are evident. A dedicated member of the PGA of New Zealand, Dylan's career has been built on a foundation of professional golf expertise and a commitment to creating exceptional environments for golfers. He is deeply invested in the success of Royal Wellington, focusing on delivering unparalleled service and fostering a thriving club culture.

Des Topp – Executive Officer Club Management Association of New Zealand

Contact: 021 392007

Email: eo@gmanz.co.nz 

Des is a seasoned professional in the golf industry, currently serving as the Executive Officer of the Club Management Association of New Zealand (GMA NZ) and chair of the New Zealand Golf Industry Council (NZGIC). With extensive experience in club management, Des has a proven track record of enhancing club operations, member engagement, and overall club performance.

Des is passionate about sustainability and environmental stewardship, advocating for eco-friendly practices within golf clubs. He is also a strong proponent of integrating technology to streamline operations and improve member experiences. His leadership skills are well-regarded, and he is dedicated to staff development and fostering a positive work environment.

In addition to his professional achievements, Des, through his close working relationship with Club Management Association of America, is committed to fostering the BMI continuous learning and professional development programmes in New Zealand and is extremely proud of the twenty students who have graduated CCM since its inception in 2015. Des actively promotes industry seminars and conferences, ensuring GMA NZ members stay abreast of the latest trends and innovations in golf club management. Des is also known for his excellent networking abilities, building strong relationships within the golf community.

Outside of his professional life, Des enjoys playing golf as health allows, exploring new courses, and promoting the sport to new audiences. His dedication to the game and his community makes him a respected and influential figure in the New Zealand golf industry and a deserved recipient of Life Membership of the Club Management Association of New Zealand.