Meet Our Team

Owner, Hermitage Golf Course Properties

Mike started his golf career in 1976 as an assistant golf professional under his father, Harold Eller, at Old Hickory Country Club. He then became head pro for 6 years.  During that time, he met Nashville businessman, Ray Danner.  They became fast friends and great golfing partners. Mike always wanted to own a daily fee golf course with flexibility to host outside community outings and Ray had always wanted to own a golf course when he retired. That led to the original 18 holes - General's Retreat - at Hermitage Golf Course, which opened in 1986. It hosted the LPGA’s prestigious Sara Lee Classic from 1988-1999. They successfully opened two other golf courses: one in Memphis, Tenn., and one in Greenville, South Carolina. Mike assisted in the course design, routing, and building of Hermitage’s second 18 holes, President’s Reserve. In 2012, Mike purchased the Danner family’s share to become sole owner of Hermitage Golf Properties, Inc.   

Mike has been active in the golf operation and management business for more than 45 years, also serving in a variety of PGA capacities: Chapter President, Board member, and President of the Tennessee PGA. Mike has spoken at Chapter meetings across the state on numerous occasions especially regarding the Grow the Game initiative and the PGA’s program development. Mike assisted in initiating the Grow the Game Program in the Tennessee PGA section and represented the Tennessee Section at the National 20/20 Conference. Mike has served on several national PGA committees, including the committee who developed the PGA Profit Share that distributed profits from PGA National to PGA sections across the country.

Mike’s family was awarded the Jack Nicklaus Awards by the National Golf Foundation in 1993. This recognition was earned because of the total family involvement in a multitude of golf areas: club professionals, course ownership, PGA Board memberships, development of the Tennessee boy’s and girl’s state championships, two USGA Jr. championships, seven women’s state championships, one men’s state championship, four women’s senior state championship and especially Mike’s claim to fame, 1958 Runner-Up in the 3^rd Flight of the Old Hickory Country Club Caddie Tournament. In 2010, Mike was awarded the Distinguished Career award by the PGA.

Mike is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he played on the University golf team. He and his wife, Barbara, of 50+ years live in Old Hickory, Tenn., with their 2 dogs and have one son, Drew, a financial controller for Bridgestone, and daughter, Ashley Cottrell, who currently serves as president of the Hermitage Golf Properties, Inc.   

President of Hermitage Golf Course Properties and Corporate Sales

Ashley Eller-Cottrell is no stranger to the game of golf. Growing up in Old Hickory, TN, she spent her days playing golf and swimming as a young kid at the country club where her father was the head pro. After graduating from the University of Alabama in Public Relations and Marketing, she came back to Nashville to pursue her career.  She then took a job in Los Angeles, CA, where she met her husband, David, and they decided to make the move back to Nashville to be close to family. She took a job with her father, Mike Eller, who built and owns Hermitage Golf Course, as director of tournament and corporate sales.  She is currently the president of Hermitage Golf Course's 36-hole championship course and facility.

Ashley and David have three children, Carter, Henry, and Anne Michael, along with 2 dogs, Swiper and Martha. You can see the kids and dogs at the course on a daily basis.

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GCSAA Superintendent

Bob Schultz was born and raised in Old Hickory, TN. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and was the first employee hired by Hermitage Golf Course. He has been the Superintendent for over 30 years. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, biking and boating with his wife Susan and daughters, Abby and Katie.

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Director of Food & Beverage

David has been with The Hermitage Golf Course for more than 12 years as the Director of Food and Beverage. David is a graduate of the Culinary Apprenticeship at The Opryland Hotel. After graduation, David worked in Munich, Germany, for a six month internship at the 3 star Le Gourmet and Shwarzwalder. David also spent five years in the motion picture catering industry where he catered for movies, TV, commercials and videos. Some of the productions he catered for included GI Jane, The Green Mile, JAG and Practical Magic. David moved back to Tennessee in 2001 where he helped open the kitchen at The Country Music Hall of Fame.

When not at work David enjoys spending time with his wife, Ashley, and their three kids Carter, Henry and Anne Michael. He especially enjoys backpacking, camping and sailing with Mike.

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Director of Golf

Chris Pierce was born in Nashville and raised in a suburb of the city, Hermitage, very close to HGC. He prepped at a private school in the same vicinity. After college, he tried his hand at mini tours in the southern United States for a few years before joining HGC full time in 2012. Although he bears numerous  responsibilities in the pro shop, you may know him best as "Golf shop, this is Chris" over on TikTok. 

He has one brother, Jay, and in his spare time he trades out his golf clubs for a football and assists in coaching a local high school football team.

Chris and his wife, Catlyn, a speech pathologist, live just outside Nashville with their children Ivy and Tucker, and their dog, Wrigley.

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Director of Instruction

Golf Pro

Golf Pro, Head Assistant

Alphonso Ashford started his golf career at Clear Creek Golf Course in 2000, as First Assistant and Tournament Director. In 2003, he became the First Assistant at Gordon Lakes Golf Course in Augusta, GA. After a short period away from golf, he began his journey into junior golf as the Program Director and Head Golf Professional at The First Tee of Augusta. After seven years of service to the Augusta chapter, he moved to become the Director of Golf and Head Golf Professional of The First Tee of Nashville. With the Tennessee chapter’s ever growing footprint and acquisition of the VinnyLinks Golf Course, his role expanded to Director of Golf/Outreach/and Special Events and LPGA USGA Girls Golf.  Alphonso has also taught Life and Golf Skills Academies at universities like Wake Forrest, University of Reno Nevada, University of Virginia, Bose State, San Diego State, and Michigan State. He also served on several National First Tee Programming committees, judge for national participant opportunities, and as assistant men’s and women’s at historic Fisk University. Alphonso is a member of the PGA and loves playing the game. If you don’t see him in the shop, then you will more than likely find him on the course or on the range. He is married to Allison and they have two daughters, Courtney and Alexis. They also have five grandchildren and both enjoy hanging out with their two dogs Minnie (Yorkie) and Pepper (Welsh Terroir). During football season you will see him sporting his beloved Cowboy gear!

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Assistant Golf Pro

Avery Panni was born and raised in Ooltewah, TN. He started his golf career at Ooltewah High School. His love for the game moved him from Ooltewah to the Nashville area where he now resides. He has helped coach the PGA Jr. league here at Hermitage for the last two seasons. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and fishing. He also enjoys watching the Atlanta Braves, Tennessee Volunteers, and the Nashville Predators.

Chef

Steve was born in the Bay area of California. He is a culinary graduate major in classical French and has been baking for 26 years. He also received a nutrition degree from the University of Florida. Steve has worked in the following elite Nashville restaurants: Sunset Grill, Boundry, Mad Platter and Basantes. Steve is married and father to two sons and a beautiful granddaughter. 

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Director of Marketing

Born in Kentucky, Courtney grew up around farms, horses, and right down the road from a golf course. Her illustrious junior golf career never took off (perhaps it was due to spending too much time chatting with her friends instead of focusing on the game), although she did win one tournament. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in Public Relations, she made her move to Nashville. Eller cut her teeth at a national PR firm where she spent 12 years providing strategic account planning, client communications and campaign implementation for a variety of industries including sports, food, healthcare, automotive and alternative energy.

When not working, Courtney and her husband Drew run their four children to activities and spend as much time as possible at the golf course.

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Front of House Manager