Ashley Eller-Cottrell
President/Tournament and Corporate Sale
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 degree. She then took a job in Los Angeles, CA where she met her husband, David, and they then moved back to Nashville to be close to family. She took a job with her father, Mike Eller, who built and owns Hermitage Golf Course which opened in 1986, as director tournament and corporate sales. She is currently the president of of Hermitage Golf Course's 36-hole championship course and facility.
Ashley and David have 3 children, Carter, Henry and Anne Michael along with 2 yellow labs, Sandy and Swiper. You can the kids and dogs at the course on a daily basis.
Bob Schultz
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.
Chris Pierce, PGA
Director of Golf/Head Pro
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, tried his hand at mini tours in the southern United States for a couple of years before joining HGC full time in 2012.
He has one brother, Jay, a high school football coach outside Nashville, where when time permits, he still volunteers as an assistant on the field.
Chris and his wife, Catlyn, a speech pathologist, live just outside Nashville with their dog, Wrigley.
David Cottrell
Director of Food & Beverage
David has been with The Hermitage Golf Course for over 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.
Monica Bates
Director of Weddings and Special Events
I moved to Nashville from Rock Port, Mo in 1987, I moved because my mother was the mayor and I couldn’t get away with anything, I went to work at the Sheraton Music City in January of 1987 and left in October of 2009 after 22 years of working in food & beverage, sales, catering & convention services, In 2010 I went to work for CSI meetings where I negotiate meetings / contracts for customers which I still do while working here, I LOVE WEDDINGS! I have been married to Darryl Bates since 2000 and we have two dogs Marley and Pearl and when we are not working you will find us at the lake or on a river Kayaking.
Lacey Napier
Director of Cottage Sales
Lacey is from White House, Tennessee. Lacey attended Tennessee Technological University and was a member of the Golden Eagles Golf Team. Lacey took her first golf lesson at Hermitage Golf Course in 1988, before joining us as a cart staffer, beverage cart driver, and eventually apGA Assistant Golfprofessional. Lacey has extensive experience in competitive golf at all levels ofplay including; junior, amateur, collegiate, andprofessionally.Having been in the golf course industry for over 15 years, Lacey has made various stops along the way. Lacey was employed at multiple facilities across the country in order to gain knowledge in the golf industry. Most recently as the Assistant General Manager of The Dallas Cowboys Golf Club in Dallas, TX and as General Manager at the Golf Club Fossil Creek, Ft. Worth, TX. Lacey loves being able to utilize what she has learned throughout her years in the industry to ensure everyone that comes to stay in The Cottages at Hermitage Golf Course have an exceptional and unforgettable experience.
Away from the golf course Lacey enjoys spending time with her husband, Kevin, and their dog, Birdie. Lacey’s family is truly a golf family, her husband, Kevin is employed by Callaway Golf and travels along with thepGA tour weekly and her dog, Birdie comes to work with her everyday, so be sure to stop by and say hello! Lacey enjoys hiking, Cubs baseball, and attending Dave Matthews Band concerts…no one knows exactly how many she has attended, but it is a lot! Lacey hopes to retire to a farm one day and rescue donkeys and senior dogs.
Ryan Smith
Assistant Pro/Teaching Instructor
Ryan Smith is one of the best up and coming golf instructors in the state and has been a great addition to Hermitage Golf Course. First, got into golf at the age of 2 and has been playing top level golf since he was a junior. In 2004 he was named Tennessee junior golfer of the year and moved on from there to play division one college golf at Tennessee State University. While earning a degree in Exercise Science, Ryan led his team to a NCAA Division one National Minority Championship in 2008 and won two individual titles. After graduating Ryan played professional golf for six years on various mini tour and PGA sanction tours all across North America. Ryan loves to be outdoors to hunt and fish.
Cole Murley
Kimmy Watkins
Darryl Bates
Banquet Manager
Darryl was born and raised in Madison, TN, he graduated from Maplewood High School in 1979 after high school he attended TSU University. He worked in various positions around Nashville in Food & Beverage for over 30 years from Gaylord Opryland to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Darryl is married to Monica and they have two dogs Marley and Pearl. He has a daughter from a previous relationship and she has 5 children. In his spare time he LOVES KAYAKING.