Staff Bios - Cartersville Country Club

Meet Our Staff

Phillip Wright

General Manager / Director of Golf

Member, Professional Golfers Association of America
Member, Professional Club Marketing Association
Member, National Golf Course Owners Association
Member, Association of Golf Merchandisers
Completed Dale Carnegie Leadership Class, 2018
Published in Golf Business Magazine, March 2016
Mackel Cup Match Play Louisiana Team, 2013, 2014 and 2015
Ascension Chamber of Commerce Leadership Ascension Class of 2014
Panelist, Tennessee PGA Business Summit, 2013
Gulf States PGA Merchandisers of Year Recipient, 2008
PGA President’s Council on Growing the Game, 2006-2013
Dixie Section PGA Finance Committee Chairman, 2006 -2007
APGM “Arnold Palmer Guest Obsession” National Recipient 2002

As Director of Golf Operations at Bella Vista in Bella Vista Arkansas for the past 2 ½ years, Phillip Wright directed all golf operations that included 7 golf courses playing an annual total of 155,000 rounds, 5 separate clubhouses, and a staff of 70+ employees. Wright previously managed all club operations while serving as the General Manager/Director of Golf at the 36 hole Pelican Point Golf Club in Gonzales, Louisiana for 9 years. Prior to moving to Louisiana, Wright was responsible for all golf operations at Ballantrae Golf Club in Birmingham, Alabama while serving as the Head Golf Professional for over 4 years. His previous employment also includes the General Manager/Director of Golf position at the Capstone Club in Brookwood, Alabama, Head Golf Professional at Tuscaloosa Country Club in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Assistant Golf Professional at Augusta Country Club located in Augusta, Georgia.

Phillip Wright earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Science from the University of Alabama in 1987. He played college golf at Brevard Junior College and walked on at the University of Alabama Golf Team in 1986. Phillip has participated in Nike Tour events and holds the course record at North River Yacht Club of 63 as well as the course record at Ballantrae Golf Club of 62. He is 28 year Member of the PGA and thoroughly enjoys working in the golf business helping Members and Guests enjoy the game of golf.

Phillip has been married to his wife, Rebecca, for over 28 years. They have three children; Caroline, 24, Julia, 22, and Andrew, who is 16.

Scott Hamilton

Scott Hamilton Golf Academy

Scott Hamilton was born and raised in Carthage, Missouri. Joining the PGA in 1989, Scott’s first PGA apprenticeship began on Hilton Head Island. His first professional position was as an Assistant Pro at Harbour Town Golf Links, a Pete Dye design that hosts the PGA tour’s Hilton Head Classic. During his tenure on Hilton Head Island, Scott got his first introduction to being a golf instructor at the Don Trahan School of Golf, which ran weekly golf camps for adults. In 1991, Scott moved to The Haig Point Club on Daufuskie Island, a Reese Jones design that was annually rated by Golf Digest as one of the top 25 courses in the country.

In 1993, Scott became the Head Golf Professional at Cartersville Country Club. Upon arriving at Cartersville Country Club, Scott set out to be an efficient club professional instructor by using a portable video system that was set up on the driving range. As the years have passed, this meager beginning has developed in to a state-of-the-art, two-bay learning center equipped with an Accelerized Golf 6-camera video system, TrackMan launch monitor, Vector Pro launch Monitor, and Science in Motion Putting Lab.

Scott has an impressive list of students that has grown over the last ten years to include some of the best players in the world. The list includes: Jason Bohn, a two time PGA tour winner and currently 66th in the World Ranking; Michael Clark II, 2000 rookie of the year on the PGA tour, winner of the 2000 John Deere Classic, and current Nationwide and PGA tour exempt player; Jamie Elson, 2001 Walker Cup player for England, fully exempt player on the European Tour; Steven Bowditch, winner of the 2005 Australian Nationwide event and 2009 Australian PGA tour event, fully exempt player on the Nationwide tour.

In addition to teaching tour players on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, Scott has been instrumental in assisting the state’s top amateurs, collegiate golfers, and rising high school players destined to high profile careers as professional golfers. Scott’s top amateur player is David Noll, Georgia State Amateur Player of the year for 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, and 2003. Scott has been instrumental in assisting several high school players from the Cartersville Country Club obtain golf scholarships at NCAA Division1 schools such as Vanderbilt, University of South Carolina, Texas Christian University, Boston College, Troy State, Air Force Academy, and many smaller schools throughout the United States.

In the fall of 2008, Scott and the Cartersville Country Club signed an agreement with Cleveland/Srixon to be the Fitting Studio for their company on the east coast. This proud partnership has brought a whole new level of club fitting and building that few other clubs in the United States can offer. The club builders that work at Cartersville are the same that work weekly on the PGA tour and Nationwide tour.

Over the past few years, Scott has integrated Trackman and Swingcatalyst technology into his teaching. Scott is now recognized regularly on the Golf Channel as "Top 5 Instructor in the Game." As of 2015, Scott travels to every PGA Tour event and coaches 10 PGA Tour Professionals: Steven Bowditch, Will Claxton, Joe Durant, Harris English, Tom Gillis, Russell Henley, Jim Renner, Chris Kirk, Brendon Todd, and Boo Weekley.

One of Scott’s most impressive accomplishment is a feat in which few others have succeeded. While competing in the PGA’s Pro-Assistant Championship at Cherokee Town and Country Club, Scott made two hole-in-ones during the same round. The odds of this are a reported 67 million to one.

For more information on Scott Hamilton, please visit scotthamiltongolf.com.

Gathon Garriga

Head Golf Professional

Gathon Garriga, PGA started playing golf once he got to high school in nearby Acworth, GA, and played his junior golf at Bentwater Golf Club. Being born in Mississippi, he is naturally a die-hard Mississippi State fan, so it was only right to combine his love for golf and Mississippi State into one, and enroll in the PGA Golf Management Program in Starkville. While in Starkville, he was able to intern at three amazing facilities: Country Club of Jackson (MS), Atlanta Country Club, and The Honors Course. Upon graduating from Mississippi State, Gathon accepted a job as an Assistant Golf Professional at Germantown Country Club just outside of Memphis. After one year, he was promoted to the lead Assistant position and also served as the captain of the club’s PGA Junior League team. After 2 years at Germantown CC, Gathon was hired as the Lead Assistant at Westhaven Golf Club in Franklin, TN where he managed multiple aspects of the operation including the Ladies Golf Association and the Outside Cart Staff. He was elected to PGA Membership in February of 2017.

Bill Hassell

Director of Instruction

Bill Hassell

2019 PGA Professional National Championship Participant
2019 Georgia PGA North Chapter Vice President
2018 Georgia PGA North Chapter Tournament Director
2018 Georgia PGA Billy Peters Cup Participant
2017 Georgia PGA North Chapter Player of the Year
2017 Georgia PGA North Chapter At Large Director

Bill Hassell was born and raised in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He decided to make golf his career when he entered the PGA Golf Management Program at Mississippi State University in 2004. Through the golf program at MSU, Bill interned at three golf clubs including: Country Club of Jackson, Pebble Beach Golf Links, and Torrey Pines Golf Course. Bill was an active participant in the PGA Golf Management Club as he earned Player of the Semester in Fall 2008 while serving as Club President. After graduation in 2008, Bill continued his education at MSU and earned his Master of Business Administration in 2009.

In 2010, Bill joined the PGA and accepted an Assistant Golf Professional position at The Floridian in Port St. Lucie, FL. Later in 2010, Bill accepted two seasonal Assistant Golf Professional positions at Diamond Creek Golf Club in Banner Elk, NC and Frederica Golf Club in St. Simons, GA. World-renowned architect, Tom Fazio, designed both Clubs. Diamond Creek Golf Club was recently ranked in Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses. Frederica Golf Club is the home Club of several PGA Tour Professionals including: Davis Love III, Zach Johnson, and Lucas Glover.

Bill recently transitioned into the role of Director of Instruction at Cartersville Country Club in April 2019. Bill now enjoys serving the Club teaching full time. Bill’s success with several standout junior players, collegiate players and members has led him to pursue this opportunity. Bill offers programs for the casual playing member all the way to elite competitive golfers. Bill enjoys “creating a learning environment that always strives for continual improvement!” Bill offers the latest technology using Trackman & SwingCatalyst. You can follow Bill on Instagram @billhassellgolf.

Chris Lyons

Executive Chef

A longtime love for cooking and an impressive resume are the ingredients that are evident in his food. “Cooking has always been a passion of mine since I was a young kid growing up in New York,” Chris says. “From a young age, friends and family would joke about how I always cooked such delicious food.”

He knew he wanted to pursue cooking as a career and attended the Florida Culinary Institute in southwest Florida. He was the top student in his class and also won second place in a statewide Florida culinary competition during his two years at the institute.

After graduation in 2004, he moved to Atlanta and studied under one of the best master chefs in the country. He worked his way up the ranks at some of the best restaurants in the city: Paul’s of Peachtree Hills (Paul being a founder of Pano and Paul’s), Barcelona wine bar and Soho.

“I finally took a leap of faith and opened Table 20 in downtown Cartersville in 2016.” The restaurant won recognition and multiple awards, including Best Restaurant in Bartow County two years in a row. Table 20 was also among the Top 10 restaurants in north Georgia.

“I have a strong passion for giving back to our community that I live in,” Chris says. “I am very excited to begin this new endeavor at the Cartersville Country Club and am looking forward to producing an amazing culinary experience for our members and their families for years to come.”

Chris King

Head Tennis Professional

Chris grew up in Marietta, GA attending Walton High School as their number one singles player all four years. He competed on the Unites States Tennis Association (USTA) junior circuit playing state, southern and national tournaments. As a junior player, he also collaborated with rivals forming a team in the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA), where he and his team represented Atlanta in a national junior team tournament, winning the title in San Diego, CA and finishing second the following year in Saint Louis, MO. His USTA junior career finished with him being ranked in the top five in GA, top 20 in the South and top 100 in the Nation.

He continued his tennis playing on a full scholarship to Middle Tennessee State University playing line two or three singles and line one doubles all four years while earning his Bachelor of Business Administration in 1989.

After a brief stint playing professional qualifier tournaments, Chris entered the business world and focused his tennis passion on teaching others independently and continuing to play in both the USTA and ALTA leagues, which he still does today.

Chris comes to us with 30 years of tennis teaching experience, with the last 25 years coaching part- time as an independent instructor in Cartersville and has experience at CCC as an assistant. He also comes with business experience working in banking, the ALTA official magazine and locally for Shaw Industries before owning and operating several local small businesses of his own. While in the local business community, Chris was also very involved in the Chamber of Commerce serving on numerous committees and the board of directors on two different occasions. His Chamber involvement included many local, state and Washington, D.C. meetings with our representatives in an effort to make Bartow County the best place to work and raise a family. He received the Chamber leadership award in 2000 and small business award in 2005 and was honored to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2009.

Chris brings his passion of tennis and community to our club and enjoys working with others to integrate these two. He enjoys being part of the CCC team and assisting children and adults to improve their tennis skills or learn the game as a beginner.

Craig Henderson

Bar Manager

Craig grew up in Lake Mary, Florida, where his next door neighbor owned a bar. This neighborly relationship helped develop an interest in the restaurant business. Craig has been working in the restaurant industry since the age of 15. He moved to Georgia in 1998 to attend culinary school at the Art Institute of Atlanta.

His first job after culinary school was at the Black Mountain Lodge in Dahlonega, Georgia, where he helped manage the bed and breakfast for three years. He then was hired at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Georgia where he became the Food and Beverage Manager. Hawks Ridge Golf Club is where Craig really learned the ins and outs of the restaurant business under the direction of Chef Todd Hogan, who currently owns three restaurants.

After spending more than 9 years at Hawks Ridge he was offered a position at Winchester Woodfire Grill in Canton, Georgia, which was operated by HMS Properties. After a three year stint, he went to work at Towne Lake Hills Golf Club in Woodstock, Georgia, which is also operated by HMS Properties. At Towne Lake Hills, Craig worked for two years as the Food and Beverage Manager. After his time at Towne Lake Hills, Craig was offered the position of Bar Manager at Big Canoe in Jasper, Georgia, where he served the members for four years.

Craig is a deligent worker who enjoys exceeding club member's expectations and providing a welcoming atmosphere. He is always searching for the newest trends while maintaining the club's core values and makeup.

Christine Gossett

Director of Dining and Events

Christine attended Douglas County High School and moved to Bartow County to manage Del Taco. She began her working career at CCC in 1993 as a server. Through her deligent work ethic, she quickly was promoted to Assistant Dining Room Manager in 1994. For the next several years Christine was responsible for many class reunions, weddings, showers, company gatherings and social golf events.Due to her success in her role, she became Dining Room and Events Manager in 1998.

As of 2015, Christine was promoted to Director of Dining and Events, where she became responsible for all of the functions held at CCC along with many of the day to day management responsibilities. Christine can always be found around the club and is always willing to assist the members with a refill of tea or a 350 person event.

Christine is married with three children and resides in Bartow County.

Matthew Hendrix

Dining Room Manager

Matthew grew up in Bartow County and started working at CCC in 2001 with Kids Club at the age of 15. In 2003 he began serving tables and continued serving full time after his high school graduation.Matthew became Head Server at CCC in 2006 and continued his career being promoted to Assistant Dining Room Manager in 2013. After successfully establishing himself as an asset to the club and the membership he served, Matthew was once again promoted in 2016 to Dining Room Manager, where he shoulders more responsibility and works with Christine as part of the excellent management team. Matthew still has many regulars that he serves at CCC.

Matthew resides in Cartersville with his son.