Meet the Club Management

Sarah Stratton | Membership director

Sarah joined the Club at Fairvue, now Tennessee Grasslands, as the Membership Director in 2014 after graduating with a degree in public relations from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!). As a Sumner County native, she understands the impact the Club has on the local community, and she knows the Club is nothing without its loyal, supportive members. By portraying the Club's exceptional reputation to the public, Sarah plans to bring in top-notch new members. Sarah lives in Hendersonville with her husband Phillip, and their only baby, a German Shorthaired Pointer, Chief. 
615.575.4310 | sstratton@tngrasslands.com

Mark Cote, PGA | Director of Golf Operations

Mark comes to Tennessee Grasslands from The Club at Comanche Trace in Kerrville, Texas, where he served as PGA Head Golf Professional. Comanche Trace is 27-hole private facility located in the beautiful Texas Hill County and has ranked as high as 17th of the best courses in the state of Texas. Prior to this, Mark was employed at Lago Vista/Highland Lakes Golf Club where he served as the General Manager / Director of Golf. He held the same title at River Hills Country Club in Corpus Christi where he also served as Chief Operating Officer. Mark was Head Golf Professional at Wentworth Golf Club in Tarpon, FL, PGA Director/Head Golf Professional at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club in Bullard, TX and PGA Director of Golf at Pelican Bay Country Club in Daytona Beach, FL.

Throughout his career in the golf industry, Mark has been recognized for his excellence and hard work. Here are a few of the designations and accolades earned over the years:
• PGA Golf Professional of the Year- South Chapter STPGA in 2015
• Merchandiser of the Year for private clubs in 2009
• PGA Golf Professional of the Year- East Texas NTPGA in 2008
• Former President, North Texas Professional Golf Association- East Texas Chapter 2008-2009
• Class “A” Member, The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (current)
• Class “A” Member, Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association (current)
• Level 3 Teaching certification Canadian PGA
• CMAA Member (current)
• Golf Analyst, CBS 19- Byron Nelson Golf Classic- PGA Tour 2005 & 2006
• Top 10 Order of Merit- Canadian PGA 1992-1994
615.575.4314 | mcote@tngrasslands.com

TAD HOLLEY, Pga | HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL

Tad has been a PGA Professional since 1994 and came to Tennessee Grasslands in January from Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga. Previously, he was Head Golf Professional and Director of Club Operations at Lookout Mountain Golf Club. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Business.Tad enjoys teaching players of all skill levels. He is an accomplished instructor in the short game. He is also experienced in Trackman technology. Bringing a high level of member customer service and attention to detail, Tad believes that Tennessee Grasslands is a special place that can rank among the finest 36 hole clubs in the country.
615.675.5767 |  tholley@tngrasslands.com

WILL LEETY, PGA | PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Will has been an Assistant Golf Professional at The Club at Fairvue Plantation, now Tennessee Grasslands, since May 2008. Prior to his job at Tennessee Grasslands, he worked at Pelican Marsh in Naples, Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Country Club in Plantation, Florida, and Butler Country Club in Butler, Pennsylvania. Will earned his B.S in Accounting at the University of Tennessee in 2002 and received his PGA Membership status in July 2010. He has more than 10 years of teaching experience and teaches golfers of all ages and abilities, which include individual lessons, junior camps, and golf clinics. He is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is an avid fan of all Pittsburgh teams. Will’s goals are to provide the highest quality customer service to our members and provide the best image that makes Tennessee Grasslands the most recognized golf club in all of Middle Tennessee. 
615.575.4312 | wleety@tngrasslands.com



 

SHAWN CONKLIN | Lakes head chef

Chef Shawn Conklin was introduced to the Culinary Arts at the age of 17 in his small hometown of Hudson, New York. He started his career in the restaurant business as a busser working his way up, where he eventually learned the fundamentals of cooking under 4 star chefs. After moving to Tennessee and graduating with honors from the Art Institute of Nashville, he ventured out on his own as a personal chef for some of the biggest names in country music, including Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, The Oak Ridge Boys, Miranda Lambert and Priscilla Presley to name a few. He now hangs his chef hat close to home, here at Tennessee Grasslands, where he brings his unique style of elevating classic comfort food to introducing new and exciting modern Molecular Gastronomy dishes that will entice all your senses. 
615.575.4309 | shawn@tngrasslands.com

WILL GRAY | LINKS HEAD CHEF

Chef Will Gray was born and raised with deep southern roots. His passion for cooking began at a young age watching his grandfather smoke meats and grill for large family functions. Soon, he was taking over for his grandad, creating new family heirloom recipes. During his time at MTSU while pursuing a degree in journalism, the call of the kitchen came again, and wanting to learn all aspects of a professional kitchen, he took a job learning how to butcher from farm to table and then went on to advancing his skills cooking on the line. He has spent the last decade serving as an executive chef in hotels and country clubs around Nashville and Davidson County, as well as a two tournament tenure at Augusta National as the banquet chef for the Magnolia Ballroom. Chef Gray is a Gallatin High School Alum. 
615.675.5763 | william@tngrasslands.com

 
EMILY GARNER | BANQUETS & SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR

Emily Garner is a recent graduate from Florida State University’s College of Business where she majored in Hospitality Management. She has worked alongside several events coordinators throughout her time in college. Her passion for creating events started when she was a freshman in high school when she joined student government and planned the high school’s events. Since then, it has grown even more.She has recently moved out of her home state of Florida to start a new adventure in Gallatin, Tennessee working as the Events Coordinator at Tennessee Grasslands Golf and Country Club. Here she plans to use everything she has learned and put her own creative twist on planning the perfect events.
615.575.4307 | emily@tngrasslands.com

Jeff Madsen | Golf Course Superintendent

Jeff grew up in Monroe, Iowa, and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Turfcare Horticulture. While attending ISU he worked full-time as the Assistant Superintendent at Ames Golf and Country Club. After graduation, he accepted the Assistant Superintendent position at ALVAMAR Country Club in Lawrence, Kansas, which at the time had the highest number of Zoysia grass acres of any course in the United States. He has 27 years of experience in the role of superintendent, with 22 of those years in Tennessee. Jeff has also been hired to consult on two high profile courses in Japan. In 2002, he was hired to finish construction and grow in the course at Fairvue Plantation and later Foxland Harbor. Jeff and his wife Phyllis have a daughter, Jenna.
615.575.4320 | jmadsen@tngrasslands.com