Our Team

Mary "MT" Thomson

General Manager

Mary Thomson joins The Carolina Country Club as the General Manager bringing depth of experience and passion for exceptional service. Known a “MT” by all, she has successfully created memorable hospitality experiences throughout the US and Canada in restaurants, event planning, hospitality groups and private clubs.

Some of MT’s featured achievements include opening leadership at The Cloisters at Sea Island, while leading the team to achieve exceptional service standards, including taking the resort to a Michelin 5-Star, 5-Diamond Resort in one year. Other achievements include operations, leadership, and execution for over 100 restaurant openings, 14 Golf & Country Clubs, 9 PGA Tour Events, operations and leadership of the 1942 hospitality group, senior leader for The Cliffs, and consultant and trusted advisor for private clubs, ownership, and premiere destination resorts.

MT’s exceptional character and individuality are founded in her early experience as a competitive athlete of multiple sports. One of eleven siblings, her drive for achieving exceptional results is personal and part of her success. MT resides in South Carolina which has been her home for the last 11 years. She is thrilled to take on the challenge of leading The Carolina Country Club to higher levels of exceptional experience for members, guests, and team members.

Katie Coffey

Office Administrator

Katie was born and raised in Pauline, South Carolina. Her mom ran a small restaurant in Pauline, called Rachel’s Pauline Café, where she spend most of her childhood. Katie joined the club originally as the Bar Manager in 2014, moved to the Marketing & Communications role in 2016, and then landed the Office Administrator position in 2020. As the Office Administrator, she handles all Member Billing, Accounts Receivable, and Human Resources. Katie is married and has two young children residing in Moore, SC.

Georgia Pryor

Events & Membership Coordinator

Georgia was born & raised in Moore, S.C. and has lived in the Spartanburg area ever since. She graduated from Clemson in 2016 with a major in Graphic Communications. Georgia is in charge of coordinating member & non-member events at the club, as well as being the point-of-contact for all membership inquiries. Her favorite thing about working at The Carolina Country Club is getting to meet new people every day! Georgia is a “fur mom” to 2 dogs & 1 cat. She enjoy cuddling with her pets, trying new restaurants with her husband on the weekend, and spending quality time with her family & friends.

Curtis Hillard

Executive Chef, CEC, CPC

Executive Chef Curtis Hillard is originally from Columbus, Ohio (GO BUCKS). He received his culinary training in the prestigious apprenticeship program at the Green Briar Resort in White Sulfur Springs, WV.

In 1999 & 2001, Curtis achieved the level of certified executive chef and certified pastry chef from the American Culinary Association.

Chef Curtis is an active member of the National Restaurant Association, World Academy of Chefs, and the James Beard Foundation, where he has been a best chef nominee and guest chef at the James Beard House in New York.

His previous notable places of work include The Greenbrier Resort, The Greenville Inn, Pinehurst Resort, Chateau Elan Resort and Winery, Stonebridge Golf and Country Club, and Copious.

He has spent many years volunteering and competing at the highest level in culinary events around the country, as well as being a part of the world pastry cup and the Bocuse d'Or in Lyon, France.

Chef Curtis enjoys spending time with his daughter and fishing, and is a classic car and hot rod enthusiast.

Dean Tonneslan

PGA Head Professional

Dean comes to us from California where he was the Head Professional at the Antelope Valley Country Club. Prior to that, Dean was the first assistant at TPC Stonebrae and assistant professional at La Jolla Country Club. Dean is also an accomplished golfer in his own right as a professional and collegiate golfer at Cal State Northridge.

Kevin Britt

Director of Instruction

Kevin Britt, PGA Director of Instruction, started working at Carolina Country Club in February 2021. With more than 30 years of experience as a golf instructor, Kevin brings a high level of professional instruction to our club. Kevin was named Golf Digest Best in State 2019-2020 and again in 2021-2022. He is only one of two professionals in South Carolina not on the coast named to that prestigious list. He has worked with all levels of skills and abilities and is well known for his work with PGA and LPGA players, many elite juniors and collegiate golfers. Kevin was a long time junior coach of world number one Dustin Johnson. He was the 2021 Carolinas PGA Player Development Award Winner and the 2016 Carolinas PGA Youth Player Development Award Winner, he has instructed numerous high school state champions and has helped more than 90 students earn college scholarships. Kevin also serves on the Carolinas PGA Teaching and Coaching Committee. Other certifications/recognitions Kevin holds include: Certified AimPoint Express Instructor, TrackMan Certified, Operation 36 Top 50 Master Coach, BodiTrak Certified, US Kids Certified Instructor, Golf Fitness X Certified and PCA Certified.

Kevin (or “KB” as he is better known) is available for private instruction as well as junior and adult group programs. Golf instruction is open to both members and non-members and is always available inside during inclement weather.

KB and his family live on Lake Blalock north of Spartanburg. Kevin and his wife Leslie have been married for 24 years and have two children. Leslie is a Medical Practice Performance Consultant and a Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach. Their son Casey is a junior at Anderson University and owns his own apparel company, Alpha Herd. Their daughter Isabella was the 2019 Class 3-A Player of the Year and plays golf for the College of Charleston. When KB is not coaching, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and fishing.

Anthony Stewart

Director of Racquet Sports

Anthony, a native of South Africa, grew up with tennis as a lifestyle, playing since the age of three. Anthony was a top ten nationally ranked junior. He played for the NCAA Division I team of Oral Roberts University and was an All American for four years and received the President’s Award his senior year. From 1990 to 1994, he coached the men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams while completing his MBA in Finance. From 1992 to 1994, he played the professional satellite circuit. Anthony joined The Carolina Country Club in 2000, and in 2003 he was the South Carolina Male Player of the Year. He represents and has represented South Carolina at Senior Cup for the past ten years, with a win/loss record of 45-3. He was nominated to represent the USA in the Tony Trabert Cup in 2009. Anthony holds a professional certification from the Professional Tennis Registry, with the highest designation of “Professional”. With over 35 years of teaching experience, Anthony has a unique understanding of the game of tennis and is able to differentiate styles of players and instruct them to achieve their goals, whether they are aspiring juniors looking for college scholarships, professional players or club players. As Director of Tennis at The Carolina Country Club, Anthony has built a comprehensive program with events and clinics for all ages and skill levels.

Gary Wilder

Golf Course Superintendent

Gary has spent the last 40 years in the golf business. He first started his career in Hilton Head, SC after graduating from college. He spent 11 years in various roles and the last 6 years at Hilton Head he was the Director of Golf Maintenance at Sea Pines Plantation and Harbour Town Golf Links. There were 6 MCI Heritage PGA Tour Events, The 1989 Nabisco PGA Tour Championship and 2 Senior Tour Events during that period.

He then moved to Callaway Gardens as Director of Golf Maintenance where Callaway hosted 12 PGA Tour events.

In 2004 he was Director of Golf Maintenance and Golf Course Architect for The Club at River Forest in Forsyth, Ga.

In 2005 he joined Sequoia Golf where he was the Chief Agronomist responsible for 35+ Clubs until 2015 at the time Sequoia was acquired by Club Corp. From 2015 through 2022, he was a Club Corp Senior Director of Agronomy in the Eastern US.

Gary and his wife Laurie have 4 children and will be relocating to the upstate of South Carolina in the near future.