Franklin, Tenn. (Friday, Oct. 17, 2025) — The Tennessee Golf Foundation is proud to announce that Mike Eller, PGA and Bob Wolcott, PGA have been selected as the 2026 inductees into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame.
With their induction, Wolcott and Eller will become the 59th and 60th members enshrined among the state’s most celebrated champions, leaders, and contributors to the game. The induction ceremony—bringing together family, friends, and members of the golf community—will be held in 2026, with details to be finalized in the coming weeks.
Wolcott and Eller represent the best of Tennessee golf—champions in competition and leaders in service. Their careers reflect not only dedication to personal achievement but also a commitment to inspiring others through mentorship, sportsmanship, and stewardship of the game. By joining the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame, their stories will stand alongside those of the state’s most influential figures, continuing a tradition of excellence and community that defines Tennessee golf.
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“On behalf of our Board of Directors, the Tennessee Golf Foundation is honored to welcome Bob and Mike to the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame,” said Whit Turnbow, President of the Tennessee Golf Foundation. “They are wonderful gentlemen whose competitive record and impact on the game are worthy of this honor. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments both on and off the golf course.”
MIKE ELLER, PGA
Mike Eller’s career in golf began in 1976, when he joined Old Hickory Country Club as an assistant professional under his father, Harold Eller. He went on to serve as head professional for six years, during which time he developed a lifelong friendship and partnership with Nashville businessman Ray Danner.
Their shared vision for creating a premier public golf destination led to the founding of Hermitage Golf Course, where the General’s Retreat opened in 1986. The course quickly earned national attention as host of the LPGA’s Sara Lee Classic from 1988 through 1999. Together, Eller and Danner also expanded into Memphis, Tennessee, and Greenville, South Carolina, successfully opening additional facilities.
Mike played an instrumental role in the design, routing, and construction of Hermitage’s second 18 holes, President’s Reserve, and in 2012 became sole owner of Hermitage Golf Properties, Inc. Four years later, he introduced a unique hospitality concept with the development of eight luxury cottages overlooking the course, with further expansion underway. In 2012, he also introduced Scottish Blackface sheep to the property—an homage to golf’s Scottish roots—turning them into an iconic part of the Hermitage Golf Course brand.
A PGA member for more than 45 years, Mike has held numerous leadership roles including Chapter President, Tennessee PGA President, and Section Board Member. He has been deeply involved in program development, serving as a driving force behind Tennessee’s Grow the Game initiative and representing the section at the PGA’s National 20/20 Conference. He also contributed to national committees, including the team that created the PGA Profit Share program to benefit sections across the country. His expertise has been sought nationwide on topics spanning course design, management, and player development.
The Eller family’s contributions to the game have been nationally recognized. In 1993, they received the National Golf Foundation’s Jack Nicklaus Family Golf Award for their impact on nearly every facet of the sport. Mike himself was honored with the PGA’s Distinguished Career Award in 2010. His influence has been felt across Tennessee through initiatives supporting junior golf, championships at every level, and countless efforts to grow and sustain the game.
Mike is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he competed on the Crimson Tide golf team. He and his wife of more than 50 years, Barbara, reside in Old Hickory, Tennessee. Their daughter, Ashley Cottrell, now serves as president of Hermitage Golf Course, alongside her husband David, the facility’s general manager. Their son, Drew, is a financial controller with Bridgestone Americas, and his wife, Courtney, directs marketing for Hermitage. Mike and Barbara take great pride in their seven grandchildren—Carter, Henry, Anne Michael, Meredith, Madeline, Murphy, and Marshall—who represent the next generation of a family deeply rooted in the game of golf.
BOB WOLCOTT, PGA
Bob Wolcott grew up in Dickson and quickly established himself as one of Tennessee’s most decorated junior golfers. He was named to the first AJGA All-America Team, captured multiple state junior titles, and went on to become an All-SEC and All-America player at the University of Georgia.
In 1983, at just 22 years old, he became only the second golfer in history to win both the Tennessee State Open and the Tennessee State Amateur in the same year, joining Mason Rudolph.
Wolcott turned professional in 1984 and earned his PGA TOUR card in 1989. Competing from 1990–1997, he recorded 72 cuts made, eight Top-25 finishes, and two career-best third-place finishes—at the 1990 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic and the 1991 Greater Greensboro Open. He also competed on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour, earning respect as a consistent ball striker and competitor.
From 1979 through the mid-1980s, Wolcott was a dominant force in Tennessee amateur golf, winning the State Amateur in 1981 and 1983, the State Open in 1983, and being named Amateur Player of the Year three times. In 1979, he was a member of the PGA Junior Cup squad that traveled to Venezuela and defeated teams from Europe and South America. Wolcott’s name was regularly atop leaderboards in major amateur events across the country, competing against—and often outplaying—future PGA TOUR stars.
After his playing career, Wolcott transitioned into leadership within the game, first serving as director of golf at GreyStone Golf Club in his hometown of Dickson before becoming general manager and director of golf at Tunica National Golf & Tennis in Mississippi. Today, he owns GreyStone Golf Club, where his lifelong passion for the game continues to shine through both his management and mentorship.
That dedication extends to his three sons, who have each excelled in their own athletic paths. Ben enjoyed an All-SEC career at Ole Miss and now works alongside his father managing GreyStone’s day-to-day operations. Hunter earned All-SEC honors at the University of Tennessee before turning professional in 2022; he captured his first professional title the following year at the Tennessee State Open and added a PGA TOUR Americas victory at the 2025 Diners Club Peru Open. Collier pursued his own competitive journey, earning a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Known as both an intense competitor and a gracious ambassador for the sport, Wolcott has always credited golf for the opportunities and relationships it has brought into his life—from playing alongside legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson to competing with his Tennessee heroes Mason Rudolph and Lou Graham. His career reflects not only championship talent, but also a deep appreciation for the game and the community it creates.