Administration

Name

Ross Desmond

Title

General Manager / Chief Operating Officer

Ross Desmond is the newest member of the Wachesaw Plantation Club team, assuming his role as General Manager & COO in July 2022. Ross has 26 years of experience in club operations and has held positions as Head Golf Professional, Director of Golf and General Manager/COO. At the age of four he was introduced to the game of golf and later would play college golf at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Ross has a servant’s heart and loves working in the hospitality industry. He is a proud member of the Quarter Century Club of the PGA of America. He is blessed with an incredible wife, Tanya, and they have three children; Morgan Leigh, Ryerson, and Patrick.

Name

Shelia Weaver

Title

Office Manager

WPC’s Office Manager, Shelia Weaver, has been working at the Club for seven years. After growing up in TN, Shelia moved to Maryland in 1996. She began her career working in the banking business and transitioned into accounting. She has over 25 years of experience in accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and collections. In addition, Shelia managed over $30 million of commercial and private property for a private company for 16 years. She moved to Myrtle Beach in 2014 after her husband’s retirement from Hallmark Cards, where they were looking for a warmer climate to enjoy. During her time with Wachesaw Plantation Club, she has been responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll. She assists the Director of Finance with the day-to-day management of the clubs accounting needs and works with members on questions or concerns with their billing.

Name

Shauna Dantzler

Title

Director of Member Relations

Shauna Dantzler relocated to Murrells Inlet with her husband Chris and daughter McKenna (2) after serving in various roles within higher education for 17+ years. Prior to WPC, Shauna most recently served as the Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness at Western Carolina University (WCU) in Cullowhee, North Carolina. During her time at WCU, Shauna also served as the Interim Director of Student Community Ethics, Adjunct Professor in the Higher Education Student Affairs Program, Associate Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness, and Assistant Director of the Fitness Center. She also completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership while at WCU. Shauna is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan where she got her B.A. in Economics from Kalamazoo College and her M.A. in Sports Administration from Western Michigan University before taking her first full-time higher education role at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

Dining and Banquets

Name

Adam Shelley

Title

Executive Chef

Adam was born and raised in Conway, SC and started cooking at a young age with his mother and grandmother on their family farm in Galivants Ferry. Spending those summers cooking with his family sparked an interest that led to his pursuance of a career as a Chef. After attending Horry Georgetown Technical College, Adam moved to Charleston where he worked for some of Charleston’s most reputable restaurants including Tristan at the French Quarter Inn, Kiawah Island, and The Charleston Grille. After10 years in Charleston, Adam returned to Murrells Inlet. Adam also has history working with Wachesaw Plantation Club; he was the executive chef from 2012-2014 and is very excited to be returning to this club and its impressive membership. He brings 20 years of culinary experience with him and can’t wait to share it with his culinary team to further the excellence of this club.

Name

Brayer Surratt

Title

Catering and Events Manager

Brayer provides a special touch to everything involved with Special Events, and Club happenings. Her ability to understand and satisfy her customers’ individual and collective preferences, combined with her years of experience in the catering and hospitality industry, make her an invaluable asset. She is positive, charming and totally focused on customer satisfaction and ensuring every situation exceeds your expectations. Brayer is a master at creating Private and Club Events that fully capture and deliver all your wants and desires . . . from Weddings to Corporate Parties . . . with no detail being missed. Brayer is a graduate of Erskine College and has over 15 years in the food and beverage industry, including having owned and operated two area restaurants.

Name

Jennifer Ferrara

Title

Food and Beverage Manager

Jennifer was hired on as a server at Wachesaw Plantation Club in March 2011. While in that role, she engaged in every aspect of the Club from serving to bartending and banquet operations in multiple outlets. Through her hard work and willingness to succeed every day, Jennifer was promoted to Lead Server in 2014. She was responsible for the onboarding and training of new members of the team which lead her to more promotions to Service Manager in 2016 and Front of House Manager in 2018. With her continuous dedication and commitment to hard work, she has was promoted to her current position of Food and Beverage Manager in Spring of 2020. Jennifer’s passion has always been helping people succeed with a love for hospitality and customer service. When she is not at work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family.

Name

Mike Ferrara

Title

Magnolia's Manager

Mike joined the Wachesaw team over 10 years ago in a part-time capacity working with banquets and weddings. Mike eventually took on a short order cook role at Magnolia's before being promoted to Magnolia's Manager. Mike is originally from New York, but has lived in the local area for over 15 years. Prior to getting into the food and beverage industry, he worked for 15 years as a General Contractor.

Golf Professionals

Name

Joe Gagliano, PGA

Title

Head Golf Professional

Joe is a PGA Professional with 24 years of experience in upscale private clubs. Joe and his quality staff are focused on providing top notch customer service and an unforgettable golf experience. Their relentless commitment to excellence keeps the golf operation running at the highest level. Prior to joining Wachesaw Plantation Club, Joe was at two clubs ranked in Golf Digest’s Top 100 courses: Head Golf Professional at Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville NC and First Assistant Golf Professional at The Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst. Joe graduated from Methodist University receiving a BS Degree with dual majors in Business Administration and Marketing, and a concentration in Professional Golf Management. He earned extra certifications in Instruction and Retail through the PGA’s Certified Professional Program. Joe is also certified as a Titleist Performance Instructor.

Name

David Suarez

Title

Assistant Golf Professional

David grew up in Bridgewater, NJ. He attended Farleigh Dickinson University, where he played for the Golf team. He moved down to South Carolina with his wife, Kelly, to attend the Golf Academy of America and graduated in 2011. He recently welcomed his first son, Joseph, in July 2021. He has been working in the golf industry for over 22 years and is excited to start working at Wachesaw!

Golf Course Maintenance

Name

Scott Fretz

Title

Golf Course Superintendent

Scott and his Golf Course Maintenance Team are committed to maintaining the golf course to highest standards to ensure a world class golf experience for all Wachesaw Plantation Club Members and Guests. Scott has 22 years of experience working in the field of Golf Course Maintenance. He came to Wachesaw Plantation Club in 2003 from Kiawah Island Club’s famed Cassique Golf Course where he served as First Assistant Golf Superintendent. He previously worked for the PGA Tour at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton, NJ. Scott is a graduate of Rutgers University, Cook College and graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree, majoring in Plant Science / Turfgrass Management.

Tennis Staff

Name

Joe Oyco

Title

Director of Tennis

Jose "Joe" Oyco has been coaching and teaching tennis in the states of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina for 30 years. He was a graduate and former assistant men's tennis coach for West Virginia University under Terry Deremer. For eight years he was the Director of Tennis at the Swarthmore Tennis Camp for Adults and Juniors outside of Philadelphia and for twenty years he was the Head Pro at the Litchfield Racquet Club in Pawleys Island, SC. Joe was a former ranked junior player in the Middle Atlantic and is also a member of PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) and USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) and is also a Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS). He has coached state, sectional and nationally ranked players since 1989 and is very involved with all the student's instruction and progress. He definitely enjoys being on the court and spreading his knowledge of the game of tennis.