Meet Our Staff

Mike Saunders

PGA Associate – Administrator

Michael began playing golf at the age of 19 while living in California and serving in the Marine Corps. During those four years, he developed a deep passion for the game and decided to pursue it as a career. He started his career as an Assistant Professional at the Country Club of Ithaca in New York, where he helped run the pro shop, manage tournaments and gave private lessons.

Michael relocated to South Florida late summer of 2019 to advance his career in golf and live by the ocean with his family. He accepted the Golf Professional position at Sailfish Sands in October of 2020.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Cortland and a master’s degree from the University of Alabama, both in Sport Management.

Michael is a die-hard fan of Boston sports, especially the Red Sox and Patriots, and the University of Alabama Athletics, ROLL TIDE. He lives in Jupiter with his wife Paige, daughter Oakley, and three dogs, Shelby, Zeppelin and Cash.

Contact Mike Saunders

Wyatt Awe

PGA Associate - Golf Course Manager

As the GM and a PGA Associate at Sailfish Sands Golf Course, Wyatt is passionate about helping golfers of all ages and skill levels improve their skills and enjoy everything golf has to offer. Having played sports throughout his life, he brings a strong background in competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship to his role. He has been part of the Sailfish Sands team since 2022, working as an Assistant Golf Professional before being promoted to Manager.

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Wyatt started playing golf at the age of 21. Over time, he developed a passion for the game that eventually led him to pursue a career in the golf industry. Before moving to Stuart, Florida, he worked as a firefighter in Illinois.

He is committed to making golf welcoming and enjoyable for everyone, whether they are picking up a club for the first time or looking to take their game to the next level. He especially enjoys teaching the game and helping players build confidence and develop a lifelong love for golf.

When he is not on the golf course, you can usually find him cheering on his beloved Chicago Bears! He looks forward to continuing to serve the Sailfish Sands community and sharing his passion for the game with everyone who visits.

Eric Swenson

Golf Course Maintenance Superintendent

Eric has been in the Golf Course Maintenance business for over 30-years. He started his career in Tampa at the University of South Florida Golf Course, where he developed his passion for golf course maintenance and the game itself.

After three years at USF, he accepted an Assistant Superintendent position at the Lost Tree Club in North Palm Beach. There, he gained exposure to a higher level of golf course maintenance and the South Florida private club market. At Lost Tree, he was deeply involved in a full course renovation under the guidance of one of their longtime residents, Jack Nicklaus.

After seven years at Lost Tree, he accepted an Assistant Superintendent position at The Floridian in Palm City. There, he continued to expand his private club experience and, after two and a half years, was promoted to golf course superintendent, a position he held for more than 18 years. During that time, he oversaw several key projects, including a complete golf course renovation under the direction of renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio.

Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in Turfgrass Management from Pennsylvania State University. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Sharon; son, John; daughter, Savannah; and their dog, Sansa. He also enjoys getting out on the golf course whenever he can!

Carson Parker

PGA Associate - Assistant Golf Course Manager

Carson Parker has been immersed in golf since the age of three, developing a lifelong passion for the game that has shaped both his personal and professional journey. Growing up, he competed in junior tournaments across the country, continually refining his skills and deepening his understanding of the game of golf.

Carson went on to play Division I collegiate golf at the University of Evansville, where he competed for four years while earning a degree in finance and accounting. Following graduation, he returned home to pursue a career in the golf industry, combining his passion for golf with his desire to help others improve.

A dedicated golf instructor, Carson enjoys working with golfers of all ages and skill levels, with a particular love for introducing young players to the game and helping develop their skills. He is committed to growing the game of golf and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone who steps onto the course.

Carson takes great pride in being part of the Sailfish Sands community and is driven to help establish it as a premier public golf facility where players can learn, improve, and enjoy the game for years to come.

William J. Reilly

PGA of America Member - Golf Professional

Will Reilly has been playing golf for fifty years. He comes from a golf family. His brothers, Hugh Jr. and Michael, along with his father, Hugh Sr. are all members of the PGA of America. He also has four sisters that play, and his mother, Suzanne, was their high school golf coach at Bishop McDevitt in Wyncote, Pennsylvania.

Will has a passion for every aspect of golf, especially when it comes to growing the game. Will is a Top 50 Master Teacher for US Kids, coach at The First Tee of Palm Beaches and has been a golf coach most of his life. Will was the recipient of the 2005 PGA of America Junior Leader Award and in 2007 received The PGA of America’s Growth of the Game Award for his work in inner-cities and nationwide. Will has been recognized as a Top 50 Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Growth of the Game Teacher six of the last seven years and has risen to the rank of GRAA ELITE TEACHER for 2020 and 2021. Will has received numerous awards from the Philadelphia Section including the 2009 Professional of the Year.

As the Junior Golf Development Manager for the PGA of America, he was responsible for the development of The PGA Sports Academy, which received the Golf Digest Player Development Award, and the Ryder Cup Junior Academy. While at the PGA of America, Will also helped to develop the PGA Junior League and wrote many articles on Junior golf and player development for the PGA Magazine.

During his career, Will was the Director of Golf at Twining Valley Golf and Fitness Club for 29 years. Will was also the Executive Director for The First Tee of Montgomery County and Program Director for The First Tee of Suburban Philadelphia. Will has also had the pleasure of coaching high school golf teams for 22 years in the Philadelphia area, including several Pennsylvania State Golf Championship Teams with Mount St. Joseph’s Academy “Magic”. Most recently, Will was the Head Coach at his Alma Mater, Villanova University, where he had the honor of leading the Wildcat Men’s team to multiple tournament championships.

Will Reilly also enjoys playing golf competitively. Will was named Spalding Top-Flite Player of the Year for 1996. As a player, Will has recorded many wins, including 15 holes-in-one and two albatrosses. Will’s hobby is Philly Sports, and he is the President of the P.A.S.T. (Philadelphia Association of Sports Trivia). Will has a passion for teaching, growing the game and sharing his love of golf with everyone he meets.

Gregg Petty

Restaurant Supervisor

Greg has worked in full-service restaurant and bar operations since 1988. After earning a degree in business from Appalachian State University, Greg established a long career in restaurants and hospitality management. Throughout much of his career, Greg and his wife, Beth, relocated throughout the Southeast as he held positions with LongHorn Steakhouse and TGI Fridays.

He now brings that experience to Sailfish Sands and hopes to help make the food and beverage service and quality a daily expectation. Greg is also an associate member of the PGA's training program for food and beverage operators.

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