Member Login

Name

Karen Brazeal

Title

Events Coordinator

Karen's career started at Pebble Creek Country Club, Taylors, SC as Director of Membership with Club Corp. She loved meeting new potential members, introducing them to the current membership, and watching them grow and get involved in a private club atmosphere. She then married, moved to Aiken, South Carolina, and worked at Houndslake Country Club. Karen took a leave from work while raising her three children and then decided to go back to work when the kids were in school. She started working the private events side accidentally at Woodside Country Club, Aiken, SC when they needed someone to fill in. She found she enjoyed making memories with the members and creating that perfect thumbprint on each event. Karen then, along with her husband Mike, moved to Spartanburg 14 years ago where she came to work for The Country Club of Spartanburg. Karen looks forward to making your membership involvement here at CCS a true home away from home experience.

Name

Kevin Levine

Title

Director of Communications and Member Engagement

Kevin is a South Florida native who comes to Spartanburg by way of Montana. He graduated from the University of Missouri with degrees in Radio-TV Sports Broadcast and Psychology. After Missouri, Kevin moved to Big Sky country, where he worked as the lead sports anchor for NBC Montana, covering Missoula, Bozeman, Butte and Kalispell athletics. Now back on the East Coast, he is excited for milder winter's and to play a lot of tennis and golf.

Name

Beth Greene

Title

Accounts Payable

Beth began her professional career right here at The Country Club of Spartanburg. She started in the tennis shop in May of 1989 under the guidance of Mr. Randy Bernard. Shortly thereafter, she took a position in the main office for Mrs. Mary Becknell taking over the Accounts Payable for the Club. After working 15 years she left to be a stay-at-home mom but that was short lived and in April of 2007 she once again came back to the Club part time continuing to do Accounts Payable and Payroll. Beth is married to the love of her life, Trent, and they have raised 2 wonderful children, Sarah, a second year med school student at Emory University and Cameron, a junior at the University of South Carolina. She enjoys reading, hiking and all things USC … Go Cocks!

Name

Blaine Nierman

Title

Clubhouse Manager

Blaine Nierman, a Graduate of Johnson and Wales University Culinary Arts school is no stranger to Spartanburg. Moving from Clemson to New England gave Blaine a well-grounded foundation on which to build his education and culinary style. The late 80’s found Blaine back in South Carolina as the Sous Chef for The City Club of Greenville. In 1995 Blaine moved to Raleigh NC where he was the General Manager and Executive Chef of 518 West Italian Café. There Blaine established the “scratch” kitchen philosophy where literally everything is made from scratch. In 2012 Blaine had the opportunity to move back to the Spartanburg area as the General Manager of High Cotton in Greenville. Blaine is now Clubhouse Manager at the Country Club of Spartanburg and brings his fresh from scratch cooking philosophy back to the area. In his spare time Blaine likes to run, hike, camp, and backpack. Blaine also plays the violin, typically Scottish or Irish fiddle music.

Name

Matt Hastings

Title

Executive Chef

Born in 1973 in Bowling Green, OH and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Chef Matt got his career start in 1994 as Sous Chef at Tripoli Country Club, then became Head Chef at the famed, 4-Star steakhouse, Jake’s Restaurant. Shortly after 9/11, Chef moved to Arizona, picking up on his Country Club roots as Executive Chef at Terravita Golf & Country Club and Rio Verde Country Club, then as Food & Beverage Director at Fountain View Village. Chef and his wife Stefanie then moved to Santa Barbara, CA where he led the kitchen at a premier central coast catering outlet. In 2019, it was time for his wife to spread her wings and fly, so they picked up and moved to Simpsonville, SC. In his free time, Chef Matt is likely hiking, golfing or running his dogs, Lily and Blossom; and of course, entertaining friends on the grill-- a chef’s life never stops!

Name

Cornelius Jordan, USPTR Certified

Title

Director of Tennis

I have served the membership for 25 years, my passion for the sport has only grown. I am known for being tough and pushing my students to reach their maximum potential. My favorite quote is, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish!"

Name

Robbie Stephens, Certified Personal Trainer

Title

Director of Fitness

Robbie earned his Bachelor's Degree in Corporate Fitness from USC Upstate. His career in fitness and wellness began in the early 90's with the Spartanburg Athletic Club. He joined the Country Club of Spartanburg staff in 2009 with the introduction of the Fitness Center. Along with his degree in Exercise Science, he is a Certified Personal Trainer, Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), and has 30 years of fitness experience. Robbie's hobbies include fitness, golf, and enjoying fine foods.

Name

Jim Brim

Title

Facilities Manager

Originally from Pittsburgh area PA. Jim was in the United States Navy from 1975-1980 as a Hole Snipe. He has been married to his wife Debbie for 30 years. They have two children and 5 grandchildren. I have been at the Country Club of Spartanburg since early 2012. In my free time you will see me on the golf course, in my rose garden or working around the house.

Name

Brian Johnson

Title

Golf Course Superintendent

Brian is a native of Spartanburg and got his associate degree in agricultural golf course management from Horry-Georgetown Technical College. He started his career at Wildewood and Woodcreek farms, before working at the Golf Club of South Carolina at Crickentree, The Cliffs, and Holly Tree as an assistant superintendent. Brian, and his fantastic wife Jennifer, have three children, a daughter Hannah Grace, and two sons Hunter and Finn. When not out on the course, you can find him hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.

Name

Zac Ramey, GCSAA Class A

Title

Director of Golf Course and Grounds

Originally from Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Zac, a graduated from Clemson University in 2007. His experience on golf courses spans over 15 years, beginning at Cleveland Country Club in Shelby, North Carolina to The Walker Course at Clemson University and Thornblade Club in Greer, South Carolina, where Zac worked as an Assistant Superintendent for almost five years. In 2013, Zac secured his first job as Golf Course Superintendent at Holly Tree Country Club in Simpsonville, South Carolina where he remained until embarking on a new journey at CCS in August 2018. Zac and his wife Evan have been married for almost nine years. Our only child is a West Highland Terrier named Riggs who comes to work on the golf course each day and his only passion is to ride in the golf cart and chase squirrels.

Name

Haissam Baityeh, CCM, CCE, MBA

Title

Chief Operating Officer

Haissam (aka H) earned his Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration from the University of South Carolina launching his career in private club management which has progressed through Myers Park Country Club, Cape Fear Country Club, Governors Club, Bent Tree Country Club, and now The Country Club of Spartanburg. Most recently, Haissam earned his MBA from LSU, Shreveport and is currently working on his Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University. H joined the Club in the summer of 2018 and speaks very highly of the Club’s prestige and history in building a community of families in Spartanburg. Haissam’s motto is based on the serenity prayer and his favorite book of all times is “The Prophet” by Gibran Khalil Gibran”. After his children, he is passionate about teaching and the development of others. His favorite hobby is scoreless Golf!