Johnny W. Bagwell, M.D.
Dr. and Mrs. Bagwell developed River Ridge Golf Community and River Ridge Golf Club in the late 1990’s. Even though he is fully retired from medical practice, Dr. Bagwell remains active in the management of River Ridge Golf Club and is committed to keeping River Ridge one of the premier golf clubs in North Carolina.
Amy Bagwell Caruso
Director of Marketing, Membership & Events
Amy Bagwell Caruso, the daughter of Johnny and Betty Bagwell, is thrilled to be back at River Ridge Golf Club, a place she has long called home. Amy holds a BA from Campbell University with minors in Marketing and Management and has returned to the club as the Director of Marketing, Memberships, and Events. After being an integral part of the River Ridge team from the start, she took a break in 2010 to raise her children. Now, Amy is excited to bring her experience and passion back! As part of the leadership team, her primary focus is ensuring that every guest—whether a member or not—has an exceptional experience at River Ridge.
Katelyn DeYonker
Food & Beverage Manager
Craig Hooks
General Manager
Craig Hooks serves as the General Manager of River Ridge Golf Club, bringing more than 34 years of experience in golf operations, golf course maintenance, and member services. In this role, Craig oversees all day-to-day operations of the club, including staff leadership, budgeting, course management, and maintenance. His focus remains on delivering exceptional course conditions and a memorable experience for members and guests. Craig initially joined River Ridge in 1997 as the club’s first superintendent and is still an active member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association (CGCSA). Craig is a graduate of NC State University’s Turfgrass Management program.
Rodney Moss
Golf Superintendent
Joseph “Hutch” Priest
Head Golf Professional
Matt Caruso
Director of Golf Instruction
Matt rejoined River Ridge in June of 2025 as the Director of Instruction. His primary focus is on the golfer development programs at the club including the design and creation of the Golf Lab at River Ridge, a technology driven, indoor/outdoor golf training and club fitting/repair facility. Matt played collegiate golf at Guilford College where he was an Honorable Mention All American and Academic All American. He is passionate about the body/swing connection and is currently TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) Certified.
Alec Daneau
Assistant Golf Professional
