Steven J. Hammon - Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association

HomeSteven J. Hammon

Updated December 2024

For Secretary/Treasurer

Steven J. Hammon, CGCS

Steven J. Hammon, CGCS, has been the golf course superintendent at Traverse City (Mich.) Country Club since 1997. Prior to that, he was the superintendent at Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Lake Orion, Mich., and assistant superintendent at Crystal Downs CC in Frankfort, Mich., after getting his associate degree from Michigan State.

A grassroots ambassador, Hammon has served on various GCSAA committees and task groups and has served on the national Board of Directors since 2022.

A 36-year GCSAA member, Hammon has served as president of the Northern Michigan Turfgrass Management Association and the Michigan GCSA.

Statement

The game of golf has been a part of my life since I was 7 years old playing at my parents’ country club. In high school, I played varsity golf for four years, as well as one year in college. I was fortunate to be accepted into the Michigan State University turfgrass program at the age of 19. My career in this industry began with six years as the assistant superintendent at Crystal Downs Country Club, then two years as the superintendent at Indianwood Country Club and now, just like that, it has been 28 years at Traverse City Country Club. After spending my entire life in this game and having so many amazing opportunities along the way, it has been my pleasure serving the GCSAA and its members for the past three years. Working with the executive leadership, department managers and staff has been a wonderful experience, and I look forward to continuing the progress we have made working together on the same mission and goals. Just as enjoyable has been meeting so many members around the country, you all are amazing, and I am so proud to represent all of you in this role as a board member. I have been a member for 36 years, and serving on this board has been my highest honor. Thank you for your past support, and I look forward to your support as I run for the secretary/treasurer position at the Annual Meeting in 2025. Thank you to my wife, Sue, my family, my club’s board of directors, other colleagues and my loyal staff.

Updated October 2024

Hello and welcome to the 2024 GCSAA delegates meeting! Thank you for using the QR code on my poker chip to read a little bit about me.

First and foremost, it is an absolute honor to represent all of you on the board of directors, truly the highlight of my career. I am anticipating my fourth year on the board at the annual meeting in February.

I look forward to the delegates meeting every year as it's one of my favorite events. Not only to meet and network with so many members but I really enjoy what the team at headquarters has to share with all of the delegates. Everyone at GCSAA is so passionate about their work and they all do so much to advance our profession every single day.

Please enjoy these two great days, take lots of notes to take back to your membership and introduce yourself to everyone you can while you are here.

Thank you for attending the delegates meeting and thank you for all of the support!

Steven J. Hammon, CGCS

Traverse City Country Club

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Updated September 2022 - The Campaign - Year Two!

Welcome GCSAA delegates from all over the country! I hope you have a great two days here in Kansas City and at your Headquarters in Lawrence.

My first year as your representative on the GCSAA National Board of Directors was outstanding. It started off in quick fashion at the annual meeting in San Diego last February. As my campaign website shows, the State of Michigan and its superintendents have been well represented on the national board most recently with John Fulling, CGCS. The annual meeting was very surreal…….John was thanked for his 10 years serving on the board and for just finishing his year as the immediate past president. John thanked the crowd and stepped off of the stage with a great round of applause from the board and everyone attending. Immediately following John’s departure, I was called up to fill the vacant seat on the board as I was the leading vote winner from the three potential board candidates. I stood and thanked the 100 plus delegates for their votes and suddenly there I was, elected and sitting with the board, now facing the crowd, I’ll never forget that moment! I take this incredible opportunity seriously as I represent our 19,000 plus worldwide members and am so honored to represent you and the MiGCSA.

Thank you for your support.

Steven J. Hammon | Director – GCSAA

Golf Course Superintendent

Traverse City Country Club

1725 South Union Street | Traverse City, MI. 49684

Mobile 231-645-2318 | Office 231-947-0487

Shammon@gcsaa.org

Director – GCSAA | Past President – Michigan GCSA

John and I after the annual meeting in San Diego.

Walking on stage in San Diego!

Traverse City’s Steve Hammon is GAM Superintendent Award of Merit Winner

Golf Course Trades Article: Traverse City Golf and Country Club: Serving its Membership, Year after Year

MiGCSA Course Conditions Feature Superintendent

The A Position: Traverse City's Gem on the Hill

Click Here for Steve's Resume

GCSAA Presidents from Michigan

John R. Fulling Jr., CGCS

GCSAA President

2020

Jon D. Maddern, CGCS

GCSAA President

2003

William R. Roberts

GCSAA President

1992

Gerald L. Faubel, CGCS

GCSAA President

1990

James W. Timmerman

GCSAA President

1984

Theodore W. Woehrle

GCSAA President

1977

September 2021 - The Campaign - Year One

Michigan has an incredibly rich history with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and its governance over the decades. Names like Kramer, Woehrle, Timmerman, Faubel, Roberts, Maddern and most recently, Fulling, have been noted Superintendents who have stepped up to serve on the national association’s board of directors. It has been an honor for me to have talked with six of the past seven Michigan GCSAA presidents during my 33 years as a GCSAA member.

I have had a truly blessed career in this profession. My love of golf and interest in turf began when I was just seven years old at Thunder Hills Country Club in Iowa. I watched closely as their superintendent would turn on sprinklers 400 yards away on the first green with just the turn of a switch in that magic green box. Fast forward to high school where I played on the golf team and worked in the golf shop at Hickory Hills, and then Forest Hills Golf Club with golf professional Mark Wilson. I slowly migrated out of the golf shop and started working on the grounds crew with Superintendent Bob Johnson. Bob and his brother Mike, the equipment technician, both attended the Michigan State University turf program and shared their input with me and my parents which led me to attending the program in 1988 and graduating in 1989. It was great timing, as I had one year with Dr. Kenyon T. Payne and my second with Dr. Trey Rogers as the new director of the turf program.

During college, I landed an internship in Palm Springs, California working for Ross O’fee at The Springs Club and working The Skins Game for Mark Snyder at PGA West. The next six years of my career was with Mike Morris as his Assistant Superintendent at Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort. Mike prepared me very well for my first Superintendents job on the Old Course at Indianwood Golf & Country Club. Marty Sommerfeld was the Director of Operations; I spent two years on his team and now, it’s been over 25 years at Traverse City Country Club!

Here, now, at Traverse City Country Club, my green committee, board, and general managers have all supported my time serving the golf industry in Michigan on countless committees, boards and advisory groups. It has been a privilege serving and representing my own career, TCCC and all of you in so many ways. After much consideration with my club governance, current and past GCSAA board members, many Michigan colleagues, and most importantly my wife Sue and my three boys, Evan, Luke and Elliott, I have decided that this is the perfect time and an amazing opportunity for me to run for a seat on the national board of directors with the GCSAA.

It would be an honor to represent the MiGCSA, its members and the state of Michigan all while serving the profession on the GCSAA’s board of directors. With your support, I am looking forward to serving the members of the GCSAA and will continue working with all of the allied partners like the USGA, PGA, LPGA, GGCOA, ASGCA as well as giving back my time to this profession and the game of golf.