Mike Hamilton
Mike Hamilton’s career in agronomy started practically at birth – he inherited it. Some of his earliest memories are of sitting on his grandfather’s lap while plowing fields or operating a corn combine. At the age of 14, Mike discovered golf courses. Not only did he enjoy the game of golf, but he realized that he could get paid for working on the golf course, unlike on the family farm.
Mike’s first job in the golf industry was at Palm River Country Club in Naples, Florida. The Superintendent, Dick Bessire, encouraged Mike to attend Lake City Community College’s School of Golf Course Operations. After graduating from Lake City at 21, he wasted no time and walked into the pro shop at Cypress Links Golf Course in Jupiter, Florida. He proclaimed to the Golf Pro, “I heard you were looking for a Superintendent,” which the Pro affirmed, and Mike’s immediate response was, “Well, I’m the best in the business.” Mike became a Superintendent that day, and the rest, as they say, is “turf history.”
After six years at Cypress Links, Mike moved to Cumming Georgia taking the job of Golf Course Superintendent at Lanier Golf Club for another six years and then at the Harbor Club in Greensboro, Georgia, for three years. Mike’s last two jobs as a Superintendent were at Grey Oaks Country Club and Foxfire Country Club in Naples, Florida, for six years each. Mike is an industry lifer who knows too well the politics and unreasonable expectations that Turf Managers get asked to sustain 24/7/365.
Funneling all his course experience into sales, Mike spent four years with Florida Turf Support selling Floratine and two years with Pathway Biologic. Being in the field for this season of his career, Mike learned more about turf anatomy, soil microbiology, and fertilizer from some of the most brilliant people in their respective fields. He realized that for all his years as a Superintendent, he had been forced to wear hundreds of hats, and it left him only a tiny percentage of time committed to comprehensively understanding the in-depth science of plant growth and soil science.
Upon discovering the true nature and science of plant health, Mike earned his Certified Crop Advisors status, and the inspiration to start Turf Dietitian was born. Witnessing firsthand the necessary efficiency levels for farmers to maximize crop yield made Mike realize there was a need for the same sample efficiency in turf. Turf Dietitian’s ability to dial in the nutrient prescription for turf managers is changing how courses are maintained globally.
Mike has worn and carried every title that matters in the super turf and plant world and now loves the opportunity to help more and more professionals experience improved outcomes with less waste and maximized efficiency.
Charles Dayton
Turf is in his DNA. Since he was a teenager, Charles Dayton knew he wanted to be a “grass man” and has spent his entire education and career focusing on refining his craft of horticulture and agronomy.
Charles graduated in 1992 from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture with an emphasis on turfgrass management. After college, he spent a year researching the salinity tolerance of turfgrasses, working under Dr. Milton Engelke with the Texas A&M University System in Dallas, Texas. In the fall of 1994, Charles took his research and education to the course, starting with Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, as a spray technician. He knew his turf and quickly climbed the ladder to 1st Assistant Golf Course Superintendent. He then accepted the position of Golf Course Superintendent at Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, in the fall of 2004.
Leaving his Golf Course Superintendent position in the spring of 2012, Charles began working for Turf Dietitian, enriching all the technical insights and measurable progress with his keen analysis of what healthy plants need in the full spectrum of climates and environmental factors. From one Super to another, Charles enjoys the opportunity to help make several courses across the country the best they can be!
Ryan Hamilton
The turf business runs in Ryan’s blood. As a kid and in the early days of Turf Dietitian, he remembers his father Mike would keep grass clippings in their refrigerator next to the milk. Ryan is no stranger to the industry, garnishing six years of experience, having sold our service in Texas. Ryan established most of our current longstanding relationships in the Lonestar state.
Since then, Ryan has worked in several industries that have ultimately led to a deeper understanding and utilization of practical knowledge that many Superintendents can appreciate and apply. Ryan knows what Superintendents go through on the course, day in and day out, and is a strong advocate for turfgrass professionals. In moving back to Florida and rejoining the Turf Dietitian team, Ryan has flourished in his role as Sales Manager. He services our South Florida territories and has a vital role in seeking out unexplored territories and the talent to represent us there.
In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing video games, going to the shooting range, golfing, restoring his classic Ford F150, and hanging out with his buddies. Amid taking pride in carrying on the legacy his father has established with Turf Dietitian, he has also been a vital part of our recent expansion.
OUR PARTNERS
First Turf & Ornamental Corp. was started in 2015 by two industry professionals, Michael Bamann and Jeff Corcoran, with the thought of creating a business that would uniquely service the plant care needs of various turf and landscape markets. The driving motivation was to design a company that would focus on building relationships and ensuring customer service was the priority while providing a product line-up that was both varied and cost-competitive.
Throughout its growth, First Turf has made it a point to ensure that every employee that represents the company has an industry background and can communicate with their customers on the basis that they have “walked in their shoes.”
Whether golf course, sports turf, municipality, etc., BTSI is your source for complete and sensible solutions to plant and soil health. Their team reaches beyond just providing you with products. Their expertise and experience in the field allow them to be invaluable resources to you.
You Need It, They’ve Got It! Unlike most distributors, they have manufacturing and soil and plant analysis capabilities. Giving them the highest level of creativity and flexibility to serve you. Let them show you how they can make your job easier and more efficient.
