Adding to our content game

In a late-2024 conversation with an industry sales professional, I asked what excites him as 2025 approached. His company merged with another well-known industry brand in 2024, and trepidation morphed into optimism by Early Order Program season. He responded by with infectious enthusiasm: “We have new products to sell. What salesperson doesn’t like that?”

A sales professional entering entering the next fiscal or calendar year without new products or services to sell must grind to turn prospects into users, significantly increase prices or pitch different uses for existing solutions to hit financial targets. The task isn’t for the meek. The sales professional’s answer convinced us to use this space to introduce a few of our 2025 additions.

We’re always driven to surpass what we accomplished the previous year. Here’s the rundown of how we are further engaging readers, listeners, followers and scrollers while connecting them with the companies supporting golf course maintenance efforts.

New columnists

Matthew Wharton “retired” as our backpage columnist last month. Fortunately, he gave us six months’ notice of his intentions.

Providing candid, caring and creative content to audiences represents one of our mantras. The words guided the search for our next backpage columnists. Our search started and ended with Dave Delsandro and Jeff Corcoran.

The pair launched the consulting firm Agronomic Advisors in late 2023 and used 2024 to hone their business plan. Their experiences at Oakmont Country Club and Oak Hill Country Club, respectively, combined with what they’re observing and hearing in their third-party work makes them an ideal fit for the backpage slot.

Dave and Jeff left destination jobs in the prime of their careers because they are confident their skills will help peers in creative ways. They can relate to what you experience on and off the course, regardless of your budget, clientele or climate.

We’re confident you won’t entirely agree with everything they write — and that’s why we added them to our roster. Their Two for the Road column will force you to think about your course, career and the industry in provocative ways.

Eco-minded energy

Every responsible superintendent strives to become a better steward of the land. But sometimes time, money and ideas impede eco progress. To continue advancing the industry’s environmental profile, we’re launching Conservation Mindset, a monthly feature with practical ideas for making your course a little better for customers, neighbors and critters. Think of it like “Travels with Terry,” focused on the environment.

Assistant editor Kelsie Horner, who joined our team in August after wrapping up an internship and graduating from Kent State University, will lead. It makes sense leaning on a newbie to begin something new, right?

Spring Solutions Madness

Superintendents are curious and great ones find time to learn about emerging products and services. We’ve simplified the process by adding a second online gathering to complement the Turf Technology Showcase.

Our Spring Solutions Madness is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, March 11. Participating companies receive 30 minutes to educate both live and on-demand audiences about solutions designed to elevate operations, playing conditions and the golfer experience. Registrants receive access to the live event and recordings of every session will be sent to their email inboxes. Recordings are also available via the Fast & Firm newsletter and our social media feeds. Scan the QR code above to register for free.

Eight spots are available. Contact national sales manager Russ Warner (rwarner@gie.net) or account representative Jimmy Clark (jclark@gie.net) to reserve your spot.

Curious about the annual basketball tourney beginning the week following Spring Solutions Madness? Connecticut, Auburn, Houston and Oklahoma are potential bracket advancers.

Follow us somewhere else

Golf Course Industry has the industry’s largest social media, but we still had a gap: While many of you were active on LinkedIn, we were idle on the platform. We corrected that by establishing a new LinkedIn page to share career- and business-oriented content. Scan here to follow us.