Inside Golfdom’s 2027 Early Order Program Guide: More than just a good deal

Everybody loves a good deal, right? I mean, I don’t clip coupons or anything like that, but if someone wants to save me a little money on something that I was going to buy anyway, sign me up.

But as I’ve learned over my years in the golf maintenance business, Early Order Programs (EOPs) are much more than just a good deal for superintendents and the courses they manage. They are efficient gateways to the latest innovations in specialty products. They also provide rewards that can be used to help recognize staff excellence or provide a pathway to professional development opportunities.

Sure, saving money helps ease budget pressures and puts smiles on the faces of course owners, general managers and CFOs. But it’s really the whole package that has made these programs such a hit with turfgrass managers and such an important part of the annual plan for the companies that produce these products.

And it’s why Golfdom’s 2027 Early Order Program Guide has become so popular with our readers and the industry partners that we work with. Every year, this special section goes deep into what makes EOPs so important for so many golf course operations and offers a glimpse into the key products on the market this season.

In this edition, the lead story of our EOP Guide, written by Seth Jones, includes a report from Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo., which boasts a total of 12 different layouts. Seth caught up with Jeff Steen and Bubba Wright to discuss a 3-acre putting green at the course, how they take care of it and what it represents at the resort.

Also in this section is a story we’ve tabbed as our EOP “must-haves,” with tips and suggestions from trusted industry partners on what products from their menu of offerings you should strongly consider for this EOP season. And finally, we wrap up the section with in-depth information on the EOP programs being offered by six companies that support the magazine and our readers.

Whether you’re a longtime participant in EOPs or taking the plunge for the first time this year, I’m confident you’ll find something that will make your experiences this year smoother and more profitable in Golfdom’s 2027 Early Order Program Guide. Sure, you’re going to have a little extra cash in your pocket when all is said and done, but you’re also going to find a whole lot more that will benefit your course and, ultimately, the people who play it.