Standing Room Only: A Golfdom Summit 2025 recap

Sure, we’re biased. After 15 years of hosting the Golfdom Summit, we can’t help but be believers in the unique format the event presents to all in attendance — the 45 superintendents, the 20 industry partners and our magazine staff.

Give us a moment to show you inside the event that just happened: the people we met, the products we saw and the things we learned.

No strangers allowed

The Golfdom Summit is unique because by the end of the two-and-a-half days at Reunion Resort near Orlando, everyone has met everyone.

That’s by design. As opposed to a trade show or a chapter event, the Golfdom Summit arranges the schedule so every superintendent meets with every partner; every superintendent meets with Golfdom’s editors.* 

On the first day of the event (a half day), the group of superintendents come together in a banquet room. One by one, the 20 industry partners are brought in for a short elevator speech — who they are, what their goals are for the event, what they’re showing.

Following those presentations, the group gets to enjoy each other’s company at a poolside reception and dinner.

Day two is a marathon, not a sprint. That morning is when the “one-on-one” meetings begin. The superintendents are matched in pairs (based on geography) and move from room to room, or outdoor demo to outdoor demo, to meet with each Golfdom Summit partner for a 10-minute conversation.

For many of the superintendents, these prearranged conversations are the most awkward, yet the most productive, interactions of the event.

“I’m very impressed with the intention (the Golfdom staff) put into everything,” Brandon Ingle, superintendent at Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club in Cashiers, N.C., said. “By placing us with certain superintendents and rotating us around, it puts us in a situation that we have to speak to somebody we don’t know.”

Those meetings last until noon. The group then takes a break for a friendly 18-hole scramble, mixing the superintendents and the partners into foursomes. The goal of the scramble isn’t just to have some fun on one of Reunion’s three 18-hole courses, but also to create more lasting relationships because of the event.

The meeting then wraps up the following Friday morning, as the superintendent attendees meet with the remaining partners according to their individualized schedules. From there, it’s back to the airport with a notebook full of notes and a smartphone full of superintendents from across the country — new contacts, new friends.

“To have meaningful meetings with 20 industry partners while also meeting 40-plus new colleague superintendents, and the magazine’s staff, would typically take someone a week or more, and perhaps multiple trips,” says Kevin Stoltman, CEO of North Coast Media, parent company of Golfdom. “This format allows us to pull that all off in under 72 hours. Seth (Jones) calls the Summit ‘the most productive two-and-a-half days in golf maintenance,’ and I think that might be fair.” 

*Most of these meetings are formal. Some, however, are over pizza rolls.

They’re kind of a big deal

The 2025 Golfdom Summit had more partners than ever before. Without them, the Golfdom Summit couldn’t happen. 

Chemical companies

Atticus

“While the chemistry isn’t unique, the Atticus experience is. As an independent company, we make decisions at your speed, executing each step with discipline to turn strategy into results you can trust.”

Envu

“Envu was founded in 2022, a company built on decades of environmental science experience, for the sole purpose of advancing healthy environments for everyone, everywhere. The Envu portfolio consist of over 250 trusted and well-known brands and employs more than 1,000 people, operates in 100 countries and has four global innovation hubs.”

Numerator Technologies

“Numerator Technologies is a specialty chemicals manufacturer focused on the commercialization of tailor-made breakthrough solutions. If your strategy dictates the use of soil or media surfactants, soil acidified and the use of state-of-the-art spray adjuvants, novel fertilizer options, Numerator Technologies has a product formulation specifically ‘tuned’ to meet your requirements.” 

Nufarm

“Established more than 100 years ago, Nufarm is recognized as one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of plant protection in the world. As a top supplier to the U.S. turf, landscape and ornamental market, Nufarm strives to offer a solution for every challenge, from innovations such as Anuew EZ and Velocity PM, to go-to products such as Tourney EZ, SureGuard EZ, Celero, Escalade 2, Arena, Aloft, Pinpoint, Traction, Millennium Ultra 2, Safari, TriStar and the 3336 brand family.”

PBI-Gordon

“At PBI-Gordon, we understand the challenges turf and ornamental professionals face — and we’re here to help. As a nationally recognized leader in the industry, we offer a full line of proven herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators and specialty products designed to deliver reliable results.”

Quali-Pro

“As part of Control Solutions Inc. and Adama, Quali-Pro benefits from world-class R&D and in-house manufacturing, ensuring exceptional product quality and reliability. We specialize in post-patent formulations with one of the most extensive portfolios in the industry, including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, turf enhancements, and nematicides — designed to meet the unique demands of golf course superintendents.”

Sipcam Agro USA

“Headquartered in Durham, N.C., Sipcam Agro USA is owned by the Sipcam-Oxon Group, a privately owned Italian company recognized worldwide for its chemical formulation and manufacturing expertise.”

Equipment manufacturers

Automated Outdoor Solutions (AOS)

“Automated Outdoor Solutions (AOS) is the white glove service provider of fully autonomous turf and driving range solutions for golf courses across North America. We deliver GPS-guided robotic mowers that produce perfect cuts every day while dramatically reducing labor, fuel and maintenance costs.”

Frost Inc.

“Frost Inc. leads the market in GPS spray control systems and variable rate mapping services with familiar names including Kubota, Toro and Arag products. We make the business of turf spraying a safer and more efficient experience for the application management team as well as the environment.”

Husqvarna

“As the world leader in robotic mowing, Husqvarna is ready to help you make traditional mowing a thing of the past. Backed by more than 30 years of experience, we’ve engineered robotic mowers from the ground up to meet the unique demands of golf course maintenance.”

Jacobsen

“Jacobsen has been a pioneer in the turf maintenance industry since 1912, renowned for innovative and high-quality mowers and turf equipment.”

Redexim

“For more than 40 years, Redexim has helped superintendents elevate playability, consistency and course presentation — from tees to greens and everything in between. Known for the game-changing Verti-Drain, Redexim continues to lead the industry with cutting-edge equipment for aeration, seeding, topdressing, scarification and brushing.”

Kress

“Kress, the North American standard bearer in robotics, is redefining golf course maintenance with cutting-edge robotic mowers. Thanks to Kress’ proprietary technology, courses can achieve full coverage of their entire property by tapping into Kress’ existing network or through the simple installation of a single antenna on the clubhouse or maintenance facility. ”

Steel Green Manufacturing

“Steel Green Manufacturing is an employee-owned company built on the values of quality, customer service, integrity and innovation. With more than 100 years of combined experience in the equipment industry, our team understands the needs of lawn care professionals, athletic field managers and golf course superintendents.”

Turfco

“Turfco is a leading innovator in golf course maintenance equipment, offering reliable, efficient machines designed to help superintendents achieve exceptional results. With a focus on precision, productivity and durability, Turfco’s product line includes advanced ride-on and walk-behind aerators, spreader/sprayers, topdressers, edgers and sodcutters.”

Golf course solutions

Kafka Granite

“When prestigious golf courses such as Erin Hills, Union League National Golf Club, Red Feather Golf and Social Club, Whistling Straits and Eastward Ho! were looking to cut down on pathway and bunker maintenance — while preserving a natural look and feel on their courses — they all turned to Kafka Granite’s patented erosion-resistant golf course materials.”

NanoOxygen Systems

“NanoOxygen Systems has developed a system that improves irrigation and pond water quality for the golf industry. Using oxygen, ozone and now carbon dioxide gases, the system creates extremely small bubbles that are injected into water. Treated irrigation water improves soil health and results in less disease, lower chemical use, significantly improved conditions and reductions in water use.”

Pogo

“POGO Turfpro is an advanced turf-intelligence platform that delivers clear, actionable insights to optimize course performance. By integrating high-precision soil, weather and other environmental measurements with powerful mapping tools, POGO identifies the key factors influencing turf health, performance and playability.” 

Porous Pave

“Porous Pave is an innovative, problem-solving pavement specifically designed to address various challenges on golf courses. From bunker liners to cart paths, Porous Pave offers a versatile, durable solution that improves functionality and reduces maintenance needs.” 

taskTracker

“taskTracker is the industry-leading golf course and turf maintenance software, part of the comprehensive full-stack software solutions offered by Clubessential and foreUP. Our partners, TerraRad Tech, developed technology called turfRad. Their patented L-band Microwave sensor and cutting-edge mapping helps deliver fast, consistent soil-moisture scans — no drones or probes.”