Challenge
At Oak Ridge Country Club, managing a championship-level course on a fixed budget is a constant balancing act. The golf course superintendent is responsible for everything from irrigation and turf health to crew efficiency and equipment upkeep. Year after year, price fluctuations in essential materials such as fertilizers, irrigation components, and specialty tools made it difficult for the team to accurately forecast costs. Planning for large seasonal purchases was always a moving target, and last-minute orders due to unpredictable supply chain issues added to the complexity. The club needed a more stable, strategic approach to budgeting and sourcing the products required throughout the season.
The Central Difference Solution
The Central Golf Sales Team has been working to get a meeting scheduled with the superintendent and the decision makers at the club for a few years. In 2022 when Central introduced their new Golf Annual Buying Program, which offered a proactive solution to their challenges, the team at Oak Ridge finally took the meeting. During the off-season, Central’s representatives worked closely with the superintendent to review historical usage data, planned projects, and seasonal needs. Together, they created a comprehensive forecast and locked in pricing on frequently used products, ranging from swing joints and heads to drip kits, PVC fittings, and repair tools. Deliveries were scheduled in phases to align with the maintenance calendar, which helped reduce the burden of on-site inventory. Central also built in flexibility so that the club could make adjustments as the season progressed without sacrificing budget control.
Results
By leveraging Central’s Golf Annual Buying Program, Oak Ridge Country Club locked in pricing ahead of the season and avoided mid-year cost increases resulting in substantial savings over prior years. Those savings enabled the team to upgrade to more efficient rotors and invest in long-awaited tee box renovations. More importantly, materials arrived when needed, eliminating rush orders and preventing delays. The program provided consistency, predictability, and peace of mind—allowing the superintendent and their team to focus on delivering exceptional playing conditions for members without being blind sided by fluctuating costs.
