This is Part 2 of a 2-part series: Ohio football field is TV-ready using Endurant turf colorants with the help of Geoponics, SiteOne landscape supply and Field Source sports field management.
~An interview with SourceOne's Andy McCormick
SiteOne sales representative Andy McCormick knew just what to do when a customer had a blemish on an Ohio football field before a televised game.
The former golf course superintendent used Endurant turf colorants for years.
“First thing I thought of was spraying Endurant at
Royal New Kent Golf Club,” said McCormick. “It’s all about timing, using the right product at the right time,” he added.
That golf course in Providence Forge Virginia benefited from Endurant on Bermuda and he knew it could help blend in the problems on the football field as well.
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Endurant turf colorants provide TV-ready turf under pressure.[/caption]
McCormick was a golf course superintendent in Virginia for years before joining
SiteOne. He knows the benefits of using Endurant turf colorants as a regular practice instead of overseeding with rye grass – and the benefits of using Endurant in emergencies when something goes awry.
“We used dyes, then pigments in the summer, then paints when everything went dormant,” said McCormick.
Many years ago, McCormick had tried several brands and varieties of turf colorants before landing on Endurant as the best option for professionals while he served as superintendent at
Hanover Golf Club in Virginia, he said.
“We got a hold of Endurant while working with Virginia Tech,” said McCormick of the early years using the product.
“Back in the day, everyone was figuring out what nozzles to use and what rates and speeds. Most of all, I always remember the color,” he said.
“It didn’t look fake,” he noted.
That could not be said of the other colorants on the market, which were off-colored or faded to blue.
Ten years later and Endurant now has a variety of shades to match various turfgrass species. Unlike competitors, Endurant colorant lasts and when it does begin to fade, it fades on tone, noted McCormick.
He started with tees and using Endurant during transitions as a superintendent in VA.
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Endurant FW provides the perfect look and play for a high stakes football game aired on ESPN under the scrutiny of high definition TV.[/caption]
When Ryan DeMay, owner and principle with
Field Source sports field management and a part-time City of Columbus employee, reached out to McCormick, DeMay knew instantly that feeling of wanting to get things just right on the field.
DeMay was concerned about a chemical burn on a Pickerington football field just days before a game was to be televised on ESPN.
“He had a little issue with an herbicide,” said McCormick.
While the troublesome spot would have eventually recovered, it wasn’t going to look good on TV.
“Endurant was easy to find and it stuck with me. Jay Wade and everyone was talking about it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Everyone sees what's going on. So I didn’t need to chase a company down. I already have a good one,” said McCormick.
He had been keeping informed on the product, how, where and when to use it simply by following along on social media.
“And, no matter how good a fertility program you have it will never look as good as painted,” noted McCormick.
So DeMay reached out knowing McCormick had the experience with Bermuda and Endurant, although the Endurant can be used on just about anything from providing full color on dormant turf to sprucing up a dull fescue.
“There is nothing the entire line of Endurant cannot do,” said McCormick.
Where to Start: Finding the Right Endurant for the Customer
DeMay’s issue with the herbicide was a “no brainer” for McCormick because both were familiar with Endurant.
But still, the way to the address the situation is the same for almost all customers, said McCormick.
He could see from the pictures there was just a little bit of a tip burn and that the grass still had a lot of green on the tissue. Other than the problem area, the turf was well maintained and in great condition -- providing an ideal canvas for the colorant to make it look just about picture perfect on TV.
Still, to get all the technical support possible, McCormick, DeMay and
Geoponics went about the challenge as a team to ensure the football field looked great in-person and on ESPN.
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Geoponics, SiteOne landscape supply and Field Source sports field management provide Pickerington Ohio football field with the perfect solution to get TV-Ready turf quickly using Endurant FW turf colorant.[/caption]
Questions to Ask Clients to Provide the Best Service and Endurant Product
- What is the customer looking for?
- What color is needed?
- What will provide those results? Endurant TC, FW, Premium or Perennial Rye?
- What is the grass's stage of growth? Is it dormant?
- Is the grass actively growing? Would the Endurant TE pigment or the Endurant Flex, a hybrid pigment and paint, be best?
- What results are expected?
- What is the type of grass? Is it fescue, rye, Bermuda, bentgrass or another species of grass?
- Where is it located?
- What is the condition of the turf?
Geoponics: A Supplier Who Works with Distributors and Clients
SiteOne’s Endurant customers get the support not only from SiteOne, but also from Geoponics, the makers of Endurant.
As a salesperson, this support from a supplier can make for the best outcomes.
“In this case especially, we had a limited time to make a it happen to go on national TV,” said McCormick.
DeMay, the client, had done all his homework. McCormick had some product experience previously and Geoponics was ready and able to provide any support needed.
“In just a couple of quick phone calls, we had what we needed,” said McCormick.
SiteOne sales reps can have added confidence knowing when a situation comes up, they can feel comfortable getting any information they need about Endurant from Geoponics and that their customer can feel comfortable talking with Geoponics as well.
“The phone call to Geoponics made it really simple to get the answers and it was an easy call to make,” said McCormick.
The full, year-round product is an easy sell, whether the customer is looking to use it as a highlight or to use it full scale, he said.
In the case of the Pickerington football team in Ohio, it was a great success to offer Endurant.
“This is his baby and this is on TV. It’s a perfectionist thing. When it comes to using Endurant, I’m game on,” said McCormick.
