Eagle Mountain Golf Club hole #14. Eagle Mountain overcomes the challenge of high sodium soil with Endurant turf colorants. Source: Golf Tips Mag[/caption]
“The more I became familiar with the product, I began taking it out to the golf course to overseeded greens to help with their appearance and then during cold months using it more and then to fairways,” said Reinecke.
At Eagle Mountain, Reinecke manages a familiar condition— high sodium soil—something he faced successfully at TPC Scottsdale as well.
“Here at Eagle Mountain we struggle with water quality. Sodium bicarbonates lead to poor water quality as we use reclaimed water. The salt leads to rapid blight disease,” said Reinecke.
“There is a tendency after overseeding where everything pops and looks great, but then, two weeks later, we lose the rye grass,” he added.
Last year, Reinecke’s overseed practice at Eagle Mountain didn’t go well. Temperatures were in the low 40s in late October, which is unusually cold for Arizona that time of year. Typically, the overseed would germinate within seven days and he’d be seeing the grass come up.
“Last year we had none. Day nine came and I started to panic. We were about to open the course up and no seed was popping,” said Reinecke. “I thought, we’ve got to heat this up.”
So, Reinecke sprayed the fairways with Endurant right on top of the seed to add the dark green colorant.
“It was crazy. A day or so after we saw a huge improvement even though the weather hadn’t changed much. Endurant heated it up and thank goodness we were able to open on time,” said Reinecke.
Even when overseeding the fairways, he reported a better look with Endurant.
“Being a public golf course in Arizona in the winter, people come here expecting to see green no matter what,” said Reinecke.When it comes to tournaments, golf courses are always going to put their best foot forward, and Endurant helps courses to get TV-Ready in just about any circumstance, but especially when the turf grass is already as well maintained as possible but needs pigment to meet expectations. Using Endurant can decrease usage of harsh chemicals. It can reduce dependence on fertilizer, which is especially helpful with phosphorus’s scarcity and harmful environmental impacts. Endurant also can reduce water usage. So, adding Endurant while minimizing other products and resources can have benefits that go beyond decreasing expenses. Endurant can increase aesthetics and playability. For some, Endurant satisfies that environmental motivator as well. “There’s a possibility we need to reduce water usage by 15 to 20 percent starting next year,” said Reinecke. “We may not overseed the fairways again. Endurant will get us through,” he added. Overseed is oddly popular and unpopular at the same time, he said. “Every superintendent would rather not have to overseed, but it’s something we’re often forced to do,” said Reinecke. Endurant is helping many to get away from the heavy seed rates and in some cases use no seed at all, he said. While many people just expect overseed versus colorant, they often can’t tell the difference. The golfers never notice, he said.
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.
[caption id="attachment_1463" align="alignleft" width="660"]
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.
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]
SiteOne, Geoponics and Field Source use team work to get football field TV ready using Endurant turf colorant.[/caption]
The Pickerington Ohio teams and the turfgrass field were to be highlighted during the 2020 GEICO ESPN High School Football Kickoff. The series was getting a lot of attention as officials were deciding whether the season would begin on time during the Covid 19 pandemic and included Pickerington's Division 1 State Champs.
Whether high school, college or professional football, the look and play of the field are critical and Endurant provides an edge for getting TV-ready and tournament-ready turfgrass that holds up to the scrutiny of demanding audiences and high definition TV.
“I had discoloration on the field that had started within 48 hours or less of what was going to be the first game of the season,” said DeMay. “Then, I learn it was going to be broadcast nationally on ESPN. The stakes were high. I knew how the field needed to look and play with that audience,” said DeMay.
DeMay, owner and principle with Field Source sports field management and a part-time City of Columbus employee, sought to get his field TV-ready.
He reached out to Andy McCormick of SiteOne landscape supply for ideas.
McCormick, a former golf course superintendent and current SiteOne salesperson, along with DeMay, who works with parks, school systems, universities and sports complex operators to construct and maintain fields, knew what to do.
[caption id="attachment_1455" align="alignleft" width="660"]
Endurant FW applied to an Ohio football field provides TV-ready turf conditions.[/caption]
DeMay applied Endurant on a Bermuda grass field used for football and soccer toward the end of the season a year prior. The school district outside of Columbus was pleased with the aesthetics and playability of the field treated with Endurant.
So DeMay reached out to gather technical guidance about applying Endurant specific to the conditions and the goals on the Pickerington field to get it TV-ready in no time. DeMay didn’t realize at first that he was not speaking with a sales rep but rather with the maker of Endurant, Geoponics.
“It was a genuine response to reach out and try to help me. I thought that was pretty cool,” said DeMay.
“We discussed all the particulars. I’m a detail-oriented person. If there is any tactic or trick I need to know, I’m going to do it,” he added. “I picked every square inch of his brain,” said DeMay.
Then, he applied Endurant FW in two coats, starting with one coat at a gallon and a half.
[caption id="attachment_1454" align="alignleft" width="660"]
Sports field manager gets game day ready turf using Endurant FW colorant in time for football season opener on ESPN.[/caption]
“It was just perfect. The discoloration started to heal away a little bit and the field looked perfect,” he said.
The colorant helped draw heat on the Bermuda for agronomic improvements.
“Between that and the colorant on the field, it just looked immaculate, as good as it ever looked,” exclaimed DeMay.
Testing uniform transfer of the turf colorant was an important factor in choosing Endurant for the Pickerington team as the game aired on ESPN. Credit: PCTigerFootball.com[/caption]
UAB Legion Field: Endurant turf colorants enhance professional athletic fields such as University of Alabama's Birmingham soccer field Credit: UABSports.com[/caption]
Contests through Dec. 27, 2020. Win a $500 Visa Gift Card by showing us how you use Endurant.[/caption]
As Endurant celebrates its 10th Anniversary, join in the celebration by showing the use of Endurant from any time over the past 10 years.
Approximately every two weeks from October 5, 2020 through December 27, 2020, there will be another chance to win a $500 U.S. Visa Card with a new category.
New contests begin on Mondays and end on Sundays, every other week, giving you almost 14 days to encourage friends and followers to boost your post’s attention to increase your odds of winning.
In the rare likelihood of a tie, Geoponics may choose the post that best portrays the benefits of the product.
Contestants may be required to verify their purchase of Endurant through Geoponics, a sales representative or a distributor upon request. The verification must be sent by email to geoadmin@geoponicscorp.com by end of business day on the Monday following the end of the contest or earlier if requested.
Joel Beason was a golf course superintendent for 10 years before joining SiteOne Landscape Supply as a sales representative. He has been with SiteOne for more than two years, now.
“I’m focused on applications versus install of plants. So, chemicals, fertility products, control products, that’s my line within SiteOne,” said Beason.
He was the superintendent at Moore’s Mill Club in Auburn, Alabama. There, Beason managed turf grass that did not go 100 percent dormant in winter.
Beason is experienced in using both pigments, such as Endurant TE, and paints, including Endurant Premium. Now, Endurant has a brand new product, a hybrid of pigment and paint, Endurant FLEX. The other Endurant turf grass colorant options include the original Endurant TC, Endurant FW (Fairway) and Endurant PR (Perennial Rye). Mulch and tree colorants also have their benefits.
“If we had an unusually cold winter or cold snap, often in the January or February timeframe, we could be on the brink of complete dormancy. Then, we made paint applications,” said Beason.
For the purposes of the Alabama golf club, he used a combination of pigments and paints but only on the greens. He did not use them on fairways and tees at that time.
“When I was at that golf course is when Endurant became popular on social media,” he said.
“We did our research and like everyone was saying, the superintendents and everyone, the consensus was that Endurant was the top of the line when picking brands,” said Beason.
Other benefits of Endurant include the ideal shades of green provided by the colorant. Secondly, Endurant offers longevity of color. Third, the service from Geoponics, the makers of Endurant is the best in the field, said Beason.
Application tips and other advice were easy to come by with Geoponics’ service. This is true whether as a superintendent using Endurant, or now as a salesperson working with Geoponics through SiteOne. Geoponics offers clients the best service possible.
“My go-to Geoponics and Endurant rep Brad [Driggers] is easy to get a hold of, follows up, helps with my clients and pricing and all that goes along with it,” said Beason.
On the golf course, Beason used a mixture of the handgun application technique and the boom spraying method on the greens. He used Endurant Premium, a rich dark shade of green on the Bermuda grass greens, he recalled.
“Selling in a territory where I once worked and having used the product, it really helps selling it,” said Beason.
SiteOne began offering Endurant to customers more than a year ago.
“I was so excited when I found out we would be able to sell it. It’s the most popular product out there. Especially in my area,” said Beason.
Most Endurant customers include golf courses, lawn care operators, universities, high schools and municipalities.
“University of Alabama really likes the product. Athletic Field Manager Jon Dewitt has been several places and used Endurant everywhere he’s been,” said Beason. “We do a ton of work with Alabama, in Tuscaloosa and with trendsetters having a good influence on others doing sports fields,” said Beason.
We’ve got Kathy Harrison, Supervisor of Athletics, at University of Alabama Birmingham, and the Birmingham Legion pro soccer team, started painting last year with Endurant, he said.
For golf, users look for ways to increase rounds and revenue on the backside, and that can be having the competitive edge of Endurant providing pristine color, getting tournament ready and/or TV ready.
LCOs, landscape operators, benefit from Endurant in multiple scenarios, also in terms of competitive edge, at least in terms of increased curb appeal for their customers. A short term chemical burn or herbicide application gone awry can be masked with Endurant while the grass recovers.
“There is a lot of opportunity,” said Beason.
The most eye-catching and competitive might be the athletic fields. The high profile fields they’re on ESPN and they want to be as green as possible in HDTV (high definition TV).
In transitions, an application of Endurant can help mask that dormant leaf blade as the bright green rye grass comes in as well, said Beason.
We get people enjoying Endurant’s quicker green up of Bermuda in the spring time as the colorant helps hold the heat, bring in that sunlight and naturally boost chlorophyll production for added agronomic benefits as well as aesthetic benefits.
Read More
A dormant lawn painted in Oklahoma using Endurant Turf Colorant.[/caption]
Painting Grass Makes News: Putting Endurant Turf Colorants to the Test
Painting grass. “That still sounds bazaar,” said Jones. But in the past two years, people have become increasingly aware of the benefits so the oddity isn’t so off-putting, he added.
When people see it, they also have an interest, sometimes before they’re even aware of the benefits.
“They’ll say, ‘I know you painted that yard, can you come look at my house?’ Or another one I get is someone ordered paint online and it didn’t look the way the online ad showed it,” said Jones. “That’s because it wasn’t an Endurant product,” he added.
Even hiring helpers, he hears, “Why would you paint grass?” They see it and then they get it, said Jones.
“First time I saw it was not a commercial but news about water restrictions in California and in Texas,” recalled Jones. “I thought, that’s interesting and a viable solution for overseeding rye.”
Then, Jones got online and searched for turf paint options.
“Like 10 names came up, so I ordered 10 of those. I have about a two-acre backyard and set up a test lot for each one. I painted and watched it through the winter,” said Jones.
A clear winner was revealed among the test plots, he said.
“Everybody who came by was like, ‘that’s what I want my turf to look like,’” relayed Jones.
So rather than spending a lot of time researching the companies, he tested them for himself.
[caption id="attachment_1431" align="alignleft" width="660"]
Curb appeal is made easy with Endurant turf colorant applied by Nick Jones in Oklahoma.[/caption]
Expanding the Lawn Care Business to Include Landscape Colorants
It took some further testing to learn how to profit from it in a way that differed somewhat from the model of the lawn care business, which for the most part is about the speed in which the landscapers can complete a property. Colorant was about expertise and the savings came in forms such as water, seed and chemicals. The clients were a niche market.
“The first year was basically a learning year,” Jones said.
This encouraged other businesses to contract Jones, who had all the equipment and the operation down to a science rather than recreating all those efforts themselves, he said.
“It’s one thing to put it down and for it to look good. Phase two was to put it down in a way that you could repeat it for a profit in multiple yards,” said Jones.
[caption id="attachment_1432" align="alignleft" width="480"]
Adding a pop of color to grass using Endurant turf colorant brings growing business to lawn service professional Nick Jones.[/caption]
Tips and Tricks: Benefits of Endurant Turf Colorant
In that year he learned the best equipment for various site conditions; different shades of Endurant ideal for particular species of grass and yards; how clean the property needs to be; and other tips and tricks for ideal results accomplished efficiently.
He outgrew Perkins. The past two years, Jones has stretched his business working with other landscapers in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
“With Endurant, we have a guaranteed look at every job. In Oklahoma, with weather being what it is, people are spending a lot of money on overseed and they don’t know how it’s going to look,” said Jones. “A lot of times that’s poor,” he added.
He uses Endurant to take the guesswork out of the equation.
“You know what you’re going to get with painting. That’s kind of the number one thing with it,” said Jones.
The species of grass leads not to just desiring a specific shade of Endurant, but also to applications benefits.
“Overseed over dormant Bermuda grass is dependent on rain and temperature being right,” said Jones
However, with Fescue, which often maintains some color, the look is different.
“You can just go over the top of Fesuce and it looks like a million bucks. You can save on water. You never deprive the plant of nutrients, but you can cut back a bit,” he said
[caption id="attachment_1429" align="alignleft" width="660"]
Home owners and real estate professionals enjoy the benefits of Endurant turf colorant applied to dormant turf as an extra lawn service in Oklahoma.[/caption]
Sports Fields & Businesses: Effects of Covid 19
In addition to home lawns, properties for sale gain curb appeal, while businesses and athletic fields also benefit from the colorant.
“If you have two businesses say on opposite corners, across from one another, such as two gas stations, people will go to the one with the better looking lawn,” said Jones.
“If your gas station is green and the neighbor’s is brown, people are naturally drawn to the green,” said Jones.
That’s the same with a home lawn, property for sale or an athletic field.
Sports teams are at least as competitive. Softball and baseball fields are increasingly finding the benefits of colorants, often while at visiting another team’s well-maintained field.
“If you overseed, it’s really hard on coaches and managers to have it look good for the summer,” said Jones.
Due to Covid 19, baseball season started and then got shut down in spring 2020.
With uncertainty remaining into fall and another season on the horizon, athletic field management choices are likely to change.
“We don’t know if we want to put that much money and time into overseed and then the season is ended early again. Overseeding some and then painting is an option. Or paint it so you’re not out the time. It’s most cost effective. That way, if you lose the season, you don’t lose that time and investment,” said Jones.
[caption id="attachment_1430" align="alignleft" width="660"]
Painting grass pays off for the owner of home and commercial lawn service companies in Oklahoma.[/caption]
Tricks of the Trade & Professional Painting Equipment
Endurant colorant varieties. Check out the full line at TurfPaint.net with additional options in pigments, including Endurant TE, and a new hybrid paint and pigment, Endurant FLEX.[/caption]
A Professional’s Personal Take on Using All the Various Turf Colors
“I personally use Endurant FW (Fairway) on the fescue. A little of “Fairway” goes a long way on the Fescue,” said Jones. “TC on Bermuda really looks nice,” he added.
Jones learned to blend for optimizing results.
“That’s where understanding the colors comes in. The Fairway (FW) gets dark quick. I use a lot of Fairway (FW and TC concentrate,” said Jones.
He also uses a base coat of FW with a top of Premium applied at different rates. “To get it to pop.”
The different grasses have different looks and base shades at different stages of growth and dormancy. Bermuda goes dormant in a whiter shade while Zoysia when dormant has a little more yellow, so Premium often brings that to the desired green shade.
Different landscapers he works with use different mixes and processes to get their desired look.
“Some people just want green but not with a lot of attention,” he said. “It’s different strokes for different folks.”
Most importantly, Endurant doesn’t fade to blue like so many other brands, noted Jones.
Having worked with marking dyes, pigments and paints, Jones points out: “Marking dyes go away pretty quickly. Pigment will erode to a not natural color. Paints will last. What we’re working with here with Endurant lasts for the longest duration,” he said.
He’s seen other lawn companies try to duplicate the look without knowing the products or process.
“They’ll quadruple the amount of marking dye or pigment on the yard. Ten or even 30 days later, it may look competitive to ours. But a month or two later, our yard is till holding color,” said Jones.
Read More
Pinehurst, established in 1894, the host of the 2014 and 2024 US Opens, uses Endurant turf colorants to aid in providing its consistent natural look and ideal playing conditions all year long for the past 10 years. Take a look at the 5th Hole on famous Pinehurst No. 2 . Credit: Pinehurst.com[/caption]
“We couldn’t continue with overseeding and provide the firm and fast conditions, which is how course No. 2 is supposed to play,” said Jeffreys.[caption id="attachment_1413" align="alignleft" width="660"]
Pinehurst No. 2 Clubhouse[/caption]
“We let everyone know, we don’t have to overseed anymore,” said Jeffreys.The primary benefit to painting is that it provided better year round playing conditions. Using Endurant allowed all of the Pinehurst golf courses to have color without the disruptive late September overseed, said Jeffreys. No more overwatering to cause soggy, soft conditions in September. Instead, painting in October and November allows continual play throughout fall with ideal conditions.
“We don’t want them to ask, ‘when did you paint?’ We do not want them to say, ‘your paint looks good.’ We want them to say, ‘your course conditions are excellent,’” said Jeffreys.Endurant ensures Pinehurst accomplishes those intentions. Pinehurst maintains its look while improving playability using Endurant on the courses that have been dubbed “Perfectly Imperfect” for maintaining their natural look, which is also a testament to what Endurant organic colorants are meant to be able to provide, running the spectrum from the “see it from the moon, wow factor” aesthetic to the can’t tell the difference between natural green chlorophyll, overseed and the Endurant paint. That range of possibilities is made possible by the customization options of the several shades of Endurant turf colorants. [caption id="attachment_1414" align="alignleft" width="660"]
For the past 10 years, Pinehurst No. 2 Uses Endurant turf colorant on dormant Bermuda grass as Liquid Overseed.[/caption]
“We chose Endurant primarily because of the longevity of the color. It stays green longer. When it fades, it fades green. Otherwise, with other brands, it fades blue, becomes chalky looking or fades quickly,” Jeffreys said. “Endurant fades on tone. It doesn’t go changing color. So that is a big thing for us,” he added.
“Endurant provides a really huge business savings to have the flexibility,” said Jeffreys. “This past spring, we didn’t have to deal with rye grass that we had to continually mow when we cut the staff from 40 to five.”He added, “It was a warm year. We were mowing Bermuda grass early. So, I can’t imagine if it was rye grass.” [caption id="attachment_1416" align="alignleft" width="660"]
Pinehurst always looks to share golf industry knowledge, here hosting the 2018 USGA colorant seminar[/caption]
Spraying Endurant turf colorant on Pinehurst No.2[/caption]
Contests begin Sept. 1, 2020 and are planned through Dec. 27, 2020. Details on TurfPaint.net/blog[/caption]
The first category in the 8 Endurant Turf Colorant contests is showing your first use of any Endurant product over the past 10 years, including the NEW Endurant Flex. Contest starts Sept. 1, 2020 #FlexYourTurf #FirstTimesACharm[/caption]
Before and after photos show Endurant turf colorant on dormant warm season Bermuda grass.[/caption]
One of the challenges for some golf course superintendents, landscapers and turfgrass managers remains managing the transitions and transition zones, efficiently, economically, aesthetically and with optimal results agronomically-- all while providing optimal playing surfaces when applicable to golf courses and athletic fields.
Whether it's the time of year when turfgrass is transitioning from actively growing grass to dormant turf or the other way around, when dormant turf is on its way back in growing and producing chlorophyl, these in between times call for a flexible product, one that is in between two of Endurant's fan favorites-- Endurant turf paints and Endurant TE pigment.
Endurant colorant varieties. Check out the full line at TurfPaint.net[/caption]
Cherokee Country Club looks gorgeous year round as Golf Course Superintendent Jason Sanderson uses Endurant turf paint to get winter wow factor, color that pops and to avoid transition challenges.[/caption]
Using Endurant turf colorants as directed is easy and leads to success. Still, some users of Endurant have found ways to make the colorant fit their needs to a T.
In fact, the first area of the golf course that Sanderson ever painted were his tees. Often, golfers and members didn’t know they were painted and instead thought they were overseeded.
“Then someone noted how good the tees looked and asked, ‘well, why can’t we paint the whole golf course?’ ...So, we gave it a try,” recalled Sanderson.
That was 2010 and he’s been painting the course ever since.
Implementing art and science, Superintendent Jason Sanderson masterfully applies Endurant turf colorant during a winter frost in Knoxville, Tennessee getting one of the best looking courses year-round[/caption]
On a foggy day in Knoxville, Tennessee, it's still plain to see that Jason Sanderson has mastered the art of painting turf implementing agronomic science to avoid the litany of challenges caused by overseed by instead using Endurant.[/caption]