Ahead of His Time: Golf course superintendent among first to paint grass in Nevada
Full interview with Mike Donahue, Superintendent, Las Vegas
Growing grass out west is a whole new ball game with Endurant. Reducing water, labor and chemical usage, Endurant users overcome the oddity of the idea of painting grass for an overall win.
Some pockets of the country and the world have been painting grass for years, while for others the practice is new. Among those to first combat the question in the Western U.S. of “why in the world would you paint grass?!” was Mike Donahue, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
“People often do things just because it’s the way we’ve always done them,” says Donahue, as he shows off one of the courses he manages.
[caption id="attachment_1346" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Mike Donahue, Golf Course Superintendent, Las Vegas, Nevada uses Endurant Turf Colorants instead of overseed.[/caption]
Now, as Endurant is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and is about to kick off a contest where turfgrass professionals show off their courses and the benefits of using Endurant, we take a look back at the painting experiences shared by Donahue over the past couple of years.
“I don’t think there’s a superintendent in the United States who actually wants to overseed,” says Donahue. “It’s hard on equipment, hard on the guys; the weather is always fluctuating. Nobody really wants to overseed,” he says.
What’s interesting is that some people will keep overseeding simply because it’s always the way things were done.
Also, there is a perception out there that painting isn’t natural and thus less environmentally friendly. Actually, Endurant organic turf paints present huge savings in water usage and in harsh chemical usage.
“I spend more money on water in a month than I spend on paint all year,” says Donahue.
While some superintendents may be reluctant to try painting grass, poor turf quality due to overseed led Donahue to easily make the switch.
“This is links golf, so in the winter, I want it firm and fast. I want the ball to bounce and roll. I don’t need to overseed to get that,” says Donahue.
“Using Endurant on Bermuda grass, the ball runs,” he adds.
[caption id="attachment_1341" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Endurant Turf Colorant pops on dormant Bermuda grass in Las Vegas, Nevada[/caption]
While almost all players, members, owners and managers enjoy the benefits, every once in a while a player questions the use of paint on grass.
There’s often a relief once there’s an understanding that the grass is still real, it’s still very alive and the usage of the Endurant colorant requires fewer resources while improving playability.
Much more work, water and chemical treatment goes into overseeding with rye grass compared with painting a dormant Bermuda grass.
“Most reviews say it’s great,” says Donahue, who also described Endurant as the “best paint he’s ever used.”
The popularity of painting turf differs coast to coast.
[caption id="attachment_1344" align="aligncenter" width="660"] In the past few years, painting grass became less of an oddity as west coast turf managers needed creative ways to conserve water. Endurant Organic Turf Colorant is a favorite for its natural color that fades on tone, unlike other brands on the market, retaining a natural shade of green[/caption]
“The guys in the Southeast, I see everyone on Twitter painting. Everyone there is doing it, like it’s normal,” said Donahue in 2018, about three years after he began using paint.
One of the great benefits to grass paint, in addition to water savings, is avoiding the transition and competition challenges of overseeding.
While on one of the courses that Donahue manages, the water comes from a water treatment facility next door offering lower rates, water rates are much more expensive in the area overall.
“Go to the valley, where you’re buying city water, I spend $60,000, $70,000, $80,000 a month on city water,” says Donahue.
So with rising water costs, users of Endurant began sprouting up all over the valley in the past two to three years especially.
Life Before Painting with Endurant
Donahue used to put out seed at the end of August, when it was about 110 F.
“I would get about two weeks, so my overseed was always marginal at best. The vast majority of the golf courses are in the same boat here," said Donahue
All that labor and expense of overseed was to avoid the look of dormant Bermuda, but benefits were really only seen for a few weeks.
“As a superintendent here, if I can keep my Bermuda green until mid-November and I’m greening up in February—or say even mid-November to mid-March—you’re still only talking three to four months. What’s the point of overseeding?” he continued.
[caption id="attachment_1342" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Endurant adds wow factor to dormant turf grass, saving money, water and time while decreasing transition challenges and increasing playability.[/caption]
If you overseed, it tears up the course and it’s closed for three to four weeks.
Then it re-opens with cart-path only traffic and playing conditions aren’t great.
His golf course is as busy or more in the summer as it is in the winter and the summer conditions were notoriously poor after overseeding because the transitions were so bad, he said.
Transitioning from Overseed to Painting
“Superintendents are converting to paint due to water. Between cost, transition issues and really the fact you overseed for no reason,” says Donahue.
“I need the grass to be good for 12 months. By painting, I’ve eliminated transition issues. My Bermuda stand is better. It greens up faster,” he adds.
As the industry adage goes, "the better your overseed, the worse your transition, and the worse your overseed, the better your transition."
“To get a good overseed you’ve got to beat up the Bermuda. Bermuda doesn’t like to be beat up here,” says Donahue.
Nearby superintendents are also painting on Bermuda, as well as on bentgrass greens. A few will still overseed.
Sure overseeded rye grass can be pretty and fluffy, says Donahue.
“Look at it in terms of playability. I’d put the greens painted with Endurant up against any greens. They’re that good and they’re dormant. People don’t even know it’s not overseed,” said Donahue.
“You can’t tell me fluffed up rye grass is a better surface. The ball rolls faster on a dormant surface. Period. If you manage your Bermuda going into the fall, you can get it so it’s kind of fluffy too,” he said.
[caption id="attachment_1340" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Endurant makes turfgrass management easier and less expensive all year long, coast to coast and around the globe.[/caption]
Greener Grass: Early Green Up Using Endurant Colorant
Endurant has another benefit as the grass recovers sooner after winter dormancy.
Green up begins in February after using Endurant FW or darker. Chlorophyll increased and active growth continued with recovery by April instead of May.
“The darker paint does bring in more heat, a few more degrees, “ said Donahue.
As he showed off one of the best pictures of turf paint looking like overseed, he shares a highlight from a February a couple years back: “We had a defined and clean rough, too,” Donahue described.
“I want to make sure people don’t ever question what we’re doing here. I want people to see. Look at this viable option of Endurant,” he said.
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Geoponics, the maker of Endurant turf colorants, has three things to celebrate:
1.) Turf Paint turning 10 years old;
2.) Geoponics is launching a new product;
3.) and YOU. Yes Geoponics is celebrating you, our clients, with giveaways and cash prizes.
Happy Birthday Turf Paint:
Enduring the Years with Endurant
[caption id="attachment_1332" align="aligncenter" width="727"] Credit: Four Seasons Costa Rica[/caption]
Remember that first double-digit birthday when you were a kid? One of your kids'? Grandkids'? Remember the excitement?
We want to share that enthusiasm throughout the year.
Geoponics has a lot of gifts, and we like to share them!
We hope you'll participate, and get rewarded for doing so!
New Product Launch:
We Keep Growing
Geoponics has launched several products over the years. These include innovations in turf paint through the Endurant line.
Very soon, we have an exciting new product to share. This product will be groundbreaking and earth changing. Really? Yes!
Changing the earth, that's what we do! We harness the natural processes of the Earth to foster growth. We enjoy watching you, our clients, grow with us!
Keep an eye out for news about Geoponics' newest product launch. There isn't much more exciting than something new (even if you're a 10 year old). Because new opportunities, new gifts, new products-- these are things we all love.
Celebrating Our Clients with Cash Giveaways:
Grow with Us
Although we can't give away our newest product details, yet, we CAN giveaway CASH, soon.
Hope we didn't ruin any surprises for you by sharing these sneak peeks to get you amped up, stoked, revved up, hyped-- all for our birthday bash and related announcements.
Why? Because we hope you'll come to the party!
So we can say, "Surprise! Here's your prize!"
Not just hundreds, thousands of dollars in prizes.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to learn more about contest details. You may also subscribe to our You Tube channel.
We'll have an email, news release and blog posted as well. Do you want to be sure not to miss it? Then make sure you're subscribed to our email. There, we'll share contest details.
Golf course superintendents, maintenance crews, sod farmers, lawn and landscapers, we can't wait to see you on the web!
#Show us your grass!
Geoponics' Pages, Accounts and Links to Follow
We're all over the interwebs. Is that what you call it these days? We have social media pages, websites and virtual outlets galore to keep you entertained and informed. It's not just to share the news, it's also to cash you up! {Snorts}
So, check out the links below and follow them all or pick your favorite. Also, a contest website will be revealed soon for our cash prize giveaway hub. This is a social media sweepstakes with cash prizes you don't want to miss.
In the meantime, we'll keep you posted here:
It's time for our Early Order Program discounts. Get Endurant turf colorants at the best price of the year through September. Contact your sales rep today to learn more. Don't have a sales rep? We'll get you one. Send an email to info@geoponicscorp.com .
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Kansas State University recently conducted a study on whether turf colorants stained clothes more than untreated grass.
The findings were favorable for Endurant turf colorant users who experience no additional staining on clothes from marks made with grass treated with Endurant versus untreated grass.
[caption id="attachment_1311" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Don't let stains delay the game. Endurant turf colorants won't mark up uniforms the way another top brand does.[/caption]
Other brands caused more staining to clothes, including some of the top brands.
The field studies of potential clothing blemishes on clothes after athletes contact turfgrass treated with colorants were initiated February 16, 2017.
When athletes make contact with the playing surface, colorants will adhere to the turfgras leaf blades.
[caption id="attachment_1290" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Endurant turf colorant provides a full turfgrass makeover to this zoysia grass. The colorant stays on the field, not on athletes' uniforms! Before and after photos shared by Landscape Supply.[/caption]
In some cases though, some colorant brands other than Endurant also blemished clothing and for some brands the blemishing was significantly more than if the grass was left untreated with colorant.
K-State Turfgrass Research published the study in July 2017.
The study was led by Jared A Hoyle and Daniele L McFadden of Kansas State University.
"Effect of Dormant 'MidIron' Bermudagrass Colorant Applications on Clothing Blemishing" compared the blemishes created by four brands of turf pigments Endurant Premium left the least amount of blemishing, leaving no more blemishing on clothes than untreated turfgrass.
[caption id="attachment_1310" align="alignleft" width="295"] Prevent clothes from becoming one big grass stain. Endurant turf colorants won't stain clothes like other brands, University study finds.[/caption]
According to the study, a brand called Envy left the most amount of staining on clothing that made contact with turfgrass treated with Envy grass paint.
The objective of the research was to determine if turfgrass pigments and paints blemish athletic clothing after the recommended dry time.
Endurant turf colorants, created by Geoponics, do not cause additional staining to athletes' clothes when compared with untreated grass.
As many athletes' clothes are quite expensive, the benefits for teams can be beyond aesthetic and into economic.
We're proud to share the results of the study.
Review the study by University of Kansas online: "Hoyle, J. and McFadden, Daniele L. (2017) 'Effect of Dormant ‘MidIron’ Bermudagrass Colorant Applications on Clothing Blemishing,' Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 3: Iss. 4. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7151"
Review the PDF of the study here:
Effect of Dormant 'MidIron' Bermudagrass Colorant Applications on Clothing BlemishingRead More
Six weeks after Irma and months after Harvey, many golf courses are back in the swing of things with major tournaments continuing without disruption. Others are still doing the work required to get to greener pastures. One tournament moved from one hurricane-devastated area to another-- one which was just a few weeks further in their recovery process.
An interesting swap occurred where one Hurricane Harvey recovery came just in time to save a USGA tournament struggling for a home post-Irma.
Quail Creek Country Club was set to host the first major tournament in Collier County-- until Irma caused damage that left the tournament seeking a new site.
The 2017 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, Collier County's first USGA event was postponed from it's initial dates this October. Despite hoping to keep the course on site, it was moved to Houston, Texas, not far from another area devastated by Hurricane Harvey just a few weeks prior.
Champions Golf Club in Houston is now set to host the event, Nov. 11 through Nov. 16., at the club's Cypress Creek Course.
“Champions, the site of the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, has been an incredible friend of the USGA over the years,” said USGA President Diana M. Murphy in a statement on the USGA event website. “And it speaks volumes to the character of the members and leadership for them to offer their course – a three-time USGA championship venue, no less – on such short notice. We are confident this championship will be a success. We will keep all of those who have been impacted by the recent hurricanes in our utmost thoughts.”
Although it could be hard to see a Naples, Fla. course lose the chance to be a host due to hurricane damage, there was a silver lining that the recovery in Houston was bound to come to Naples-- in time.
“Lucky for us, our course has rebounded exceptionally well from the more than 30 inches we sustained last month due to the storm [Harvey], and we feel it is our duty to give back to the golf community and an honor to welcome those who have been adversely affected by another hurricane to our home. We wish our friends in Florida a speedy and successful recovery,”said Robin Burke, vice president of the Champions Golf Club in Houston.
Sources:
Naples Daily NewsUSGA
Geoponics has several products to assist with turf recovery.
Turfgrass colorants get grass natural, gorgeous green that is TV-ready and tournament ready with Endurant.
Mulch dyes, including from Endurant turf colorants, and pond colorants, such as Aquaveil, assist with efficient course color in addition to turfgrass colorant needs.
Turf managers are sharing their experiences using Endurant throughout the summer and as they begin fall management preparations.
[caption id="attachment_1290" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Zoysia gets an August color boost with Endurant. Turf colorant provides a full turfgrass makeover to this zoysia grass. Before and after photos shared by Landscape Supply.[/caption]
The images posted are a few of our favorite photos of Endurant turf colorants used on home lawns, farms, golf courses or sports fields that users shared in August. Endurant is used throughout the summer on cool and warm season grasses. Endurant is also the first choice for fall color preparations.
Endurant turf colorants are popular throughout the year on warm and cool season grasses, but fall is one of the most common times of the year for turfgrass professionals to consider color enhancers as cooler weather will begin to cause grass to lose color and chlorophyl, particularly in warm season grass varieties.
Nonetheless, cool season grasses were enhanced by the use of Endurant throughout this summer and leading into fall as well. Turfgrass professionals,
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It's never too early to plan. What you do this fall and winter may be less expensive to choose now. There are several considerations to review when choosing whether to leave dormant turf as-is or whether to choose between traditional overseed, liquid overseed or both.
[caption id="attachment_287" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Endurant eco-friendly turf colorant applied at Hillwood Country Club provides a vibrant turfgrass transformation during full winter dormancy. Endurant also provides a boost in color when low temperatures cause intermittent browning.[/caption]
Read More
Drought, dry lawn, fertilizer burn-- whatever the woe, green grass paints provide a solution. Get a beautiful green lawn while minimizing fertilizer, water and chemical usage.
Green grass paints reduce common lawn repair costs while also reducing chemical usage and water. Results with Endurant green grass paints are instant and last up to three months depending upon the rate of grass growth, frequency of mowing and other factors.
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There is a relatively small list of the most common turf problems and how to avoid or repair them. These lawn and garden problems are relatively easy to avoid.
Expert lawn care tips can help almost every level of gardener or landscaper.
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It's about time to consider the fall turfgrass plan for winter management. Are you planning to overseed, apply colorant or considering a combination of the two?
Very few golf course superintendents choose to overseed anymore and if they do, they apply colorant as well-- especially on the east coast of the United States.
[caption id="attachment_976" align="aligncenter" width="969"] Overseed 2016, left. Endurant turf colorant 2017, right. Photo credit: Golf Course Superintendent Alex Price[/caption]
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Geoponics offers several unique wetting agents that help to manage and conserve water. Geoponics' soil surfactants each offer benefits that go beyond short term water management, improving the health of the soil and plants longterm.
HydraHawk is a popular soil surfactant among golf course superintendents for its improvement in soil and water management that includes a mindful, sustainable approach to the environment made with all natural plant extracts.
Soil surfactants are most effective when combined with Agriox, which breathes
Read More
Mike Donahue, Golf Course Superintendent, Las Vegas, Nevada uses Endurant Turf Colorants instead of overseed.[/caption]
Now, as Endurant is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and is about to kick off a contest where turfgrass professionals show off their courses and the benefits of using Endurant, we take a look back at the painting experiences shared by Donahue over the past couple of years.
“I don’t think there’s a superintendent in the United States who actually wants to overseed,” says Donahue. “It’s hard on equipment, hard on the guys; the weather is always fluctuating. Nobody really wants to overseed,” he says.
What’s interesting is that some people will keep overseeding simply because it’s always the way things were done.
Also, there is a perception out there that painting isn’t natural and thus less environmentally friendly. Actually, Endurant organic turf paints present huge savings in water usage and in harsh chemical usage.
“I spend more money on water in a month than I spend on paint all year,” says Donahue.
While some superintendents may be reluctant to try painting grass, poor turf quality due to overseed led Donahue to easily make the switch.
“This is links golf, so in the winter, I want it firm and fast. I want the ball to bounce and roll. I don’t need to overseed to get that,” says Donahue.
“Using Endurant on Bermuda grass, the ball runs,” he adds.
[caption id="attachment_1341" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
Endurant Turf Colorant pops on dormant Bermuda grass in Las Vegas, Nevada[/caption]
While almost all players, members, owners and managers enjoy the benefits, every once in a while a player questions the use of paint on grass.
There’s often a relief once there’s an understanding that the grass is still real, it’s still very alive and the usage of the Endurant colorant requires fewer resources while improving playability.
Much more work, water and chemical treatment goes into overseeding with rye grass compared with painting a dormant Bermuda grass.
“Most reviews say it’s great,” says Donahue, who also described Endurant as the “best paint he’s ever used.”
The popularity of painting turf differs coast to coast.
[caption id="attachment_1344" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
In the past few years, painting grass became less of an oddity as west coast turf managers needed creative ways to conserve water. Endurant Organic Turf Colorant is a favorite for its natural color that fades on tone, unlike other brands on the market, retaining a natural shade of green[/caption]
“The guys in the Southeast, I see everyone on Twitter painting. Everyone there is doing it, like it’s normal,” said Donahue in 2018, about three years after he began using paint.
One of the great benefits to grass paint, in addition to water savings, is avoiding the transition and competition challenges of overseeding.
While on one of the courses that Donahue manages, the water comes from a water treatment facility next door offering lower rates, water rates are much more expensive in the area overall.
“Go to the valley, where you’re buying city water, I spend $60,000, $70,000, $80,000 a month on city water,” says Donahue.
So with rising water costs, users of Endurant began sprouting up all over the valley in the past two to three years especially.
Endurant adds wow factor to dormant turf grass, saving money, water and time while decreasing transition challenges and increasing playability.[/caption]
If you overseed, it tears up the course and it’s closed for three to four weeks.
Then it re-opens with cart-path only traffic and playing conditions aren’t great.
His golf course is as busy or more in the summer as it is in the winter and the summer conditions were notoriously poor after overseeding because the transitions were so bad, he said.
Transitioning from Overseed to Painting
“Superintendents are converting to paint due to water. Between cost, transition issues and really the fact you overseed for no reason,” says Donahue.
“I need the grass to be good for 12 months. By painting, I’ve eliminated transition issues. My Bermuda stand is better. It greens up faster,” he adds.
As the industry adage goes, "the better your overseed, the worse your transition, and the worse your overseed, the better your transition."
“To get a good overseed you’ve got to beat up the Bermuda. Bermuda doesn’t like to be beat up here,” says Donahue.
Nearby superintendents are also painting on Bermuda, as well as on bentgrass greens. A few will still overseed.
Sure overseeded rye grass can be pretty and fluffy, says Donahue.
“Look at it in terms of playability. I’d put the greens painted with Endurant up against any greens. They’re that good and they’re dormant. People don’t even know it’s not overseed,” said Donahue.
“You can’t tell me fluffed up rye grass is a better surface. The ball rolls faster on a dormant surface. Period. If you manage your Bermuda going into the fall, you can get it so it’s kind of fluffy too,” he said.
[caption id="attachment_1340" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
Endurant makes turfgrass management easier and less expensive all year long, coast to coast and around the globe.[/caption]
Credit: Four Seasons Costa Rica[/caption]
Remember that first double-digit birthday when you were a kid? One of your kids'? Grandkids'? Remember the excitement?
We want to share that enthusiasm throughout the year.
Geoponics has a lot of gifts, and we like to share them!
We hope you'll participate, and get rewarded for doing so!
Don't let stains delay the game. Endurant turf colorants won't mark up uniforms the way another top brand does.[/caption]
Other brands caused more staining to clothes, including some of the top brands.
The field studies of potential clothing blemishes on clothes after athletes contact turfgrass treated with colorants were initiated February 16, 2017.
When athletes make contact with the playing surface, colorants will adhere to the turfgras leaf blades.
[caption id="attachment_1290" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
Endurant turf colorant provides a full turfgrass makeover to this zoysia grass. The colorant stays on the field, not on athletes' uniforms! Before and after photos shared by Landscape Supply.[/caption]
In some cases though, some colorant brands other than Endurant also blemished clothing and for some brands the blemishing was significantly more than if the grass was left untreated with colorant.
K-State Turfgrass Research published the study in July 2017.
The study was led by Jared A Hoyle and Daniele L McFadden of Kansas State University.
"Effect of Dormant 'MidIron' Bermudagrass Colorant Applications on Clothing Blemishing" compared the blemishes created by four brands of turf pigments Endurant Premium left the least amount of blemishing, leaving no more blemishing on clothes than untreated turfgrass.
[caption id="attachment_1310" align="alignleft" width="295"]
Prevent clothes from becoming one big grass stain. Endurant turf colorants won't stain clothes like other brands, University study finds.[/caption]
According to the study, a brand called Envy left the most amount of staining on clothing that made contact with turfgrass treated with Envy grass paint.
The objective of the research was to determine if turfgrass pigments and paints blemish athletic clothing after the recommended dry time.
Endurant turf colorants, created by Geoponics, do not cause additional staining to athletes' clothes when compared with untreated grass.
As many athletes' clothes are quite expensive, the benefits for teams can be beyond aesthetic and into economic.
We're proud to share the results of the study.
Review the study by University of Kansas online: "Hoyle, J. and McFadden, Daniele L. (2017) 'Effect of Dormant ‘MidIron’ Bermudagrass Colorant Applications on Clothing Blemishing,' Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 3: Iss. 4. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7151"
Review the PDF of the study here:
Effect of Dormant 'MidIron' Bermudagrass Colorant Applications on Clothing Blemishing
Read More
Endurant eco-friendly turf colorant applied at Hillwood Country Club provides a vibrant turfgrass transformation during full winter dormancy. Endurant also provides a boost in color when low temperatures cause intermittent browning.[/caption]
Read More
Overseed 2016, left. Endurant turf colorant 2017, right. Photo credit: Golf Course Superintendent Alex Price[/caption]
Read More