
The most common fairway mowing methods are striping, contour mowing, the classic cut, and pushing and pulling. Striping – This is the method practiced by most golf courses. Stripes are often mowed in at least two directions to create a checkerboard pattern.
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What is the best way to mow the fairway?
The most common fairway mowing methods are striping, contour mowing, the classic cut, and pushing and pulling. Striping – This is the method practiced by most golf courses. Stripes are often mowed in at least two directions to create a checkerboard pattern.
What are the different types of Fairway mowing?
The most common fairway mowing methods are striping, contour mowing, the classic cut, and pushing and pulling. Striping – This is the method practiced by most golf courses. Stripes are often mowed in at least two directions to create a checkerboard pattern. This method creates a striking aesthetic appearance.
What is the best mowing pattern for your golf course?
The mowing pattern can have a big impact on the appearance of the golf course and the health of the turf while affecting your labor and fuel consumption line items. The most common fairway mowing methods are striping, contour mowing, the classic cut, and pushing and pulling.
Does mowing the fairway disrupt the golf course?
In all cases, fairway mowing is timed to minimize potential disruption of golf. Growth regulators, products that temper the growth rate of turfgrass, have been used for many years to help reduce mowing frequency.

How do you mow a golf fairway?
9:0515:52Basic Fairway and Rough Mowing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake a slow wide turn to avoid scuffing the turf then line up your second pass to slightly overlapMoreMake a slow wide turn to avoid scuffing the turf then line up your second pass to slightly overlap the first by about three inches. With gang mowers move completely on to the fairway.
How often should you mow fairways?
two to four times per weekDuring the growing season, greens are mowed five to seven days per week, fairways are often mowed two to four times per week and roughs one or two times per week.
How long does it take to mow fairways?
Mowing 20 to 30 acres of fairways can easily necessitate between 6 and 10+ labor hours each mowing. In addition to labor costs, fairway mowing costs includes fuel use, mower wear, equipment maintenance and blowing or removal of clippings.
How do you mow fairways half and half?
Mowing fairways in a “half and half” pattern, where half the fairway appears light while the other half appears dark, can be more efficient and reduces the amount of turning required in the rough. However, it is still important to vary the mowing direction in this pattern to avoid grain and traffic issues.
How do you maintain a fairway?
In general, fairways maintenance entails:Keeping a dense and contiguous cushion of turfgrass at a general height of between 0.38 and 0.5 inches.Mowing multiple times every week.Application of growth regulators to help suppress the growth rate of turfgrass and consequently reduce mowing frequency.
How long is the grass on a golf fairway?
Fairways can be mowed from 0.38 to 0.45 inches while roughs are maintained between 1.0 to 1.25 inches in summer. Mowing heights are raised slightly in the fall, as soil temperatures decrease and the turf thins from peak season cart traffic.
How often should you mow a golf course?
On average, greens are mowed at least five days per week, and in most cases six or seven days per week. Courses that choose to mow five or six days per week will take advantage of a closed Monday or Tuesday to skip mowing and focus more on agronomic programs like topdressing or aeration.
How often do you mow a putting green?
Greens typically need to be mown at least once every three days. Without that regular tending, they become overgrown. Getting them back up to speed is tough. Sometimes it's impossible, and the entire putting surface has to be reseeded, and you're looking at least two months before they're ready for play again.
How does a fairway mower work?
1:418:30Webcast: Grooming With A Fairway Mower - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith this unit. The only means to accomplish this was to do what is known as circle cutting this isMoreWith this unit. The only means to accomplish this was to do what is known as circle cutting this is simply mowing the fairway in a circular motion. Going down one side of the fairway.
How do you mow golf course greens?
Choosing a pattern- Golf greens are mowed front to back, side to side, left to right and right to left. The left to right and right to left cuts are angle cuts. Envision a square in which you start at the bottom right corner and move to the top left corner.
How do golf courses get mowed?
Golf course mowers are reel mowers, not rotary like most lawn mowers used at home. The reel spins and cuts the grass like a tight scissor cut. The cut height is set by adjusting the difference between the front and rear rollers.
What is contour mowing?
Contour mowing – This method also creates stripes but differs slightly from contemporary striping. Rather than creating a checkerboard, contour mowing creates curved stripes that follow the contour of the fairway. Classic cut – This style was very prevalent before lightweight fairway mowers.
What does "pushing the fairway" mean?
Pushing the fairway is when the turf is mowed from tee to green and pulling is mowing the turf from green to tee. A large number of mowers are necessary in order for this method to be efficient. Fairways are often mowed this way for championship events.
What is a classic cut?
The classic cut reduces mower traffic in the rough and often takes less time compared to striping helping to reduce labor and fuel costs. Pushing and Pulling – This method creates a fairway that is void of stripes. Pushing the fairway is when the turf is mowed from tee to green and pulling is mowing the turf from green to tee.
What is the most common way to mow a fairway?
The most common fairway mowing methods are striping, contour mowing, the classic cut, and pushing and pulling. Striping – This is the method practiced by most golf courses. Stripes are often mowed in at least two directions to create a checkerboard pattern. This method creates a striking aesthetic appearance.
What is a classic cut lawn mower?
Classic cut – This style was very prevalent before lightweight fairway mowers. Larger gang-unit fairway mowers of the past which were harder to maneuver mowed in the circular pattern creating light and dark halves of the fairway. The classic cut reduces mower traffic in the rough and often takes less time compared to striping helping to reduce labor and fuel costs.
Why do golf courses use classic cut?
However, some golf courses are using the classic cut because it is more efficient and a better use of their fuel and labor resources. Also, the overall health of the intermediate and primary rough will benefit from the reduced mower traffic. Courses with the slow growing Kentucky bluegrass planted in their intermediates might especially benefit from the classic cut and the reduced wear.
What is the USGA Green Section Record article about?
A USGA Green Section Record article highlighted the costs associated with mowing patterns and there was a nice article in the January issue of Golf Course Industry Magazine about alternative mowing patterns.
What is the purpose of mowing?
The true function of mowing is to prepare the golf course for play although mowing patterns are often used to highlight the different features of a golf course. The mowing pattern can have a big impact on the appearance of the golf course and the health of the turf while affecting your labor and fuel consumption line items.
What is the pattern of mowing in golf?
As you’ve probably noticed, different golf courses employ different mowing patterns, from crisscross cuts that resemble checkerboards to circular mows that produce dark and light sides on the fairways, to contoured stripes that follow the bend of the holes.
Is it better to mowing grass in the same direction?
To that end, it helps to have grass that is standing upright, too. That’s where mowing patterns come in. Rather than mowing grass in the same direction over and over, which can lead to thatchy and unhealthy turf, superintendents like to mix it up.
Is mowing a pragmatic purpose?
Mowing patterns also have a pragmatic purpose.
Who is Josh Sens?
A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.
How high should a golf fairway be?
In general, fairway heights in the range of 0.350-0.500 inch will serve most golf courses well.
Why do golfers need a clean lie?
In general, the goal is to provide golfers with a clean lie in the fairway, so that the ball sits up with little grass between it and the clubhead. A clean lie allows the clubhead to impact the ball before the turf, thereby allowing the golfer to impart more spin and gain greater control of the shot.
What is the USGA?
The USGA promotes and conserves the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions. It acts in the best interests of the game for the continued enjoyment of those who love and play it. The USGA: Celebrating 125 Years. Design Philosophy From Female Golf Course Architects. GIVING.
Is mowing height higher or lower than fairway grass?
Optimal mowing heights could be slightly lower or higher than this range depending on the fairway grass and other factors specific to the golf course you are playing. Additional Resources.
Is hitting behind the ball good?
Hitting behind the ball rarely produces a good result, but hitting a shot fat from a tight lie produces especially poor results. Hitting a little behind the ball from a fluffy lie won’t allow for much spin, but the extra grass under the ball is more forgiving.
