Golf-FAQ.com

why public golf courses don't mow the fairways shorter

by Rickie Steuber Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Some courses seem to have shorter fairway turf while others seem to have more grass under the ball. USGA agronomists often get asked what is the best fairway mowing height and the simple answer is that one-size-fits-all does not apply. The optimal fairway height for any given course depends on a variety of factors.

Full Answer

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.

Are fairways more expensive to maintain than putting greens?

Add in water requirements and irrigation costs, fairways are often more expensive to maintain than putting greens given their large size. There are many ways to manage costs by reducing these outlays. One of the biggest costs associated with fairway maintenance is labor expenditures, specifically around mowing frequency.

Are there alternative mowing procedures for golf courses?

There have been a couple of recently published articles concerning mowing procedures for golf courses. 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 best fairway mowing height on a golf course?

When we play different golf courses, we often notice differences in fairway lies. Some courses seem to have shorter fairway turf while others seem to have more grass under the ball. USGA agronomists often get asked what is the best fairway mowing height and the simple answer is that one-size-fits-all does not apply.

What does "pushing the fairway" mean?

What is the most common way to mow a fairway?

What is the USGA Green Section Record article about?

What is the purpose of mowing?

What is a classic cut?

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How do golf courses keep their grass so short?

To keep the grass so short on greens, special mowers are used. 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 height are golf fairways cut at?

0.38 to 0.45 inchesFairways 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 fairways be mowed?

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. While greens mowing is usually completed in advance of play, it is often not possible to mow 25-50 acres of fairways ahead of play.

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?

9:0915:52Basic 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.

What grass is the Masters fairways?

Augusta National's primary turfgrass is bermuda. During the hot and humid Georgia summer, bermudagrass covers the landscape because of its heat tolerance characteristics (amongst other reasons). In the Fall as the nights become cooler, the bermudagrass goes dormant, stops growing, and turns brown.

How do golf courses keep weeds out?

Golf courses also adhere to a regular schedule of applying pre-emergent herbicides as well as weed killers and fertilizer. The key behind pre-emergent herbicides is weed prevention. Of course there are no “magic bullets” that keep all weeds out for the entire growing season.

Why do golf courses roll greens?

Rolling is a practice that improves surface smoothness, uniformity and increases green speed. There are a variety of lightweight rollers used on greens, including sidewinder units and roller attachments that can be mounted on a triplex mower.

How often do golf courses spray?

To the casual observer, spraying greens every one or two weeks may appear to be overkill. However, short spray intervals allow superintendents to observe putting green performance throughout the season and apply products only at the appropriate time to maximize their efficacy.

How often do golf courses mow the lawn?

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 are golf fairways maintained?

Try to keep the surface as dry as possible. Regular aeration work will help in this regard (see earlier). Occasional brushing or harrowing will also help to remove moisture and create an upright sward. If nutrient levels are too high this can encourage lush, soft growth which is susceptible to disease attack.

Why are golf courses striped?

How the operators mow the turf also helps to define each of the playing surfaces. The striping of golf course playing areas has been done for decades, with a light stripe occurring when turf is mowed away from the viewer and a dark stripe occurring when turf is mowed toward the viewer.

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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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