how to mow golf course greens

by Gene Leannon IV 4 min read

Is it easy to mow a golf course green?

Dec 17, 2019 · The primary mowing is done with a hand mower. The tee boxes and the greens are mowed this way. The greens specifically are mowed every single morning starting around six AM. It is a tedious and precise process but if done correctly can yield beautiful results for those playing that day. This is a seven step process to aid in the green mowing process. 1.

What is the best mowing pattern for your golf course?

Aug 02, 2019 · August 02, 2019. Elliott Dowling, agronomist, Northeast Region Patrick Gross, regional director, West Region. Combining mowing and rolling to achieve a desired green speed and improve smoothness is possible, but caution is necessary to not overstress turf, especially during the heat of summer. Since the day Edwin Budding invented the first mechanized reel …

What is the average mowing height for a golf green?

May 21, 2020 · Select the right pattern while mowing: Most golf greens follow familiar patterns, such as front to back, left to right (or vice versa) and side to side. Keep in mind that the direction and pattern that you select for mowing the greens should always be opposite of the previous cut.

What is the best way to mow a golf fairway?

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 …

How do you mow greens on a golf course?

The best way that I have found to start cutting is to either start at the edge of the green or the corner depending on the cut. For instance if a front to back cut is necessary then starting at the edge of the green and creating a straight line is the easiest way to go.Dec 17, 2019

How often should you mow golf greens?

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 can I firm up my golf greens?

Consistent firmness requires a well-draining soil. There are options to retrofit drain lines into greens, tees and even fairways. Poorly drained soils can be improved by soil modification techniques, such as sand topdressing and a deep aeration program, even on fairways.Nov 16, 2010

How often should golf greens be watered?

every two to three days
How much (and when!) to water your lawn, according to a golf-course superintendent. About a third of an inch of water every two to three days is a good goal for your yard.Jul 17, 2020

What are the factors that affect mowing?

External influences such as disease, drought and heat influence mowing practices. Superintendents must adjust their mowing strategies accordingly. Other inputs, such as the use of growth regulators, can affect mowing practices. Mowing is the primary input in golf course maintenance, and the growth rate of the grass is a product of the environment.

What are the features of a lawn mower?

When evaluating mowers, superintendents rely on a number of features to help them select the best equipment. They include: 1 Price 2 Size and speed of the mower 3 Maneuverability 4 Durability 5 Design 6 Ease of operation 7 Ability to maintain the mowers 8 Size and type of terrain to be mowed

Is East Lake Golf Club hilly?

Ralph Kepple, Certified Golf Course Superintendent at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, relies on machines that are easy to operate and easy to maintain. Although East Lake is “not overly hilly,” he says, the type of terrain is an important consideration as well. “If a mower is not going to make it up a hill, that’s a problem,” Kepple adds.

What is a golf course mower?

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.

How to keep golf greens short?

As we have learned, there are a wide variety of factors impacting how golf course superintendents are able to keep golf greens grass so short.#N#It starts with the construction of the green itself, the selection of the proper grass variety for the climate, appropriate maintenance and watering techniques, and hiring qualified mowers who can operate precision machinery for the right outcome.#N#The result is a smooth surface every golfer can love.#N#Perhaps you are interested in a job as a greenskeeper.#N#With a golf management degree from the College of Golf you can get started on a path to career you’ll love. Contact us today .

What was the putting green in the 1800s?

Up until the middle 1800s, putting greens were simply grass that was shorter due to sheep grazing there longer. Lawnmowers had not been invented yet. Greens were not specially built nor were they planted with specific grasses. They were selected because the spot was the right distance from the tee box, and the ground offered a natural shape that provided a reasonable surface for putting.#N#That all changed with the invention of the lawnmower. Then greenskeepers began to shape the putting green distinct from the surrounding area. They were contoured and graded in order to provide different challenges depending on where the hole was. Specific grasses were tested and used on putting greens due to their characteristics and suitability for growing at shorter heights.#N#Moving forward there are many factors that contribute to putting greens maintenance.

How deep is a green?

A modern green is really a large hydroponic system. Construction starts with digging a hole the size of the green between 12 and 16 inches deep. This hole is lined with a layer of plastic and then covered with gravel. Drainage channels and sand are added.

Is Bermuda grass hard to grow?

The problem is that bentgrass is difficult to grow in the summer, so Bermuda grass will always be a staple in hot climates. You may still see some courses using ryegrass or a bluegrass called poa annua, although these varieties are going out of style.

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 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 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 striping in golf?

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. However, the frequent turning of the mower in the intermediate and primary rough can lead to excessive wear on the turf.

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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Selected with Care

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The end result of any mowing strategy will only be as good as the mowing equipment in a golf course’s maintenance fleet. Ralph Kepple, Certified Golf Course Superintendent at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, relies on machines that are easy to operate and easy to maintain. Although East Lake is “not overly hilly,” he says, t…
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Proper Mechanics

  • The selection of mowing equipment is not the only key to achieving a quality cut, however. The people who maintain and operate the machinery are vital to the process as well—and of these, no one is more critical than the mechanic. “He’s my key employee, and he would be the hardest to replace,” Patton says. “He can do things I can’t do.” Kepple agrees. “A great mechanic will take y…
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Extremes Are No Game

  • External conditions such as disease, drought and heat also affect golf course mowing practices. Many properties in various parts of the country struggled with a prolonged heat wave last summer, and maintenance crews had to adjust their mowing practices accordingly. “We live with the weather the same way a farmer lives with it,” explains Patton. Last year’s heat did not affect t…
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Added Inputs

  • At Forest Creek GC, the staff rolls greens after aerification to smooth out the turf, and the crew rolls or double-cuts greens in preparation for tournaments or other special events. However, notes Patton, the crew can double-cut greens faster than it can roll the greens, because the property has a fleet of 20 walking greens mowers but only two rol...
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