YIKES, do you see the fairway mowing patterns at Medinah ?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Pat -

The up-and-down mowing pattern can also confuse the golfer and turn his attention away from certain architectural features.

Michael,

Is that what happens to you ?

[Michael Moore]

Pat -

No, but I have seen people mistake the lighter part of an up and down mowing pattern for the entire fairway, thinking that the fairway was half as wide as it actually was.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Pat -

No, but I have seen people mistake the lighter part of an up and down mowing pattern for the entire fairway, thinking that the fairway was half as wide as it actually was.

Do you think that golfers with such limited powers of observation are capable of insightful architectural observations ?

[Michael Moore]

Well, since it was you who mistook half of the eighteenth fairway at Eastward Ho! for the whole, I guess I will have you answer that.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,30210.0.html

[Anthony_Nysse]

Suprised that there has not been a comment about the mowing pattern on the home page. From what appears could be 100-150 yards in, the fairway is mowed at an angle, when the bulk of the fairway is mowed 1/2 and 1/2.

[Sean McCue]

Is there anyone who thinks that TV doesn't influence golf and the maintenance of golf courses ?

How many Green Chairman, committee members and board members will start requesting that their fairways have cross or checkerboard cuts ?

Is TV responsible for refocusing the golfer's attention from the core architecture to the look of the course and maintenance ?

Those mowing patterns are nothing new. At CCCP I've been mowing my fairways that way for the last 17 years, old school triplex look.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Well, since it was you who mistook half of the eighteenth fairway at Eastward Ho! for the whole, I guess I will have you answer that.
Michael,

I've never played or set foot on Eastward Ho and if you'll look at the replies it was stated that one side looked like rough.
You even agreed.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,30210.0.html

[JR Potts]

Suprised that there has not been a comment about the mowing pattern on the home page. From what appears could be 100-150 yards in, the fairway is mowed at an angle, when the bulk of the fairway is mowed 1/2 and 1/2.

Was thinking the same thing...

[Jason Walker]

Suprised that there has not been a comment about the mowing pattern on the home page. From what appears could be 100-150 yards in, the fairway is mowed at an angle, when the bulk of the fairway is mowed 1/2 and 1/2.

Was thinking the same thing...

But it's South of London so it's ok.....

As to the original question, after spending Sunday at Medinah I thought the mowing patterns at ground level were fantastic for the architecture.   Everything seemed to fit together, especially the approaches--which obviously played a signifcant role on some holes.

[Anthony_Nysse]

Many, Many of the top clubs mow angles on their fairways and try to burn in the stripes. Many for PGA Tour events, also. Think of the pictures we have all see of Pine Valley, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Kinloch, Peachtree, Sahalee, Cherry Hills, RTJ International, Mountain Top, Wade Hampton, Sage Valley, Harbor Town, Bay Hill, Dove Mountain, TPC Scottsdale, Firestone,  They stripe fairways, no big deal and most of golfing american enjoys it and as long as the other cultural practices of verticutting and topdressing are in place, it's not bad for the plant. Personally, I am a big fan of the side to side stripe and it leave no lines when looking from the tee. In fact, we're going to mow that way this morning for opeing day, as the 1/2 and 1/2 look doesnt save much time with our fairways.

[Michael Moore]

I've never played or set foot on Eastward Ho
So what? Why do you argue like this? Have the hypothetical people who are purportedly going to start checkering their golf courses ever set foot on Medinah?

and if you'll look at the replies it was stated that one side looked like rough.
Sounds like the up-and-back mowing pattern can indeed cause confusion. Weren't you just arguing against that?

You even agreed.
Incorrect. As a frequent visitor to Eastward Ho! I am well aware of how wide the fairways are. After it was established what we were all looking at, I answered part of your question "Is this a case of someone watching too many PGA Tournaments and Majors" affirmatively. That person is you. Frank Hancock, the superintendent at Eastward Ho!, is one of the best in the world, and he most certainly has better things to do than contemplate what his membership is watching on television.

[Patrick_Mucci]

I've never played or set foot on Eastward Ho
So what? Why do you argue like this? Have the hypothetical people who are purportedly going to start checkering their golf courses ever set foot on Medinah?

Did the people who adopted Augusta's practices ever set foot on ANGC ?

and if you'll look at the replies it was stated that one side looked like rough.
Sounds like the up-and-back mowing pattern can indeed cause confusion. Weren't you just arguing against that?

One photo, from one angle, viewed by a few people can't be compared to about a week of five plus hours of daily TV coverage of every hole from every angle.  The golf course was especially prepared to be a "visual product" seen by millions and millions of people,
That exposure greatly influences people

You even agreed.
Incorrect. As a frequent visitor to Eastward Ho! I am well aware of how wide the fairways are. After it was established what we were all looking at, I answered part of your question "Is this a case of someone watching too many PGA Tournaments and Majors" affirmatively. That person is you. Frank Hancock, the superintendent at Eastward Ho!, is one of the best in the world, and he most certainly has better things to do than contemplate what his membership is watching on television.

The issue isn't about Eastward Ho.
However, I'd be willing to bet that Eastward Ho's mowing patterns were different within the last ten years and that it will change again within the next ten years