Gang Mowers for fairways

[David Harshbarger]

Jim,

I'll have to stop in and see.  The fairways were a little rough, but I figured April in CT, what do you expect?

What resources do you use for finding used equipment?

Dave

[Jon Wiggett]

Jon.
I didn't mean to suggest that stripng couldn't be done w/a gang mower, only that the photo of the fairway at Sand Hills shows a stripe that's been laid down by a lightweight unit, not a gang.

so what was the point of your post?

Jon

[Jim_Kennedy]

David,
Our fairways aren't irrigated or fertilized, so they'll always be a bit rough. An added benefit has been less wear and tear in the areas fronting the greens and other turnaround areas.   

Jon,
A question was asked by Brett: do courses in the sandhills use gangs. The photo of the fairway at Sandhills shows that it does not.

[Jon Wiggett]

David,
Our fairways aren't irrigated or fertilized, so they'll always be a bit rough. An added benefit has been less wear and tear in the areas fronting the greens and other turnaround areas.   

Jon,
A question was asked by Brett: do courses in the sandhills use gangs. The photo of the fairway at Sandhills shows that it does not.

Jim,

interesting that you don't irrigate or fertilise your fairways. You say they will always be a bit rough. Do you mean visually or as a playing surface?

Also, in regard to the photo. I would be fascinated to know how you can tell from the photo alone that a gang mower is not been used.

Jon

[Jim_Kennedy]

Jon,
They will only be as 'perfect' as Mother Nature allows. We get decent rainfall, we get good grass.     

Nothing to be fascinated about, just start searching out some photos of SH and then you can tell me how you think a gang mower can create such perfectly checkerboarded fairways. I don't believe such precision w/a gang mower is an easy thing to attain.

[Jon Wiggett]

Jim,

I was wondering about the actual playing characteristics of the surface. Often fairways can look really poor but still give true consistent playing conditions.

As to the photo, I was asking about that photo you posted which has no checkerboardering on it. I can tell you that it is possible to get such a quality with gangs and should you look a little closer you will see it is not so precise in either width or straightness of cut.

Jon

[Brett_Morrissy]

So, can it rightly be said, that mowing highly undulating and "bumpy" fairways as found on some coastal properties, sand and chop hills, etc actually be performed better by a gang mower?

[Mike_Young]

We use a Toro reelmaster 11blade w transport frame.  BUT we mow the approach and the green complex with a hydraulic fairway unit.  There is nothing wrong with gang mowers .  More places will be using them in the future.  The problem is finding one.

[Jon Wiggett]

So, can it rightly be said, that mowing highly undulating and "bumpy" fairways as found on some coastal properties, sand and chop hills, etc actually be performed better by a gang mower?

With towed, wheel driven yes. The problem with a dedicated mower in this situation is always the clearance of the middle unit(s). I have also used one tractor mounted, infront unit of gangs which was brilliant at this sort of terrain.

Jon

[Jim_Kennedy]

We use a Toro reelmaster 11blade w transport frame.  BUT we mow the approach and the green complex with a hydraulic fairway unit.  There is nothing wrong with gang mowers .  More places will be using them in the future.  The problem is finding one.

Mike,
How about this time saver? 



http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/gci-040212-jacobsen-april-fools.aspx

[Jon Wiggett]

We use a Toro reelmaster 11blade w transport frame.  BUT we mow the approach and the green complex with a hydraulic fairway unit.  There is nothing wrong with gang mowers .  More places will be using them in the future.  The problem is finding one.

Mike,
How about this time saver? 



http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/gci-040212-jacobsen-april-fools.aspx

No thats a mower .

Jon

[Mike_Young]

We use a Toro reelmaster 11blade w transport frame.  BUT we mow the approach and the green complex with a hydraulic fairway unit.  There is nothing wrong with gang mowers .  More places will be using them in the future.  The problem is finding one.

Mike,
How about this time saver? 



http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/gci-040212-jacobsen-april-fools.aspx

You never know.  I remember the early 80's when Paul Latshaw took a G3 Toro greensmower at Oakmont and had his mechanic place two more reels on it to make the first 5 gang lightweight fairway mower.  And look what happened with that....