[Dunlop_White]

Did anyone notice that Oakmont striped their fairways horizontally? Was this a desired look which they wanted to achieve? (Incidentally, I thought it looked quite nice simply, because I am not used to seeing fairways mowed from side to side. It added a visual sense of width in my opinion) Or was it an attempt to slow the ball down a bit upon landing?

Vertical mowing patterns have typically affected the ball in two ways. Over a period of time it creates grain. At ANGC, for instance, balls that land on the light green tinted side will indicate that the ball will freely roll further, because the fairway was mown in this verticle direction. If the ball lands on the dark green side, then the ball will slow down upon landing, because the grass was mown vertically against the direction of play.

Any thoughts?

[TEPaul]

Personally I think golfers who actually try to put their tee shots in light colored mown patterns (downgrain) as opposed to darker patterns (into the grain) are just thinking too much and will probably pay for it with missed shots. I have to think on firm fairways the difference in roll-out between light and dark is miniscule at best. This pyschology works best I think in the increasingly popular "up and back" mowing pattern that mimics the old gang mower fairway cut. In addition, it's probably more important in a strategic sense to put your drive in one side or another of a fairway despite what the color is.

My understanding from supers who vary their mowing patterns is that with one or two cuts the grass lays down in the direction the mower moves in so any kind of permanent grain situation is a fallacy. But if one can fake out a player into additional accuracy and perhaps risk this way, so much the better!

But when it comes to mowing patterns I'm not that much of a fan or highly "stylistic" mowing patterns and do prefer the old up and back cut on the older courses.

A club that uses very stylistic mowing patterns on their fairways and then another pattern on their approaches is Rolling Green recently. To me, from the tee that looks just a little too busy.

[JLahrman]

1) I agree, it's a waste of time aiming for individual stripes.  Not to mention being beyond my skill level.  But Augusta seems to mow not in stripes, but the right half of the fairway one direction and the other half the other way.  Pros can aim at a half of a fairway.

2) The effect would be minimal though.  In the rough it would obviously affect the shot, but fairways are mown so close anyway I don't think it makes a difference.  I think any decent player cares more about what side of the fairway he's on because of his angle in to the pin.

3) Oakmont did look kind of cool, but kind of gave me a headache to look at after a minute or two.  I've always thought those striping patters were more for the blimp view anyway, as I hardly ever notice when I'm on the course.

[Willie_Dow]

There was a comment on the TV Sunday that fairways were mown too close these days.  What was the length of cut at Oakmont?

Close cut fairways lend themselves to greater roll and more ball action on the greens.  Certainly that roll to the right on Casey Wittenberg's drive at the 37th hole would never have taken that dive into the long rough when the fairway's were cut to the lengths of the 1950's.  

When did the USGA start mowing to these specs?

[Mike Hendren]

In the past, ANGC mowed its fairways in the single direction from tee to green.  I have personally witnessed mowers returning to the tee through the rough.  

In response to my assumption that this enhanced length off the tee, Ron Whitten, I recall, stated the effect was negligible.  

Frankly, I did not care for Oakmont's mowing pattern, but could have looked at NBC's aerial shots of the course all day long.  I was blown away.

Regards,

Mike

[Anthony_Nysse]

I know that alot of fairways at some of America's top club are routinely mowed at .25 inches-mind you, that's what greens were mowed at in the late 70's!! . Being in the maintenace side of golf, I dare say the the horizontal mowing pattern was to not give one side of the fairway more roll than the other and also, when viewed from tee to green and vis versa, all you saw was a sea so consistant green-There we not alot of stripes at Oakmont, contrary to Oak Hill

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