Green collars

[Steve Scott]

This thread has gone off the rails.  No one asked if we "like" a collar between rough and green, or whether there should be rough around a green.  The green to surrounds transitions at Bandon, Ballyneal and Wolf Point are all a function of the architecture and desired playing characteristics.  They are my favorite transitions in golf, but they have their place.  Not every golf course should keep all of their green surrounds at fairway cut.  Some courses are great that way, but not all. 

The reason many greens have a transition is due mostly to two things 1)  It's easier to mow the green surface without a cleanup cut if there is a collar.  Not doing a cleanup cut every single day keep the dreaded "ring" from developing on the outer edge of the green.  It increases the margin for error on mowing, and all apps you put into the turf.  2) It keeps balls from rolling up against a sharp 0.12 green to 2 inch rough transition. 

Thank you Ben...those are good reasons...

[Matt Day]

We have installed  3 foot rye grass collars on one course to assist in keeping the kikuyu out of the bent greens, seems to slow down stolon and rhizome encroachment.

[RDecker]

One issue with all these heights of cut and "transitions" you guys mention is that they all require another mower/machine to execute and more manpower and time.  Typically the collar is at the same height as the Tees and Approaches which may or may not be the same or slightly lower than the fairways.  Every time you add a different mowing height you add a machine, man and time and of course expense.