[Bart Bradley]

I'd like to have some real-world input regarding changing our mowing pattern...so let's hear it.

Bart

[Anthony_Nysse]

Bart,
  Here at Pine Tree, we do no save a lot of time mowing up and back because of the way our fairways our shaped. We have a lot of "necks" and a lot of little corners because of the contours and free form edges. There are quite a few areas were is takes longer to drive to a small area than it does to mow. I like the look, so we still do it, just sometimes have to add another mower.
  Colonial was a different story. Those fairways were 20-26 yards with thoughout, from start of the fairway to the green. This made it very easy to mow the fairways and really save some time. very rarely did we have to go back to mow a little spot because the fairways were not free flowing.

[Adrian_Stiff]

Assuming you are using 5 unit mowers presently and  looking to do halves, I reckon it saves up to 25%. If its up and back mowing not so much.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Bart,
It saves our guys about one hour at our nine hole course. It also saves them time if they run into players as they can just shoot over to another side of the fairway and continue mowing without worrying about losing the checkerboard pattern.   

[Ed Oden]

Bart, we switched to up and back mowing a year or two ago.  I believe it has been a cost saver (less turning = less time and less gas) in addition to offering a classic look.  I'll see if I can get Matt Wharton to respond with more details.

[Matt Wharton]

Ed, we shaved one full hour off the time required to mow fairways (about 4 1/2 now vs 5 1/2 previously).  We used to stripe fairways on an alternating 10-4 and 2-8 pattern.  Now we split the fairways in half and get the classic look that best suits our course along with the added benefit of saving time and fuel.  Our fairways total about 26 acres.  We have a few nooks tucked behind fairway bunkers that require some back-tracking but not too much.

[Alan FitzGerald CGCS MG]

It's been a while since I switched so don't remember the exact time savings but it was in the region of 20-25% quicker.

That number depended on how long the lines were that you are comparing it to, as even the difference of mowing across (ie very short lines) vs a long diagonal makes a noticeable difference in the time it takes. Turning around bunkers greatly increases the length of time also. Basically the less the mowers have to lift and turn, the faster it is.

I'll echo Anthonys comment also that if there are a lot of nooks and corners that the mowers have to go back to can negate the savings but most courses don't have that issue.

[Ryan DeMay]

Bart,

There was a good thread regarding this subject about two years ago.  Here is the link:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,43552.0.html

[Adam Clayman]

Isn't it also true that mowing in different directions, is healthier for the blade?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Bart,

The checkerboard pattern is more noticeable from the air, or in aerial photos, than it is from the tee.

Standing on the tee, on a flat site like Pine Tree, I don't think you can justify the expense in terms of a "perceived" better look.

Having played Pine Tree and a few other courses in SouthEast Florida, I"m trying to recall one that mows their entire fairway in a checkerboard pattern, and off the top of my head, can't think of one.

I think the checkerboard pattern gets its "hype", primarily from Televised PGA Tour events.
But, those courses are financially incentivized to "display" themselves and the checkerboard pattern, as seen from the blimp, gets noticed.

I would also imagine that lies are tighter on the checkerboard pattern, which would probably appeal to the superior golfer.

[Anthony_Nysse]

Though its not very cost effective or quick, I like the look back you do not see any stripes from the tee. Its also goo for the bermudagrass to get mowed a diffeernt way. We will usually do this cut for Member Guest or County Am, 3-4 days worth of mowing in the the same direction. Riviera tends to do this when the PGA is in town, Oakmont did it for the Womens Open as did Saucon Valley. A different look.
  I would agree with the above post-20-25% savings. Once we grow in the new turf this summer, I think will willmow more up and back, as the new grass likes to be mowed nearly everyday.





Oakmont

[Patrick_Sisk,_CGCS]

25% in time and fuel is about what I've found.  The greater savings, or semi-intended payback, is in the quality of rough, particularly the area adjacent to each fairway due to considerably less injurious traffic.  The value on a less visually "busy" landscape...priceless.

[Anthony_Nysse]

A few photos of the "up and back," look from Colonial

[PCCraig]

To be honest, I usually don't notice the fairway mowing patterns as often as others apparently do, but I generally like the "up and back" pattern as it's a "clean" look to my eye. I've been told it's a cost saving cut as well, which if true is just gravy.

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