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Removing Intermediate Cut

10 posts
  1. Andrew Cross
    Andrew Cross avatar
    5 posts
    11/30/2011 7:11 PM
    Hey guys we are talking budget cuts and I'm thinking about cutting out the mowing of an intermediate cut between the fairway and rough. We currently have 1 mower and JD 2653A with reels set at 1.25" mowing a single pass around all fairways and walkways from tee to fwy. This takes us about 3-4hrs to mow and we typically mow it 3 times per week. I know of the immediate labor and fuel savings as well as getting rid of this uni-tasker of a machine. My question is has anyone done this and what was the golfer feedback. Our rough is mowed at 2.5" we are a mid to high end public course.

    Just want to get any feedback on possible golfer backlash before I propose this to my owner.

    Thanks,



  2. Tom Forsythe
    Tom Forsythe avatar
    0 posts
    11/30/2011 7:11 PM
    Have you considered dropping your primary cut to 2" at the same time? That might remove the complaints you will probably get about removing the intermediate cut and could speed your pace of play at the same time.



  3. Hardy Andrew
    Hardy Andrew avatar
    11/30/2011 8:11 PM
    Could you not just ditch the walkways, and do the IR around the fairways only??



  4. Ross Grieve
    Ross Grieve avatar
    4 posts
    11/30/2011 9:11 PM
    Hi,
    We have removed the Intermediate and the comments were positive due to the greater definition between the rough and fairway. We have also cut the tee complexes at one height again with positive feedback. The tee markers define the tee not the cutting.



  5. Bester Johannes
    Bester Johannes avatar
    11/30/2011 10:11 PM
    Morning
    I have done it as long as you do not get the rough up to long.



  6. Keith Pegg
    Keith Pegg avatar
    0 posts
    12/1/2011 2:12 AM
    I lowered the rough and dropped the intermediate cut a few years back fairways are 5/8" and Rough is 1.5" no one said a word. Not sure they even noticed. They look great and golfers like the lower rough.

    Keith
    Zama Japan



  7. Trevor Monreal
    Trevor Monreal avatar
    5 posts
    12/1/2011 5:12 AM
    You'll need to keep the walkways...otherwise, if I was to ever play there the bottom of my slacks will get all wet.
    NOT acceptable!



  8. Justin VanLanduit
    Justin VanLanduit avatar
    0 posts
    12/1/2011 6:12 AM
    Andrew,

    Not sure what amount of play you get as walkers in early morning but if you get a good deal I think at least leaving the walkway would be a treat for them. I know when I took over here I added that little feature and you would have thought I had given some of the members a million dollars they were so happy. As for the intermediate I feel that is more of an aesthetic thing rather than playability, it can really make a fairway pop and show its contour. Like some of the other guys said though if you have good definition between the rough and fairway that will do the same. One thing I experimented with this year was making an intermediate cut of 2 inches by doing 5 swaths with our 8800's. I have members that complain the rough is too difficult (mowed at 2.75") so I thought I'd try a little more of a buffer between the fairway and the "thick" stuff. All in all I'm pretty sure not many will even notice, like said earlier I think if anything the walk way would be nice and that would be noticed if you get a lot of people out walking in the early morning. Hope things are good on the southside, we are just finishing up dormant fert apps in the rough and we are officially put to bed!

    Justin



  9. Andrew Cross
    Andrew Cross avatar
    5 posts
    12/1/2011 9:12 AM
    We don't get many early morning walkers and the ones we do get walk straight to their ball and don't use the walkway anyways. They mowed the rough at 2" before I got here and it was pretty weak and thinned out under the cart traffic. I raised it to 2.5" and no one said a word and the roughs were a lot healthier this year. I'm not entirely opposed to the intermediate but it is a simple place to save labor and fuel in my eyes.

    I may lower the rough to 2.25" and leave the fairways at .450" we should get some good definition with that I think.



  10. Justin VanLanduit
    Justin VanLanduit avatar
    0 posts
    12/1/2011 10:12 AM
    If you don't get the walkers I'd do away with it then. I know it is that one task that if we are behind on things it is the one thing I'll skip just for that extra body for 3 hours or so.



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