Fairway Drag Cancel The title field is required!

1. Edward Doda

   

   0 posts
   
   3/11/2012 4:03 PM

   Would like some opinions/ideas about building a fairway drag to bust up aeration cores. We aerated most fairways late last fall and left cores on to be cleaned up this spring. Have done this before and works well, cores are pretty well kaput and just have to shake them a bit. My old drag finally wore out with the steel mat sections breaking over the last few years and I am building a new one. We will use an eight to ten foot long piece of rectangular tubing and weld eyelets to hold onto the mats.
   Has anyone used chain link fence or some other material aside from the standard steel square matting which is quite pricey?
   Thanks Ed Doda, an hour north of Toronto and snow should be gone in a couple of days.

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   3/11/2012 7:03 PM

   Use chain link all the time. The gaps are big enough to prevent the debris from sticking to the mat, but close enough to bust up cores. Works well and very cheap.

   
   
   
   
3. Richard Lewis

   

   0 posts
   
   3/22/2012 7:03 PM

   We have used chain link fence for years on our fairways. 4'x5' doubled over attached to a flat piece of steel 1" wide .50" thick. Can get a little heavy, but pulling it with a Kubota RTV 900 or a cushman works fine and does and awesome job for us. Good luck.

   
   
   
   
4. Dru Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2012 5:03 AM

   Any one used the Par-Aide Core Buster??

   
   
   
   
5. Kyle Fick

   

   4 posts
   
   3/27/2012 8:03 AM

   Chain link fence with old tires wired on. Flexible to get into undulations, heavy enough to keep the fence on the ground, and cheap enough to not care if it wears out each year.
   
   Kyle Fick

   
   
   
   
6. Dru Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2012 10:03 AM

   Where are you mounting the tires? Front, middle, back or a one in each area?

   
   
   
   
7. Edward Doda

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2012 12:03 PM

   Just finished with my fairways and new drag worked great. Used 10 foot long rectangular steel 3x1.5", welded some part links from 3/8" chain every couple of feet and used a piece of 1x1/4" flat stock threaded through the chain link fence that had similar holes drilled to line up with welded links. Used threaded links to put them together and away we went. While looking for chain link fence I got the heaviest I could find at 6 gauge which is the strong industrial type. Residential fence is much lighter at 11 gauge and may not work as well. We took two 10 foot sections five feet wide for the drag part and these two we wired together at a few spots.
   Total cost about $350 with enough fence left over to make smaller drag for tees and apps.
   Thanks for suggestions
   
   Ed Doda Barrie CC

   
   
   
   
8. Kyle Fick

   

   4 posts
   
   3/27/2012 3:03 PM

   Where are you mounting the tires? Front, middle, back or a one in each area?
   
   I just used a 2" iron pipe, welded some hooks onto it, put a piece of flat steel through the chain link fence so it didn't spread apart to bad from weight and pressure, and wired tires on in several areas to cover the entire fence. Worked like a charm. Our mat was about 6' wide, held 5 18" pickup tires.

   
   
   
   
9. Dru Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2012 6:03 PM

   Kyle Fick said: Where are you mounting the tires? Front, middle, back or a one in each area?
   gotcha.
   
   I just used a 2" iron pipe, welded some hooks onto it, put a piece of flat steel through the chain link fence so it didn't spread apart to bad from weight and pressure, and wired tires on in several areas to cover the entire fence. Worked like a charm. Our mat was about 6' wide, held 5 18" pickup tires.

   
   
   
   
10. Andy Scott

    

    0 posts
    
    9/7/2012 1:09 PM

    Good Afternoon, Just curious what others use to drag fairways to disperse clippings. I have used old net from the driving range attached to PVC and pulled with a cart, but I am looking for something better. Also, I rigged up a piece of chain link attached to a 2x4, which worked well, but difficult to transport.
    
    Any thoughts?

    
    
    
    
11. Rosenthal Gregg

    
    9/7/2012 2:09 PM

    We use old 1 inch hoses once clippings dry some they disperse easily and the hoses work well pulled by two golf carts. Simple yet does a nice job on heavy clippings this time of year or any really..
    
    Gregg

    
    
    
    
12. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    9/7/2012 9:09 PM

    2" SCH 80 with 1/2" logger chain. Works well and easily transported by one person.
    
    [img">http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/andyjorg/FairwayDrag.jpg[/img">

    
    
    
    
13. Green Robert B

    
    9/8/2012 6:09 AM

    Two thumbs up for Andy's design. He posted this at other times and I constructed one a few years back. It's terrific and made it a one person task. Thanks Andy!

    
    
    
    
14. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    9/8/2012 6:09 AM

    Robert Green, CGCS said: Two thumbs up for Andy's design. He posted this at other times and I constructed one a few years back. It's terrific and made it a one person task. Thanks Andy!

    
    
    I'd have to give credit to my former Assistant for that one. But glad it works well for you too.

    
    
    
    
15. Jackson Reiswig

    

    0 posts
    
    9/8/2012 1:09 PM

    Andy,
    
    I know the $$ probably isn't in the cards, but for future consideration, roller brushes are absolutely invaluable. When I was up there at Newnan the fwy clippings made mowing the fwys a total drag - yeah, yeah, pun intended. I've got roller brushes on all my fwy units here now, and will never be able to go without them. They're especially valuable considering the vast demographic/age group that makes up maintenance crews. No forgetting to drop the drag, no forgetting to pick it up, etc...
    
    Jackson Reiswig
    
    Coral Creek Club

    
    
    
    
16. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    9/8/2012 1:09 PM

    Jackson Reiswig said: Andy,
    
    I know the $$ probably isn't in the cards, but for future consideration, roller brushes are absolutely invaluable. When I was up there at Newnan the fwy clippings made mowing the fwys a total drag - yeah, yeah, pun intended. I've got roller brushes on all my fwy units here now, and will never be able to go without them. They're especially valuable considering the vast demographic/age group that makes up maintenance crews. No forgetting to drop the drag, no forgetting to pick it up, etc...
    
    Jackson Reiswig
    
    Coral Creek Club

    
    
    
    Jackson,
    
    Papa Steerman would always have us mow when dry, hence no clippings. This typically meant myself or the other Assistant and you could always count on either the mower or one of us overheating. I agree, total drag.
    
    Fortunately though, Primo works wonders. Haven't had to use the drag in a few years other than for dew removal prior to an event.
    
    Gonna come see you one day down there. Been hearing some good things!

    
    
    
    
17. Andy Scott

    

    0 posts
    
    9/8/2012 3:09 PM

    Yeah I usually keep Primo on them, but don't want to spray this late in the year. We use a 7 gang to mow fairways, so rollerbrushes are out. And I too prefer to mow when dry, but sometimes you mow when you can! Will definitely give your setup a try Andy. Thanks for the input.

    
    
    
    
18. David Clowers

    

    0 posts
    
    9/8/2012 6:09 PM

    Andy
    
    How long is the pvc, chain, and rope. do you pull it with a utility cart?
    Thanks

    
    
    
    
19. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    9/9/2012 11:09 AM

    The pipe I think was 16' and the chain 18'. Rope was fished through a hole in the pipe out one end so a know could be tied to it, then pulled back through tight to the center. I think the center rope is about 6' from the pipe. Yes, we pull with Carry-alls.

    
    
    
    
20. Jackson Reiswig

    

    0 posts
    
    9/10/2012 6:09 AM

    A. Scott -
    
    Gang mow fwys? Willie must be one busy hombre double dippin' on the roughs AND fwys!
    
    
    A.Jorgensen -
    
    Would love to have you down. Just a bit outside of the daily drive for a round of golf. I've got some suncoast guys who'd be very interested in a home-and-home series with your chapter if you ever want to kick that idea around. Big Steezy let me spray primo ONE time on the fwys up there. Stopped the clippings for about 11 hours. If I remember right, the rate was so low that we didn't add any iron or fert, and had no bronzing.
    
    Jackson
    
    Coral Creek Club

    
    
    
    
21. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    9/10/2012 8:09 AM

    Jackson Reiswig said: A. Scott -
    
    Gang mow fwys? Willie must be one busy hombre double dippin' on the roughs AND fwys!
    
    
    A.Jorgensen -
    
    Would love to have you down. Just a bit outside of the daily drive for a round of golf. I've got some suncoast guys who'd be very interested in a home-and-home series with your chapter if you ever want to kick that idea around. Big Steezy let me spray primo ONE time on the fwys up there. Stopped the clippings for about 11 hours. If I remember right, the rate was so low that we didn't add any iron or fert, and had no bronzing.
    
    Jackson
    
    Coral Creek Club

    
    
    
    Willie Gould!!!! Probably still driving the same truck too!

    
    
    
    
22. Andy Scott

    

    0 posts
    
    9/11/2012 7:09 PM

    I let ole Willie G. go last November. When you can fall asleep proped up against a rake while your fellow co-workers work doesn't cut it with me. I saw him as a safety hazzard.

    
    
    
    
23. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    9/12/2012 5:09 AM

    Andy Scott said: I let ole Willie G. go last November. When you can fall asleep proped up against a rake while your fellow co-workers work doesn't cut it with me. I saw him as a safety hazzard.

    
    
    
    Oh, c'mon Andy...he used to snooze while driving the Massey all the time. Amazing how he kept that tractor out of the pond on 1. We used to drive by and yell "WILLIE GOULD!!" to wake him up. He would just smile and wave....then fall back asleep.

    
    
    
    
24. Jackson Reiswig

    

    0 posts
    
    9/12/2012 6:09 AM

    Why you gotta be such a hater? Willie Mo' Gould was a legend. Safety hazard? You sure he was asleep and wasn't just fighting off a mild heart attack? A content black man mowing grass at the private country club where the rich white man was miserable every day. Man, I bet on weekends when y'all are gone he still drives over to the shop and parks under the tree to eat his lunch. Probably even cries a little.

    
    
    
    
25. Hamilton Griffith

    

    0 posts
    
    9/18/2012 5:09 AM

    Too funny about Willie. I too personally saw him almost put it into that pond. He had an internal GPS in him because he would sleep until right up to the edge then miraculously wake up just enough time to make the turn. Crapped in my pants the 1st time I watched him do it. He saw a lot of people come and go through that place including Doug Stone, mechanic turned country music singer.
    
    Scott Griffith
    UGA Golf Course

    
    
    
    
26. Jackson Reiswig

    

    0 posts
    
    9/18/2012 9:09 AM

    Sounds like we need to start thinking about the Willie Gould Memorial Tournament at NCC next summer...

    
    
    
    
27. Andy Scott

    

    0 posts
    
    9/18/2012 12:09 PM

    I like that idea Jackson, and maybe have Doug Stone come sing some of the classics, like "Better off in a Pinebox" among others. Amazing how many on here know an old black man who mowed roughs for a livin'. Ha.