Golf Club Atlas

GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Tommy Williamsen on December 04, 2010, 01:20:58 PM

Title: Mowing lines
Post by: Tommy Williamsen on December 04, 2010, 01:20:58 PM

On many posts I have read disparaging references to mowing lines.  I can take them or leave them, but why don't many of you like them?  Sometimes they actually help my aiming and am thankful for them.  And no, I do not use a cheater line on the green, not because I think it is cheating, but because it doesn't actually help me.. 

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Greg Krueger on December 04, 2010, 02:00:19 PM

I don't mind stripes on tees, fairways and greens, it's when you have that plus stripes in the rough. That is too much for me.

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Will MacEwen on December 04, 2010, 08:50:37 PM

Tommy,

Not a big deal for me, but I find the criss-crossed ones look much too fussed and busy for my eye.  I think they have fallen out of favour due to high fuel costs.

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Mark McKeever on December 04, 2010, 09:04:33 PM

I like when there is a single line down the center of the fairway.

Mark

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Brian Chapin on December 05, 2010, 12:36:07 AM

I'd prefer no line at all.  Fairways mowed completely in one direction look great.  Unfortunately it takes too many machines to be an efficient practice for most courses.  Second best is the half and half look. 

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Adam Clayman on December 05, 2010, 07:18:54 AM

Tommy. Its the assistance in providing that ease you mention is enough of a reason not to like'em. Busy is how I would describe their effect aesthetically. Sometimes, I suppose, it is needed on holes that offer little in the way of interest.

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Sean Leary on December 05, 2010, 10:37:17 AM

Someone told me once that he liked the up and back on older traditional courses but not on moderns? Any thoughts?

I am an up and back guy.

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Mike Nuzzo on December 05, 2010, 12:13:57 PM

Tommy

Mowing lines are the lines created by different heights of cut - green to collar, fariway to rough, green to fairway, etc.
Fairway striping is the patterns created by direction and route of the mower.
There is a published book on the subject.

I view anything that takes the golfers eye away from the game or the course a negative.

Cheers

p.s.
I meant to say this....

"Glaring artificialty of any kind detracts from the fascination of the game"  -- CB Macdonald

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Dan Herrmann on December 06, 2010, 12:05:55 PM

Sean - we have up and back on our 2003 golf course, and it works very well.

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Mark_Rowlinson on December 06, 2010, 01:21:49 PM

Enter 53deg 19'18.10"N and 1 deg 30' 24.92" W in Google Earth and you find Abbeydale, a WH Fowler course near Sheffield. Its stripes look very forced for a Fowler course, and the bunkering looks suspiciously modern. Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: jeffwarne on December 06, 2010, 01:27:08 PM

I'd say when this thread disappears to about page 500, we'll truly be on our way to affordable golf

Title: Re: Mowing lines
Post by: Jud_T on December 07, 2010, 07:21:03 AM

Once in the 60s some sheep at Brora got into a backpacking hippie's blotter acid stash.  Some very interesting mowing patterns ensued.