Various types of mowers are used on golf courses to maintain different areas of the course, each serving a specific purpose. Here's a list of common mowers used on golf courses and what each mower is typically used for:
1. Fairway Mower:
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- Purpose: Fairway mowers are designed to cut the grass on the fairways, which are the closely mown areas between the tee boxes and the greens.
- Features: Fairway mowers usually have a wide cutting width and are equipped with rollers to create striped patterns on the fairways.
- Precision: They provide a consistent height of cut to ensure a smooth playing surface for golfers.
2. Greens Mower:
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- Purpose: Greens mowers are specifically designed to cut the grass on the putting greens.
- Features: Greens mowers are lightweight and highly maneuverable, allowing them to navigate the contours of the greens with precision.
- Precision: They cut the grass to a very low height to maintain the desired putting surface speed and smoothness.
3. Tee Mower:
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- Purpose: Tee mowers are used to cut the grass on the teeing grounds, where golfers start each hole.
- Features: Tee mowers typically have a wider cutting width compared to greens mowers but are smaller than fairway mowers.
- Precision: They provide a uniform height of cut on the teeing areas to ensure consistency for golfers.
4. Rough Mower:
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- Purpose: Rough mowers are used to maintain the longer grass areas surrounding the fairways and other playing areas.
- Features: Rough mowers have adjustable cutting heights and are designed to handle thicker grass and uneven terrain.
- Function: They help define the playing areas and add challenge to the course by penalizing errant shots that land in the rough.
5. Approach Mower:
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- Purpose: Approach mowers are used to cut the grass on the areas leading up to the greens, known as the approach or fringe.
- Features: Approach mowers are similar to greens mowers but are slightly larger and may have adjustable cutting heights.
- Function: They provide a transition between the fairways and the putting greens, ensuring a consistent playing surface for approach shots.
6. Turf Utility Vehicle (Turf Groomer):
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- Purpose: Turf utility vehicles equipped with grooming attachments are used for tasks such as verticutting, dethatching, and grooming the turf.
- Features: These vehicles may have attachments such as reels, brushes, or blades to perform various turf maintenance tasks.
- Function: They help improve turf health, manage thatch buildup, and enhance the playability of the course.
7. Topdresser (Spreader):
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- Purpose: Topdressers are used to apply a thin layer of sand or other materials, known as topdressing, to the turf surface.
- Features: Topdressers have hoppers to hold the topdressing material and spreaders to evenly distribute it over the turf.
- Function: Topdressing helps smooth the playing surface, improve soil composition, and promote healthy turf growth.
By using a combination of these mowers and equipment, golf course maintenance staff can effectively manage the various areas of the course to provide an enjoyable and challenging playing experience for golfers.
I did my research because I , Mark Errington, applied for a part time job in Feb 2024 for a Greenskeeper with Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I was interviewed by Nolan Wenker, CGCS, Green Superintendent. I did not get the job.