Mowing Adjustments

We are making some minor adjustments to mowing heights in various areas around the course.  Margins around our fairways and near bunkers have evolved over time and need to be corrected to suit the different grass varieties.   Additionally, we have large areas on holes 12 and 18 that need tweaking.  

In the case of hole 12, the grass swale in front of the green has been mowed as intermediate rough for the past 10 years.  Since we are at peak time for zoysia growth we are going to give that area a try at fairway height.  If we decide fairway height doesn't work for whatever reason, it's easy to raise the height back up.  Fairway height will give you two more shot options (putting + bump and run).  Believe it or not this area used to be tall fescue mowed at 3".  As zoysia slowly took it over, we began mowing it at its current height of 1.25".   It might look ugly for a week or two, but with typical summer weather should bounce back quick.  

Jason adjusted this mower to .75" to start the process on 12

Another area we are going to adjust is the back bank of 18 green.  This area was never truly "finished" after the clubhouse expansion and consequently it's largely common bermuda grass (not hybrid bermuda like you'd see on a golf course).   We overseed it with rye grass in the fall to make it look better, but in the summer the rye grass struggles/dies.  Mowing this area at our rough height is not suitable for the bermuda.  It's really more of a weed than a turf, so in order to make it look and play better it needs to be mowed at a much lower height than we've been using.  The challenge is that there are large areas that are fescue.  Mowing those areas at bermuda height will look bad, but we are in a pickle with the mix of grasses and must pick one or the other.  I hope we can convert that entire green surround to zoysia next year and mow it at fairway height right up to the grill and patio.  That would give it the best look, be the most economical, and match the rest of the course.   

Feedback is always welcome so don't be shy.  Thanks for playing!