The Right Tool For The Job: Know Your Mowers

Triplex mowers like the John Deere 2700 PrecisionCut work not only on upward and downward contours, but also side-to-side rolling terrain and perimeter cuts. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

Not all mowers are created equal. Some are better-suited to one job or terrain type while others may be better for another. Take a golf course, for example: You probably wouldn’t mow a fairway the same as you would a tee box. Here’s a brief look at the types of mowers you’ll find on NeedTurfEquipment.com along with some of their common uses.

Jacobsen’s TR320 is an example of a reel rough mower. It can cut widths of 72 or 84 inches and has three 26-inch or 30-inch reels. (Photo courtesy of Jacobsen.)

Reel Rough

Reel rough mowers are often used in the intermediate rough areas of a golf course where there’s a short transition from the fairway to primary rough. Reel mowers are a good option for fairway surrounds because they provide a cleaner, more consistent cut than a rotary mower, resulting in a better surface for golfers. Reel mowers designed for cutting rough feature customizable cut heights and contour decks that can quickly adjust to changes in terrain. For a clean, crisp appearance, reel rough mowers can be used in high-traffic, primary rough, and other areas such as courtesy walks.

The Toro Groundsmaster 3500 with Sidewinder is a triplex rotary mower designed for superior trimming. It has free-floating cutting decks which allow mowing of undulating terrain without scalping. (Photo courtesy of Toro.)

Rotary Rough

Rotary rough mowers are ideal for the primary rough sections of a golf course, thanks to a more rugged cutting system than reel mowers and wide decks that can efficiently cover a lot of ground in a little time. Rotary rough mowers may also be used to cut intermediate rough (between the fairway and primary rough) if the deck can be lowered enough to provide contrast and definition. Floating contour decks available on some rotary rough mowers enable the mower to maintain an even, manicured appearance on undulating grounds. To climb hills and ride along inclines without tearing turf, some rotary rough mowers also feature a wide wheel base and traction-control capabilities.

Trim, Surrounds & Slope

Trim, surrounds, and slopes, with their inclines and tight spaces, can be tricky work for mowers without floating decks. The majority of machines in this category are rotary mowers with decks engineered to make quick adjustments as ground contours change. Mowers with flexible decks are often complimented by traction systems that can help the mower climb and stop on hillsides without causing damage to turf. Some trim, surrounds, and slope mowers can turn off blades and raise wings for better maneuverability, which can be helpful around tee boxes and walkways.

The John Deere 260 SL has a 26-inch cut width, an option of seven or 11 blades, and a wide range of roller options. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

Greens & Tees Walking Mowers

In comparison to riding greens mowers, walk-behind greens and tees mowers generally produce a more uniform cut, ensuring consistent putting conditions across an entire green. Depending on the size of the golf course and various other factors, maintenance crews may also use a walk-behind mower for the tee boxes. Walking greens mowers have narrow cutting widths, typically only from 18 to 22 inches (45.7 to 55.9 centimeters), so mowing greens will take longer and require more manpower than with riding mowers. A utility vehicle and a trailer to transport the mower from green to green may also be necessary, but these tradeoffs can be worth it for the high-quality cut the mowers provide.

The Toro Groundsmaster 5900 series can mow widths ranging from 57" (145 cm) to 192" (487 cm) and a zero-inch uncut circle to avoid leaving uncut grass when mowing stripes. (Photo courtesy of Toro.)

Greens & Tees Riding Mowers

Greens and tees riding mowers feature larger cutting widths than their walk-behind counterparts, around 59 to 62 inches (150 to 157.5 centimeters) enabling operators to finish jobs more quickly. Many newer models that can approximate the cut quality of walking mowers are available. Riding mowers are also faster to transport, allowing faster completion of the day’s cutting and with less risk of tracks left on the green.

Fairway mowers like Toro’s Reelmaster 5010H has a 116" (288.3 cm) cutting width to cover a large area in a shorter amount of time. (Photo courtesy of Toro)

Fairway

Fairway mowers feature the same reel cutting design found on tee and green mowers but are typically much larger to be able to tend a golf course’s fairway acreage efficiently. Modern fairway mowers are generally equipped with five to seven cutting reels, sometimes referred to as gang reels. Most fairway mowers can be calibrated for an exact cut height, and some models feature powered roller brushes to minimize grass clumping on fairways—a common occurrence when a wet course is mowed early in the morning.

NeedTurfEquipment.com has new and used mowers of all types for sale. Popular manufacturers on the site include John Deere , Toro , Jacobsen , Ransomes , and more.