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Are fairways always the same?

• MainzMan 9,591 Posts

  Wed, Sep 25 2013 4:28 AM

  I was wondering if the roll on a WGT fairway ever changes depending on green speed.  Logically greens are faster when they've been recently cut so maybe those buys green keepers also cut the fairways at the same time and we can expect more roll.  Similarly, when the greens are slow and presumably in need of a cut, the fairways should also be a bit scraggy and we'd get less roll.

  I can't say I've ever noticed any difference though, maybe it's something to consider?

• jsweetcr 1,209 Posts

  Wed, Sep 25 2013 6:54 AM

  In real life there are other factors that can contribute to speed of greens and roll of fairways.  Not only when they were cut, but how short or long they are being cut. One of the courses I worked on used to cut fairways at .5 inches but the course next door did .625.  Also depends on the type of grass it is as well as how wet or dry they are. 

  I think on the game course like StA and RSG roll far more, because in theory it is far more windy there so that would dry things out a bit more, making the fairways harder, which is why sometimes I think you see those hard kicks off of some of the fairways on StA with a bunch of roll. However, in theory, on those same course I would imagine it rains quite a bit more softening up at times. It would actually be nice if WGT changed up the softens/hardness of the fairways like they do the green speeds. Would be another variable to throw in to change things up.

• SweetiePie 4,925 Posts

  Wed, Sep 25 2013 9:21 AM

  The simple answer is yes, always much the same. But each venue has its own personality.