Grooming turf or vertical mowing is part of any good turfgrass management program. Our mowers are equipped with groomers and used daily. However, this time of year, we weekly groom the greens with a riding unit that is more aggressive. This smooths the surface, thins the turf leading to faster ball roll and cuts down on organic matter accumulation. This process followed by a light topdressing with increase green speed by over a foot on the Stimpmeter.
A groomer unit is a series of small "table saw" blades that spin vertically, leaving the lines you see in the turf. These also help stand the turf upright giving a better quality cut. Remember, green speed is all about friction. The denser the turf, the slower the ball will roll because there is more friction slowing a golf ball. Of course this is a delicate balance!
