Super LF-1880s to the Rescue

Lightweight, 5-gang mower solves quality, productivity issues

Old Memorial is unique in many ways.

The 18-hole private course that opened in 1998 in Tampa, Florida is for walking golfers only and uses single-bag caddies. Unlike many Florida courses, there are no homes on the golf course. The primary rough is minimal and many holes are lined with native grasses, including more than 400,000 Spartina plants. The 121 bunkers are bold and large, offering more than a little bit of visual intimidation. On the other hand, fairways are generous, measuring more than 40 acres.

Superintendent Trent Inman arrived at the site just as the greens were in the process of being switched to TifEagle Bermuda grass from Tifdwarf Bermuda grass.

“I’ve spent most of my career in the Northeast,” he says, “and I’ve found that TifEagle is the closest Bermuda grass equivalent to bentgrass. It has very thick, tight plants, which makes it a bit more labor intensive for topdressing, verticutting and aerification. On the other hand, TifEagle allows us to cut lower, which gives the greens more consistency. It also tolerates cool weather better, which gives us the option to not overseed.”

Inman has been at Old Memorial a little over one year. He sought out the advice of golf course consultant Paul Latshaw to help with grow-in and construction.

“At first the greens really had some issues,” Inman says. “I wanted to make sure nothing strange was going on in the subsurface. We tested them and found no problems.”

Select Super LF-1880s to cut fairways
The other challenge Inman faced was how to mow the large fairways. He considered triplex mowers, but determined he would need 10 machines to complete the job. Latshaw advised him to try Jacobsen’s lightweight 5-gang mower, the Super LF-1880.

“Mr. Latshaw had seen them and had heard great things about this mower,” Inman says. “Our first issue was quality of cut. With 18-inch reels, the Super LF-1880 is effectively using five greens mower heads to cut fairways. This mower actually gives a better quality of cut than a triplex. We could mow fairways close to a greens height of cut if it was necessary.”

The first day the Jacobsen dealer brought the Super LF-1880 to the course it hadn’t been mowed in five days because of rain. The Bermuda grass was shaggy and long.

“The 1880 was ‘baling hay’ and it didn’t even phase the mower,” Inman says. “I figured if it can get through Bermuda grass in those conditions the mower can get through anything. It was beautiful; the mower didn’t hesitate at all. I told the dealer representative I didn’t need to see another mower; just get me a quote on five Super LF-1880s.”

Because the mower is lighter than a traditional fairway mower, the Super LF-1880 can get out when fairways are wet. Inman says it’s reassuring to be able to send the mowers out in those conditions and know they won’t rut up the course.

“We use them everywhere,” he says, “even up to the point where we begin walk-mowing approaches. To me, the Super LF-1880 is a hybrid between a triplex mower and a fairway mower. The difference is that we get an even better cut than a triplex because our 1880s have 18-inch 11-blade reels. Our fairways have some undulations and slopes, and we get a better cut with this fairway mower than a walk mower because our walkers have 21-inch reels.”

Many of Old Memorial’s 121 bunkers are bold and large, offering more than a little bit of visual intimidation.

Maintenance delight
Bill Cash, Old Memorial’s head technician, is very pleased with the Super LF-1880.
“The cutting units are easy to work on,” he says. “I like the layout of the machine and the ease of making adjustments. Because the 1880 is easier for the operator to clean, that makes my job easier. Everything on this mower is really easy to access.”

Old Memorial has experienced few problems with the Super LF-1880, and solutions are only a telephone call away.

“If I have any issues,” Cash says, “the dealer is here the same day or for sure the next day. They’re really quick and responsive. We had an issue with one of the lift arms and their technician called a Jacobsen engineer in Charlotte. He advised us on a couple of adjustments and everything worked fine. It was just that simple.”