Where did all the stripes go?

I am often asked why we change our mowing pattern in the winter?  The answer is two fold:

Time:
It is two hours faster, (one hour per mower) to mow block cut compared to stripes.  The windows of opportunity to complete the necessary mowing are shorter in the winter due to the increased chance of rain.  The shortened time needed to complete fairway mowing can be the difference in getting everything mowed in one day or having to wait a few days to finish. 

Plant health:
Its not the health of the fairway grass (Annual bluegrass & Creeping bentgrass) I am concerned about, its the health of the rough.  Mowing half & half reduces the amount of turns the operator makes in the rough.  The largest amount of mechanical stress is placed on grass when a mower turns on it.  The operator mows the fairway similar to that of a Zamboni machine preparing an ice rink.  Limiting the number of turns in the rough directly surrounding the fairway gives the Perennial ryegrass a chance to maintain its density through the winter.