Using the 61-inch deck, and cutting at an efficiency rate of 80 percent (80 percent is more representative of actual mowing conditions because it allows for turns and overlapping), the user can mow up to 2.96 acres per hour.

In the landscaping industry, Spring is one of the best times of the year. It's the time of year when you dust off the ol' tools, fire up your equipment for the first time this year and promptly begin to beat the living daylights out of the blasted machine. Seems as though "Old Man Winter" enjoys picking on those older pieces of equipment you have.

Now I know it's tough to say goodbye to an old friend. Why, I bet you and that mower have cut thousands of yards, not counting your very own yard. That's dedication. But look what kind of a fix that old rusty thing has put you in- you have work to do. Well, it's time to put a smile back on your face 'cause I'm here to tell you about one of the baddest mowers in town.

This month I'm looking at a hydrostatic, walk-behind mower from Bob-Cat, manufactured by Textron Golf, Turf & Specialty Products. Now some of you may be wondering why I'm looking at a walk-behind mower. Well, let's just say a long winter of sitting on the couch doing 12-ounce curls doesn't make the "abs" any tighter, if you know what I mean. I need to be in shape for the upcoming season. If I can't walk behind a mower, how am I going to walk 18 holes of golf each day- I mean every Saturday.

"Bob-Cat" Scratch Fever

So what can this mower do for you? Well, I'm glad you asked. How about cutting a swatch of grass up to 61 inches wide? That's over five feet with a walk-behind mower. That means you only need to take one pass when you're cutting a lawn in the Southern California area. Actually, this mower might not even fit between the house and the back fence.

I guess that's why the makers were thinking ahead and offer the suspended, full-floating decks in 36-, 48-, 54- and 61-inch widths. The deck also features anti-scalp rollers and large front caster tires for a quality looking finish on all types of terrain. Just in case the full-floating deck isn't your cup of tea, they also offer a fixed deck in widths of 32, 36 and 48 inches. One reason to choose the 61-inch deck is because it comes with a .25-inch thick blade. That would take care of some business.

The engine comes in three optional sizes, but of course I went for the king of them all- the 21-horsepower Kawasaki V-Twin OHV. The added bonus for choosing the 21-hp model is that it comes standard with an electric starter. No more pull-start mowers for me. Sure I might want to get some exercise, but I don't want to pull my back out before an important golf match.

If you're feeling like Jeff Gordon, you can push the throttle lever all the way and reach blazing speeds of 6 mph. Hey what do expect? We're talking about a walk-behind mower, not a run-behind mower. If you're looking to feel the wind rush through your hair, mount a fan on top of the motor. Just think, at 6 mph you are going three times as fast as the maximum reverse speed of 2 mph. The reverse is there just in case you can't slow down in time to make the turn around the tree. Speaking of turning, the Bob-Cat has a True Zero turning radius. Now that's a tight turn- better watch your toes.

After walking behind this machine, just think how fit and muscular you'll be. You might even want to start doing a little carbo-loading each night so you can reach your maximum performance level the next day. Guess the fellas won't be laughing when I use those muscles and put a little

leg drive behind my tee shots. While they're off looking in the woods for their ball, I'll be waiting on the green!