As a golfer, have you ever wondered How to cut rough on a golf course? If yes, it’s the right place for you. Golfers are constantly trying to master the art of cutting through the ever-changing terrain of the golf course. The lush and unforgiving grass requires more than skill – it necessitates a strategic approach.

As golfers prepare for their next round, they hear, “How do cut rough on the golf course?” This question considers all the techniques, tricks, and tools you can use to turn a seemingly insurmountable obstacle into a manageable challenge.

Golfers know that the rough adds to the complexity of every shot. It’s got varying lengths and lies, and it’s got its unique characteristics. To beat the rough, you’ll need to know the ins and outs of club selection and the impact of your ball position. You’ll also need to hone your precision to match the rough’s unique characteristics.

Whether you’re new to the game or an experienced pro looking to step up your game to the next level, you get through every step. Let’s dive into the question on everyone’s mind: How to cut rough on a golf course?

Golf Course Rough:

Rough refers to an area on a golf course that is higher, thicker, or naturally grown on top of the fairways. Rough serves two purposes on a golf course:

Deeper roughness obstructs the ball’s ability to make clean contact with the ground or makes removing the golf ball difficult. Depending on the location of the course, rough can be found on the greens or bunkers (called “collars” or “aprons” in those areas) and even on fairways.

The rough takes up the most significant portion of the total playing area. An 18-hole golf course is typically built on about 150 acres. The following is an approximate breakdown of the playing area by type of land:

• Greens 2–3 Acres
• Water / Wetland 5–15 Acres
• Tees 3–4 Acres
• Naturalized Acres 10–25 Acres 11%
• Fairways 25–35 Acres 20%
• Rough 80–95 Acres 56%
• Sand 1 Acre

Types Of Golf Course Rough: 

The various types of rough on a golf course play an important role in determining the difficulty and strategy of the round. Understanding the different types of rough is essential for golfers who want to play the course efficiently. Look at the main classifications of rough on golf courses.

1. Primary Rough 

The primary rough is closer to the fairways and poses a moderate challenge to golfers. It’s characterized by shorter grass than its secondary counterpart. The goal of primary rough is to add to the game’s complexity without being overly harsh. Generally, shots from primary rough allow for easier approach shots, which encourages precision in your approach shots.

Golfers navigating through primary rough can take a more aggressive stance, but accuracy is still essential for a good, strategic round. Knowing and managing the challenges of the primary rough helps a golfer feel more confident on the course.

2.  Secondary Rough 

Secondary rough, on the other hand, is the rough that’s farther away from the fairway. It’s made of longer, denser grass, and shots from this rough area require more finesse and skill. The punishment for straying into secondary rough is harsher, so you’ll need to be strategic about how you recover.

Golfers navigating secondary rough must carefully consider club selection, shot placement, and recovery strategies to overcome the added challenge. Learning to play from secondary rough improves a golfer’s flexibility and adaptability, making them more versatile and resilient on the course.

Cutting The Rough:

You can use a rough cutter machine to cut rough on a golf course. A rough cutter is designed to cut through thick, uneven grass on a golf course. It uses a series of blades set at a certain height to determine the length of grass that needs to be cut. One person or a team can use a rough cutter. Depending on the size of your golf course, you can use it to cut the rough.

When using a rough cutter on your golf course, following the manufacturer’s and your golf course maintenance team’s safety guidelines is essential. You’ll want to use a rough cutter as much as you can to maintain your golf course’s rough areas. You’ll also want to ensure the blades are sharp and set at the correct height so they don’t damage the grass or underlying soil.

With a rough cutter, you’ll have a consistent playing surface, and you’ll be able to improve the overall look of your course. If you’re looking to trim the rough on your golf course for the first time, a rough cutter is a great way to save time and effort.

Maintaining Small But Difficult Areas:

Small, challenging, rough areas can be maintained using a rough brush, loose debris, or dead grass. Using a rough brush will help define the rough and make it playable. A sandpaper-type material can also be used to smooth out bumps and unevenness.

It will make the rough more playable for golfers. Regular maintenance of the rough area includes trimming overgrown grass, removing obstacles, and ensuring the rough is well-defined and playable.

Small trees can be covered by mulch around the trunks or by placing small, flexible drainage tiles around the tree’s base. To save time, superintendents will spray around the tree bases with glyphosate or Roundup to avoid the need for trimmers and to prevent damage to the tree’s bark. This widely used grass killer only affects the grass, not the tree’s bark or roots.

A skilled technician must make the application, and the sprayer must be moved carefully from tree to tree so the liquid does not fall on the desired turf. Spraying around the tree bases once or twice a season will remove the need for tree trimming.

The Fescue Rough: 

Fescue grass is one of the most sought-after turf on the golf course. Architects have often recommended seeding some secondary rough with uniform fescue lawns in recent years.

Fescue lawns are infrequent in cuttings and look quite impressive, particularly when the wind is blowing, and the grass stems, and seed heads are moving like waves on the water. It adds a sense of serenity to the golf course that might otherwise be lacking. Golfers lose balls when fescue lawn encroaches on playing areas and slows down the speed of play.

If a superintendent thinks a fescue lawn is easy to maintain, they’re wrong. Various weeds invade Fescue lawns very quickly, making the lawn look unappealing. Because weed spraying isn’t always recommended, many superintendents pull milkweeds, burdocks, thistles, and other weeds by hand.

These areas need to be cut down to speed up the game. Out-of-play rough adds a touch of beauty to the game, but if left to grow out of control, it can quickly become a run-down, unsightly hazard.

The fescue rough also needs to be cut to maintain its natural appearance. Fescue can be mown using a rotary mower (tractor), flail mower (flail mower), or farm-type sickle bar (sickle bar mower) at a minimum height of 6 inches. Piles and clumps of clippings must be removed. Weeds may need to be controlled from time to time.

Final Thoughts: 

To sum it up, learning how to cut rough on a golf course? is a must for golfers looking to sharpen their game on challenging courses. Golf course rough can come in many forms and requires a well-thought-out game plan that incorporates club selection, precision, and versatility.

Primary rough is closer to your fairway and presents a moderate challenge, allowing you to hit more accurate approach shots. Secondary rough is more prolonged, thicker grass that demands finesse and recoverability. Using a rough cutter as a practical solution is a great way to maintain the rough and keep the playing surface uniform. 

Small but challenging areas necessitate specialized maintenance techniques like rough brushes and careful application of herbicides to prevent the rough from turning into a monotony. Cutting the golf course rough combines technical skills, strategic decision-making, and routine maintenance.

By embracing these strategies, golfers not only manage to navigate the intricacies of the rough efficiently but also improve the overall look and feel of the course. Golfers can confidently approach each shot, turning obstacles into opportunities on the course.

Frequently Asked Questions