Deep rough

[stuckntx]

Who thinks its a joke.

Simple question, does 4-7" rough eliminate a professionals' skill. Let's face it, most are good enough to hack it out of the rough and put it back in play. Some, like Tiger, are strong enough to muscle it up to the green( with todays grooves, even stop it on the green).
But, where is the skill, where is the shot making?
Are they ruining great tracks like Augusta to build the members ego?

[Swingtheclub]

I do not think the idea of the four to seven inch rough is to test the skill of the player hitting out of it. But to test the skill of the player to keep from hitting in it.

 

I do think some of the courses that are set up for major championships over do it a bit. But at the same time a course needs some protection.

 

As far as skill hitting from deep rough it basically comes down to angle of attack and strength. :beach:

[stuckntx]

The question is if a 20 yard fairway on a 490 yard par four is the a fair test. I like the idea of the first cut being and additional 5 yards on either side of the fairway.

[Swingtheclub]

I do not ever remember seeing a fairway as narrow as twenty yards maybe thirty but I would not argue the point.

 

I also think fairways should be wider as the holes get longer.

 

I would however be a fan of graduated roughs. I think the USGA has experimented with them

[mikpga]

I believe golf has always been a target game. There should be a degree of penalty if you miss your targets. Whether it is a foot high or half a foot high, I suppose it doesn't matter.

[stuckntx]

Would a better option be to have bunkers, ala St. Andrew's. Or, trees that block your path to the green should you stray off of the fairway. Then, the golfer would have the ability to hit a shot instead of gouging it out of the high rough.

Also, around the greens, I much prefer the Pinehurst #2 type setup, where there is some shotmaking involved. When the rough is 6" and thick, everyone is hitting the same shot.

[Konrad]

I don't like the idea of the rough this week. You can hit a very good tee shot, have it roll 50 yards on those countours and then straight into 5" rough. And then you can blast a push slice into the spectators and get a perfect lie.

 

The U.S Open makes more sense with the graduated rough.

[SadTrombone]

Graduated rough is the way to go. If you've got a 310 yard hole, the fairway should be ~25 yards wide with the "first cut" about 3-4 yards on each side then go to the thick stuff.

 

If it's a 500 yard par 4, increase the width and don't go from "first cut" to "hack out"....gradually make it "hack out". IMHO

 

-mini

[DRGJR72]

I agree with mini..if you have a 300 yard par 4, make the rough so brutal that if you go for the green and miss, you are left with a super difficult shot, on a 500 yard par 4, make it a little more playable, as you have to hit driver and a long iron at best to the hole...

 

There is a way to do it where it is fair and reasonable, I don't think that deep rough on every hole is the answer, but the equipment keeps getting better and better, you should be able to keep it out of that "deep rough" easier than a few years back.

 

DG

[stuckntx]

One of the issues is in the technology. Using todays wedges, it is possible to stop the ball on the green out of the deep rough. If the USGA makes its proposed changes, we will see scoring averages start to rise. At least until the professionals figure out how to play wiithout so much spin.

[SadTrombone]

One of the issues is in the technology. Using todays wedges, it is possible to stop the ball on the green out of the deep rough. If the USGA makes its proposed changes, we will see scoring averages start to rise. At least until the professionals figure out how to play wiithout so much spin.

I doubt if scoring averages will rise. If the USGA grows a pair and brings the grooves back, the big boys will have the correct equipment next week to practice with....they'll start hitting it straighter and sacrifice distance a little bit for accuracy. If it means hitting a 2 iron and a 9 iron vs. a Driver and an L wedge from the rough, that's what they'll do.

 

I'd say the changeover will take a week.....maybe two.

 

-mini

[GolfMN]

It really depends on the course I think. If you have a course thats mad tight to start with and guys are hitting out of it all the time, then its just fine as is. If its a reasonably open course by tour standards, I dont think its unreasonable to have it really long rough and require guys to hit the fairway. Just maintain a certain accuracy tolerance to be able to play a second shot that stops on the green.

 

Like at Oakmont, some shots wouldn't hold the fairway, in a case like that where the ball can hit the fairway and roll off easily the rough shouldn't be so long that you can only hack out. If most guys are hitting the fairway with less than perfect shots, make the rough longer.

[stuckntx]

No doubt in my mind that scrambling numbers turn for the worst. You simply can not spin the ball like they do out of the rough with out the Y cutter or MD type grooves. These guys all play that lazy floater (square or open)that lands and stops quickly (not a lob-totally different shot). They will come up with an alternative, probably more lob shots, and play for the run out.