The Rough and Course Management
There are 3 QUESTIONS to ask to successfully hitting a ball out of the rough, and ORDER MATTERS!
- How is your lie in the grass? Good, Bad or Ugly
- How is your lie relative to the terrain? Below your feet, above your feet, downhill, flat, etc.
- How far do you have to the green or fairway? The distance you WANT to hit it takes a back seat to your lie. First pick a club that can get out of the rough and back in the fairway.
Some of your success out of the tall grass comes from experience and experimenting. I always suggest you start FIRST with your shorter clubs and then work your way up to the longer clubs. For example, if you can hit a wedge easily out of the rough and you find yourself in a similar situation, try an 8 iron next time. You will quickly discover the point of diminishing returns and then making smart choices becomes astronomically easier.