Usually by this time, the rains have begun to subside and the sun warms the earth, perfect conditions for growing grass.
At The Ridge and other local courses, the mowers can’t keep up. When they do get in to mow, the grass is very thick and plush, which makes that longer second cut of rough so difficult to muscle the clubhead through.
Why else would it be known as “rough?”
Here are a few tips to help you extricate your ball from the deep cabbage.
n The first thing to be concerned with is making contact between the club and the ball. If your ball is sitting up in the grass, you’ll be able to make pretty good contact and impart some spin. If the ball is sitting down in the grass, it will be nearly impossible to make good, crisp contact and you’ll need to adjust your club selection and target accordingly.
n Once you have determined the lie, club selection is the key. Your first goal is to get the ball out, so keep in mind that loft is our friend. Choose a club that will get the ball up quickly, like a short to mid-iron. Long irons or 3-woods don’t work well in these conditions.
For longer shots, a 5- or 7-wood or a new hybrid club works well to cut through the grass.
Another thing to consider in club selection is that the grass will take some spin off the ball, meaning the ball will fly farther and run longer when it lands. This is called a “flyer lie,” and it may make the ball go two or three clubs further than you’d expect.
n Now that you have your weapon of choice, you’ll have to employ a swing that will give you the best contact possible. If you chunk it, you’ll leave it in the devil’s garden, so you must change your fundamentals slightly to get back in play.
Your grip should be the same as in any other full shot. Just keep it soft at the start and hold on through impact.
Aim the clubface slightly open. The long grass will tend to grab the hosel and close down the face, sending the ball to the left.
Play the ball slightly back in the stance to create a steeper angle of attack
Your posture should be tall with a little more weight on the target-side foot. This will enhance that steeper angle needed and stabilize the body.
n The last thing to think about is taking a couple of practice swings in a similar lie to get the feel of the grass and how the club will react and move through it. Swing has hard as you can to get through the grass, without losing control.
Just remember that the key is to get the ball out and advance it to a safer place. If you look down and can’t see your shoes, you may feel better using a weed whacker because this can be a tough shot.
That’s why they call it “rough.”

Lessons on a budget
Group lessons are a great way to learn, get tips and advance your game. They will typically cover the basic fundamentals of putting, the short game and the full swing and will also cover etiquette for the course to help you feel more comfortable when practicing or playing.
Most group lessons are inexpensive and are offered at convenient times for your busy schedule. Check your local course to see if they offer group lessons, then get out to improve or learn to play golf.