Rough height, density, difficulty and appearance are all grumbles that superintendents hear in the spring. It is inevitable that as the soil temperature warms, grass reacts by growing more aggressively. This is enhanced by fertility that is often applied at this time of year.

One of the more prevalent criticisms is the messy appearance of the rough for a few weeks to a month in the spring. At this time of the year, grass growth rate often eclipses how often the rough is mowed. Consequently, more grass is removed than normal, which leaves a mess of excessive clippings behind.

One strategy that I have seen recently is raising the height of the rough above 3 inches, sometimes to as tall as 4 inches. This is a substantial increase from the typical height of 2.25-3.0 inches often found on golf courses in the Northeast, but higher rough also means that less grass is cut each time and there is less mess afterward. The finished product is much cleaner than it would be otherwise. Once the grass naturally slows its growth rate and superintendents have a chance to get caught up in the spring, the height of cut can be returned to normal.

My feeling is that superintendents know there are going to be conversations about the rough every spring. The conversation may differ slightly, but grass clippings and messy appearance are usually part of the discussion. Knowing that you could hear complaints anyway, why not raise the height to reduce the mess and subsequent cleanup?

Northeast Region Agronomists:

Adam Moeller, director, Green Section Education – amoeller@usga.org

Darin Bevard, director, Championship Agronomy – dbevard@usga.org

Elliott Dowling, agronomist – edowling@usga.org

John Daniels, agronomist – jdaniels@usga.org

Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service

Contact the Green Section Staff