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There is a reason that the term “U.S. Open rough” is often uttered in golf circles. Golf fans are used to seeing 5- or 6-inch tall rough during play of the U.S. Open, like we saw at Brookline in 2022. Deep rough is often considered a key part of the U.S. Open challenge and rough made up of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, turf-type tall fescue and other cool-season grasses can still be playable, albeit very difficult, at these heights. However, at The Los Angeles Country Club (LACC) for the 123rd U.S. Open, bermudagrass will be the primary rough. Bermudagrass rough maintained at similar heights to cool-season grasses for day-to-day play, much less for the U.S. Open, may be considered unplayable. So, don’t be surprised when you hear some lower heights mentioned for this year’s “U.S. Open rough,” and don’t worry about it being too easy!

Bermudagrass rough has not been part of a U.S. Open since Pinehurst No. 2 in 2005. Remember, when the U.S. Open returned to Pinehurst in 2014 there was no rough at all! Bermudagrass performs best in warmer climates and it requires less water than its cool-season counterparts. This makes it a popular option for rough and fairways in Southern California and other areas where water resources may be limited and temperatures are mild. However, the height of cut on bermudagrass rough generally has to be lower than cool-season grasses to provide the same challenge.

This is because bermudagrass rough has many laterally growing stems and leaves that create an interwoven mat of vegetation. A golfer might see a green canopy of leaves that looks easy to play from, but just beneath the surface are the stiff and intricately woven stems that produce much more resistance to the clubhead than cool-season rough, which is made up mainly of “blades” of grass that provide less resistance to the clubhead. The rough height at LACC may be capped at 3 1/2 to 4 inches to provide similar difficulty to the taller rough heights of past U.S. Opens.

The same principle applies to bermudagrass rough maintained on golf courses for daily play. Heights of cut from 1 1/4 to 2 inches are common and provide a good challenge for average golfers. Cool-season roughs would be difficult to maintain at these lower heights without more water and other resources and they would not provide much penalty to errant shots either.

As the 123rd U.S. Open at LACC unfolds and references are made to 3 or 4 inch bermudagrass rough, rest assured that the players will still experience “U.S. Open rough” and many balls may well be buried in bermudagrass!