The four wise decisions when playing the ball from the rough.
The golf season is in full swing and many golf courses will be holding their club championship. To make the championship a test of golfing skill many green keepers will grow in the fairways so they become smaller and the rough will become longer. With the combination of rain and warm sunshine the rough just off the fairway can grow to almost waist height.
Three or four missed fairways shouldn’t mean a disastrous round if the problem is managed and wise decisions are made. These decisions are as follows.
Decision 1 – Will I find the golf ball?
If you think your golf ball has gone into the rough and you might not find it play a provisional ball. This will save you time and the humiliation of walking back to the original position of the last shot not taking a provisional ball could slow the pace of play on the golf course.
You must tell your playing partner of your intention of playing a provisional ball.
Decision 2 – Club selection
This is probably the most important for exiting the ball from the rough. Club selection has to be decided upon the lie of the golf ball.
Decision 3 – How do I hit the shot?
Thick grass surrounding the golf ball makes it very difficult to take a clean strike of the ball. To counter this difficulty the ball position should be inside right heel. This is the steepest part of the downswing and this will help you take most of the golf ball. The steep angle of attack is also beneficial for elevating the ball from the rough. This will help flight the ball upwards. The correct set up is displayed.
Decision 4 – Follow through
To make sure enough energy has transferred to the golf ball you must attempt to try and follow through as best as the lie allows. From my own experience with my playing lessons I have seen many failed attempts not from poor set up but lack of commitment in the through swing.
Quiz
The Three photographs below display 3 difficult shots from the rough. From the list of clubs match a club choice with each photograph.
Driver, 5 iron, sand iron, Pitching Wedge and 7 iron
Answers.
Photograph 1 – Although this displays a low cut rough the club head could still get trapped through impact and you could move the ball 8 feet. You should have chosen a 7 iron. It will move the ball a distance and your next shot will be from the fairway.
Photograph 2 - This particular situation is about moving the ball back onto the fairway. You should have chosen a sand iron or pitching wedge.
Photograph 3 – This ball is officially in the Jungle and the club selection for this shot is the Driver.
Yes the Driver! Why the Driver?
The Driver will be used to mark your two club lengths out the rough because you should have DECLARED THE BALL UNPLAYABLE! Trying to attempt to hit this shot out of the jungle is inviting a bad situation to turn into a double-digit score and this is my point about Decision 2 Club Selection!!! Declaring the ball unplayable with a one shot penalty will feel like a get out of jail card. There are three options when declaring the ball unplayable and I think the best option for me is taking a two-club length and making sure it is not nearer the hole and I must drop the ball within the two club lengths. The other two options are: Replay the shot or taking a line of sight rule whereby you imagine a line from the flagstick to the ball and goes as far back as you like, as long as you are still on the golf course.