You have to take the Rough with the Smooth

When I first arrived at Bearwood Lakes the rough was ridiculous. Although, it looked fantastic it was totally unplayable. I knew it would be a long term project but I really feel that we are turning the corner. Having walked the course today, I was able to walk through the rough without cursing a lost ball, a bad shot or that bloomin' Course Manager.

We have worked hard to ensure that we cut and collected the rough each year. The bales have got smaller and smaller in number and the rough was cut back in places to make the course a little more playable. This year with the improvement in the fineness of the grass sward and the emergence of a new chemical, Rescue  we are able to provide a much finer, more attractive looking rough which is more playable. It isn't the finished article but it is definitely a good work in progress.

The rough on the left of the 2nd tee has now been sprayed twice with Rescue and we recently sprayed the rough  on the 15th, 4th and 5th fairways as well as other areas around the golf course for the first time. The rough on the side of the 2nd has really thinnned out but still looks good and is really playable. Some weeds have come through in the bare areas but we will be spraying them off this week.

The recent spray will hopefully reduce the population of broad leaf grasses such as yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus). You will probably notice that it will start to go a little yellow and brittle. This should happen and hopefully the fescue height at this time of the year will mean you will only be able to notice it if you have hit your ball in the rough. You can see an example in the picture below.

There will be some large areas which die off and will need to be reseeded but we will manage these as we see them.

I hope you are finding the rough better this year, both aesthitically and from a playability standpoint. We are hoping to reinstall more areas of the rough to native grass as in years before, but with improved playability. It is a slow process but please bear with us as our work is paying off.