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« Back Post Date: Friday, August 9, 2019
Life in the Rough

It’s the ROUGH, and it demands a good deal of attention, as part of any overall best practices management plan.  Rough areas on the golf course often constitute the largest span of turf to maintain; in fact, at GBCC there are more acres of rough than acres of greens, tees, and fairways combined.


Over the past couple of years, the rough has gotten more attention from members, for wanting better aesthetics.

  • Less to no weeds

  • Reduce/eliminate bumps

  • Reduce/eliminate other types of grass contamination

  • Reduce/eliminate heat and winter damage/stress

  • Better health and color

  • Less to no turf kill

Beginning last year, the Grounds Crew implemented a plan to improve all things listed above with some basic, but effective, agronomical practices. Over the past two seasons, by slightly raising the height of the rough and performing timely fertilizer and herbicide applications, we have progressively:

  • Outcompeted and lessened the weed population

  • Masked and/or lessened the bumpiness

  • Prevented other grass types from further contaminating the rough

  • Created a taller, denser and healthier turf to help with cooling/insulating during hot and cold temperatures

  • Improved color and aesthetics

  • Lessened/eliminated turf kill

  • Improved cart wear tolerance

However, now that we are providing better and healthier rough, at times, it can seem more penal. Since the beginning of the season, we have not changed our mowing height or frequency; but the difference is, this summer’s weather has provided greater than ideal growing conditions. 

Now that hot and humid days are dwindling, and the rough health is optimal, the Grounds Crew will be lowering the height of the rough

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