Why does a course need a defence like stupid rough against weekend golfers and casual members? Cut the rough and stop using a silly excuse.
Cut rough under trees, give a decent first cut of rough and let us hit our ball, find it and hit it again!
i sort of see your point, but only for social golfers not playing comps.
in comps you want to be rewarded for good play ie hitting the fairway
Remember watching a mate play against a really long hitter in a scratch final. the club in question had cut most of the rough down and the big hitter just sprayed it everywhere , i only remember him hitting one fairway and that was with an iron. found his ball every time and in most cases had a great lie and was only hitting a wedge.