Why Let The Rough Grow?

sounds like a course i played in WALES some years ago,the 18th was a long par 3 i think it was 195 or so and had an horse shape lake in front with a sloping tight cut green and a fountain blocking part of the green,the pro had put a prize up for nearest the pin for our society 36 players so every one was having a go,needless to say most dropped into the lake,when we got to the water a big sign stated DO NOT RETRIEVE BALLS DUE TO DAMAGE TO LINER. there must have been 50 plus balls in the water when we finished the hole went in for our lunch then came out to see the pros assistant fishing the balls out with a net,when we finished again after dumping more balls into the pond,we ventured into the pro shop to get the winner his prize a sleeve of second rate balls only to see the assistant pro cleaning the balls we had dumped into the pond you should not touch,next to a bin stating POND BALLS £10 A DOZ.
 
One rule for one and all that!! Seriously though it was a farce and spoilt what should have been an enjoyable day for everyone. My Driver is either arrow straight or big blocks to the right and after hitting a couple to the right and losing balls made me realise what was in store
 
I played a club match at Tylney Park two years ago. It was knee high literally ten yards off the fairway and a necklace around each green so if you missed the putting surface it was in the long stuff. Unplayable for a lot of us and I think we had lost 9 balls in the first six holes as a match. They got in trouble as so many members were putting in an NR in comps. Played it this year and a different course. Cut right back but with a good amount of rather tricky semi-rough which was penal. A much better test and way more enjoyable.
 
I played a club match at Tylney Park two years ago. It was knee high literally ten yards off the fairway and a necklace around each green so if you missed the putting surface it was in the long stuff. Unplayable for a lot of us and I think we had lost 9 balls in the first six holes as a match. They got in trouble as so many members were putting in an NR in comps. Played it this year and a different course. Cut right back but with a good amount of rather tricky semi-rough which was penal. A much better test and way more enjoyable.
not being funny homer old chap but if your 10 yards off the edge of the fairway you deserve to be in the thick rough,agree about round the greens should be semi rough not the elephant grass described.
 
I dont see why clubs cant have

Fairway
1st cut around 18mm for 5 to 10 yards from fairway
2nd cut around 36mm for 5 or 10 yards from 1st cut
4inch long rough for next 25 yards, anything after that as long as they like

That way it relative lies dependant on how off line you are but still able to find ball, it give the course the habitat for wildlife. Also by having the different length with less tall grasses there is no need to flail it a rake it annually it can literally be left wild. And given that most fairways are around 50 yards wide that give us over 100yards in most areas to get a lie relavant to quality of shot previously played.
 
Top