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Merion -Heavy Rough Around Greens

• ADYTHEGOLFPRO 291 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 8:23 AM

  I am having big issues with getting out of the moderate to heavy rough around the Merion Greens. Nothing seems to work and I end up wasting two, three or four shots.

• DarSum 1,440 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 8:40 AM

  ADYTHEGOLFPRO:

  I am having big issues with getting out of the moderate to heavy rough around the Merion Greens. Nothing seems to work and I end up wasting two, three or four shots.

  The obvious answer is don't go there. What I do if I end up in there is write down what the lie is, yardage, club used, bs used etc and what the result was. Once you do that a few times you'll know somewhat of how the ball is going to react the next time you're in it.

  One tip you might try is full shot or punch. I use full shot around the greens 80% of the time if I'm in the rough or not. But I'm an odd duck.

• Timbo1984 818 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 8:43 AM

  I know the feeling.

  I was about half a foot off the fairway on the first cut and it was 50% rough...thats a little harsh in my book. Seems the lightest rough I have found is 30% and the general rough anyway is most of the time 40% +.

  Generally the punch shot is the go to shot. It's been working pretty well for me so far, from 40% and withing 60 yards I'm generally finding myself within 2 yards or less of the hole.

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 9:11 AM

  If it says Brush, treat it like it was 50%. 

• TarheelsRule 5,605 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 9:23 AM

  In my experience there is no first cut of rough at Merion so if you hit in the rough off the tee you are more than likely going to have to punch the ball and try to make par, unless you are inside of 100 yards where the better wedges can handle heavy rough without the loss of a huge amount of yardage.

  Around the greens the rough is just too severe, although there have been US Opens that employed this type of rough.  Take a look at the chip that Tom Watson hit out of knee deep rough to win the US Open in 1982 at Pebble Beach.   The problem that I have had with it is that it is very inconsistent but in reality if you hit into something that deep, your shot will be 100% dependent on how it lies in that grass so many being inconsistent is correct.

  I have tried punch, flop, full, etc. with varying degrees of success out of there.  The key as someone else said at this course is to avoid the rough at all costs.  It is truly a course that you have to manage well.  The 5th hole for example I have hit shots that stopped within 2 feet and a shot that was about 2 feet long that rolled to the back of the green, another 2 feet short came back off the green.  Fun course though.

• senec 254 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 9:38 AM

  How do you play 50% + rough or brush or whatever.I can only think of going sideways with a wedge and hope to get 20-30 yards so I can get out of there and hopefully get back on the fairway.Courtney???Ty.

• Timbo1984 818 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 11:24 AM

  senec:

  How do you play 50% + rough or brush or whatever.I can only think of going sideways with a wedge and hope to get 20-30 yards so I can get out of there and hopefully get back on the fairway.Courtney???Ty.

  Well firstly you can't really treat it as "rough or brush or whatever" lol

  Each reacts differently to the shot you are trying to apply to it.

  The best bet is to see what you have in front of you...If it is a green and you are within reasonable punching or even full wedge distance of it, you can now decide what to do.

  In this instance say within 80 or less yards from the hole and you find yourself in 50% rough you need to remember spin is still a key factor. On top of that spin is the gear you're using...for instance Nike level 71 balls with 75 yards left to the hole and you use a Cleveland wedge punch shot (84 yards), depending on wind you should get close.

  It's a lot to think about I know but you get used to it quite quickly after a few hit and misses.

  Now for instance you're quite a way from the hole, say 220+ yards and playing a par 5, you want to lay up in this instance, the punch shot again will get you further than a full shot especially with long irons, they come out faster and roll further (tip: never use a wood out of 50% rough). But remember your yardages change when using this shot, so if on punch option it says it will go 184 yards, but you're in 50% rough and using full back spin, know that this will effect the out come of the shot, AND what that shot will fly over i.e bunkers or rough. It might go 170 yards, but it will land at around 140 yards, so make sure you know what that particular shot can fly over.

  This is just a basic theory, the only way you will know is by practicing thing out on a particular course...As I have not the time, skill or knowledge to go through how elevation, wind speed and direction and course knowledge will effect any shot you attempt...As this discussion could go on for ages. Try those ones so far and then maybe come bac to this post and ask what to do with 50% rough with about 15 yards or less to the hole...Thats a real art in itself! lol

  But hope this helps just a little bit.

  Have fun :)

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 11:59 AM

  A lot of people seem to forget or perhaps they never knew that the percentage figure shown is the amount of the ball that is covered. So 40% in rough is different to 40% sand and 40% brush and 40% mulch. Trial and error and lots of note taking is the best way with any hindrance on here but the more expensive wedges do seem to handle it better.

• steveh033 2 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 12:02 PM

  Just accept the fact th designersave probably never played golf and are messing with your head. They bill this as most realistic ......... hardly

• Steven1163 2,912 Posts

  Fri, May 3 2013 12:26 PM

  courteneyfish:

  A lot of people seem to forget or perhaps they never knew that the percentage figure shown is the amount of the ball that is covered. So 40% in rough is different to 40% sand and 40% brush and 40% mulch. Trial and error and lots of note taking is the best way with any hindrance on here but the more expensive wedges do seem to handle it better.

  Ok..this maybe a thread of its on.....or i maybe opening a can of worms...chip vs. pitch around greens....whichis a preferred method of getting closer to the hole...and i would prefer not some smarta** answer...i'm serious about this because i tend to struggle with this...i can pitch pretty dang good....but sometimes its not good coic...but then when i chip...and i rarely do....i go way past the hole eveno a choked down shot...and some holes....where theres a rough  area to prevent running balls on the green i might or might not even get a foot on the green with a chip....i would reaolly like some feedback on this...thanks!!