Rough (facility)

A "rough" in the context of a facility, most commonly referring to golf courses but applicable to other types of maintained terrain, describes an area of longer, thicker, and generally less-maintained vegetation compared to the fairways or greens. It typically borders the fairways and greens and presents a greater challenge for traversal or play.

The purpose of the rough is to penalize inaccurate shots. The longer grass can make it difficult to make clean contact with a ball, often resulting in shorter distances, unpredictable trajectories, or difficulty in simply extracting the ball. The severity of the penalty depends on the length and density of the rough.

Different areas of rough on a course may be designated with varying lengths. "Primary rough" usually directly borders the fairway and presents a moderate challenge. "Secondary rough" or "deep rough" may be further from the fairway and contain significantly longer grass, weeds, or other natural obstacles, creating a more severe penalty.

Beyond golf, the term "rough" may similarly apply to other recreational facilities, such as fields for sports like croquet or lawn bowling. In these contexts, it signifies an area of unkempt or less-maintained grass that serves as a boundary or hazard.

Maintenance of the rough involves periodically cutting or trimming the vegetation, but generally to a lesser extent than the manicured areas of the facility like the fairway or green. The specific maintenance schedule and height of the rough are intentional design choices that impact the difficulty and overall experience of using the facility.