Thick Spring Rough

This time of year we typically hear comments about the rough being too difficult to play out of.  With rapid growth of cool season turf in the spring, and projects being worked on, it is very difficult to keep the rough at a height golfers like.  We mow the rough twice a week, and mow selected spots through the course three time per week.  Once soil temperatures rise and we have consistently warm temps, the rough will become more manageable.  There is a graph below showing the growth habits of cool season turf.  You can see in the graph how much more growth the turf has in the spring.  The link below is a good article from the USGA explaining this topic.

http://www.usga.org/course_care/regional_updates/regional_reports/midatlantic/Spring-Rough-Is-Rough!---June-2010/