Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does rough affect a golf shot?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Tiger Woods follows through on his golf swing after teeing off, standing in tall grass with spectators watching in the background at St Andrews Golf Links. — golf American golfer Tiger Woods competing at the British Open (Open Championship) at St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, 2005.

In the sport of golf, the rough refers to areas of unmowed vegetation—such as tall grasses, weeds, or bushes—that border the fairway.1

Because the grass in the rough is taller and often more tangled than the closely mowed turf of the fairway, it makes hitting the ball significantly more difficult. When a ball lands in the rough, the vegetation can interfere with the club's contact with the ball, often reducing the player's control and accuracy compared to a shot played from the fairway.21