'Short' yardage courses playing longer - fairway cut height

[Thomas Dai]

I played a very nice UK upland course recently. On the card it was 5,850 yds. However, it played considerable longer. Even though the ground conditions were dry and the wind pretty negligible there was very little roll - the height of the fairway cut was such that not much roll, even on low trajectory shots, would occur. I wondered if this was deliberate but couldn't find anyone to ask!

I've heard that occasionally fairways are cut backwards from green-to-tee to make a course play longer for pro tournaments but is deliberately using the fairway height to lessen roll used under general circumstances?

atb

[Rich Goodale]

Thomas

I have also noted that this year, but it is a phenomenon which is more grounded in golfer preferences than meteorology.  The average golfer (15-20 HCP) rarely has the skills to get the ball airborne from a tight lie, so they grumble when the course plays fast and firm.  Committees listen and raise the fairway cut so that Joe Six Pack can get a lie that allows him to hit a 5-wood.  My grandfather told me this in the late 50's when I was 12 and he was 78. He hated the practice.  He was also the champion golfer at his club in 1913, and could still play when he was in his late 70's.  RIP PA.

Rich

[Pete Lavallee]

I won a free round of golf at Amherst CC in the annual U Mass Alumni Turf Group raffle last year. Its an old 9 hole course from the late 1800's so its a little on the short side. But the fairways were mowed at one inch, I never seen such a long fairway cut, at a CC no less. Zero run but you could get under the ball quite easily. A very unusual maintenance meld; the greens were firm and fast though, so they weren't trying to scimp on maintaining the place; very strange indeed.

[Thomas Dai]

Interesting responses. Thank you both. A 1 inch fairway cut. Wow. I have also come across a course where the fairways were kept high so that certain players were able to get the ball into the air easier from the fairway. Curiously enough it was when a high handicapper was Chairman of Greens and his usual high handicap playing companions were openly bending his ear on the issue. The next C-of-G was a low handicapper, guess what, the fairway height is now lower. Funny thing private member golf club committees and politics. I digress though.

I was quite surprised how much longer a course can play, even a firm surfaces course, when the fairways are cut even just a touch longer. More cushioning on landing, less first and subsequent bounces, less roll and trickle. Not so easy to play the 'ground game' either, with the ball getting held up more and not releasing so much.

Any courses keep the cut higher deliberately, not to help lesser players get the ball in the air easier, but to make the course play longer?

atb