No need to fear rough with right technique

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By KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

“It’s not that bad, if you stay out of it,” said Knox Jones, one of the first-round contenders in the State Amateur Golf Championship at the Country Club of Lincoln.

“Didn’t bother me when I had an uphill shot to the pin … but downhill, oh, my,” said former state champion Larry Sock.

“I’ve never seen rough like that around here, and so you don’t have much experience with it,” said Brett Sundberg.

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Dave Malone demonstrates chipping at the Country Club of Lincoln Tuesday afternoon. (Heidi Hoffman)

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Chipping with a pro

Dave Malone, pro at the Country Club of Lincoln, shows how to chip from the 4-inch-deep rough around the greens at the State Amateur Championship. (Ke...

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“We had to search for the ball and I was just four feet off the green on No. 9,” another golfer said.

The grass around the greens at the Country Club is beautiful, lush, thick and diabolical.

Just off the green is a strip of fringe, about half an inch long. Then, there’s a 3-foot strip of 2-inch deep rough.

After that, 4 to 5 inches of greedy, grabby grass that has changed the game from the tee box to the chip shots in the state tournament.

“We thought about this a long time and thought it was a good, fair challenge to the golfers who know they can drive some of the greens on the par-4 holes,” said Dave Malone, pro at the club.

“It’s deep, but I’ve been in three U.S. Amateur qualifiers, and it’s actually deeper there,” said John Hurley.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said.

Malone offered two solutions to the shot that seems to invite disaster, a double-bogey and embarrassment.

If you need a short shot, the ball needs to get up, high and in a hurry: 

“Just place the ball way back in the stance and set up like you would for a short bunker shot,” Malone said. “Take the club all the way back, keep the club face square, very square to the ball, hit the grass first, and slide the club under the ball.”

If you need a longer shot, a lower angle and more run after the shot hits the green:  

“Use a lower-lofted wedge, I use a 56-degree, and place the ball way back in the stance, almost four inches to the right of your right foot. Let the flange, the bounce, of the wedge help the ball up. Once again, you have to hit the grass first — (hit the ball first, and you endanger everybody on the green and beyond). A little less swing and keep the club square through the shot.”

Malone also offered a remedy for the shot where the ball is on the fringe, but against the deep rough.

“This one is a little different than the other two because you want to hit the ball first,” he said. “A sharp downward stroke and through should work.

“Or you can try topping the ball with your putter or wedge and hope the roll is correct.

“It looks intimidating, but it can be done,” he said.

Or as defending state champion Brandon Crick said, “Just don’t go in that stuff. Hit the green and avoid the whole mess.”

Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.