In golf, the fairway is referred to as the mown area between the tee box and the putting green involved in every hole. This is usually the target for most golfers other than par-3s. In simple terms, the fairway is the most ideal area for landing off the tea. It is referred to as the pathway that leads from the teeing ground to the hole on the green.
Commonly found in Par 4 and Par 5
Officially, the term ‘fairway’ actually does not exist in golfing rules. This term is actually derived from members of the golf game common in par-4 and par-5 holes. As mentioned, fairway does not exist in par-3 holes as they are too short for the goal from the tee to hit the green at such courses. As related to fairway grass, ‘closely mown’ actually refers to the length of the grass which must be mown short. The range of the different types of turf used is crucial too. For this, fine fescues are usually between 7/16 and ½ inches while Ryegrass is between ¾ and 1 ¼ inch. Bentgrass is between 7/16 and ½ inches while Bermuda is between ½ and ¾ inches. The height of the fairway is actually dependent on the type of grass used on the green and would be influenced by other factors like the weather, the course budget and soil conditions, among others.
Putting it simply for easier understanding
Generally, the fairway is a part of a golf hole. Since there is no official definition of a ‘fairway’, it can be simplified as:
The ideal landing area after your tee. You look at the fairway to guide you from the starting teeing-off point to the final objective of your shot, which is the hole. Under certain circumstances, the fairway is referred to as the area of the course determined by the height of the grass which is 0.5 to 1.25 inches. Any parts with taller grasses are termed differently.
It must be noted though that the term ‘fairway’ has only been mentioned once in the official Rules of Golf. This is because the term ‘through the green’ is a more popular phrase used. Under the official rules, ‘through the green’ will cover the fairway and the rough.
Navigating your game through the fairway
Now that you know what the fairway is, let’s examine how you can get your way through it. You would probably get a good hit where your drive elevated where you wanted it to. It now sits nicely along the fairway where you wanted it to be in the first place. What’s next, you might ask?
Here is where you need to get a good approach shot. The ball is now sitting in the fairway and not on a tee. You will now need to:
- Examine the green – Figure out what is going to be on your way that fronts the green. If there is a water hazard or any bunkers in front, you will need to decide what to do next. Do note that you might not have as many options in your approach shot compared to the situation where your ball landed short.
- Decide on your swing – You should consider going for a shorter backswing. This is because you might lose your balance and create poor contact in the event that you overswing. In other words, you should consider using a 7-iron if you use a full 8-iron.
- Get into the flow and ryhthm – If you really need to make a full swing, then focus on the flow of your swing. What you want to do here is to generate power and you want to try and make better contact with the ball on impact. That should give you better accuracy.
- The fairway woods – They usually have longer shafts and you want to hit them with a more sweeping stroke than the way you do it with irons. Bear in mind that this is not the same as teeing off the ball.
