Daily HolesTrees · narrow fairway · up to three a round
Chute — How to Play the Tree-Lined Fairway in Daily Holes
A narrow fairway between rows of trees. The rough is a thin strip, so a small miss finishes in deep rough.
By the numbers
- How often
- on most days, up to three a round; any par
- Fairway
- about a third narrower at its waist
- Rough strip
- less than half the usual width
- Beyond the trees
- deep rough: 62% carry, little roll
- Penalty
- none
- Best clubs
- 5-wood or long iron off the tee
What it is
From 6 October 2026 a daily nine can include chutes — on three days in four at least one, and up to three in a round. The fairway is about a third narrower than usual at its waist, and lined on both sides by trees (dunes on Coastal Links courses). The trees mark the edge of deep rough; they do not stop the ball.
What it costs
There is no penalty stroke, but the strip of ordinary rough is less than half as wide as usual, so a small miss lands in deep rough. From deep rough a shot keeps only 62% of its carry, spreads about two and a half times as wide and barely rolls, and the aim sweep is half as wide again. One loose drive can cost a stroke on the next shot.
Why it is hard
The fairway narrows most around the middle of the hole, exactly where drives land. Long clubs have the widest spread and the longest roll, so the driver is most likely to run off the side of the chute.
How to play it
Off the tee, take the longest club whose spread you trust — often a 5-wood or 4-iron rather than the driver — and aim at the middle of the narrowest part, not at the flag. A pure strike tightens the spread, so timing matters more here than distance. If you do miss, play the next shot back to the fairway rather than at the green.
Worked example
From the fairway 150 yards out, a pure 8-iron carries about 167 yards. From deep rough the same 8-iron carries only about 104, and even a pure 4-iron, about 132, may not reach. The two shots it takes to get home from the deep rough are the real cost of a missed drive.
Common mistakes
Hitting the driver because the hole is long. Aiming at the flag on a curved chute, which sends the ball into the trees on the outside of the bend. And trying a long recovery from deep rough over the trees.