Intermediate cuts are used mainly for tournament conditions like we had for the 35th Michigan Junior Amateur State Championship. The intermediate cut was set at 2" and mowed 4 times in five days. Rough mowers were set at 3" and mowing was completed the week before the tournament. Rough was not cut at all the week of the event. By not mowing, rough in areas exceeded 8". Rough at that length is entirely too penal for regular play... that's a U.S. Open length!
A recent article by the USGA Green Section entitled "A Waste of Time and Resources" (http://gsr.lib.msu.edu/article/oatis-waste-7-26-13.pdf) discusses the value of a courtesy cut. This article is timely and insightful.
At Radrick Farms fairways are mowed less than 1/2" and the rough is mowed at 2". By using the USGA's recommendation, IF there were to be a courtesy cut, that cut would be at 1.25" and the rough would be at a minimum of 3.75". Rough of that height (3.75") would considerably slow the pace of play and detract from the enjoyment of the game not to mention the added maintenance costs of maintaining the intermediate cut.
So, the crew will be mowing and blowing clippings in the rough. Rough height is set back at 2".
