Definition: The "first cut" refers to the grass that is immediately alongside the closely mown fairway. The first cut (or "first cut of rough") is grown higher than the fairway grass, but not as high as the primary rough. The first cut is generally not too difficult to play shots from (and it is much preferred to be in the first cut of rough than in the primary rough).
Also Known As: "Apron" is a term usually applied to greenside, but when there are multiple cuts of rough adjacent to fairways, the first cut is sometimes called the apron.
