The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word ROUGH
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
R
O
U
G
H
More clues leading to the result ROUGH
- Uneven grating below par
- Hooligan showing frog's entrails — that's disgusting
- Crude old carpet's acquired, useful to cover study
- Picked up band of feathers that’s uneven
- Collar said to be unfinished
- Total dry spells with no DTs can be hazy
- Makeshift neckwear by the sound of it
- Approximate area of golf course
- Approximate location of misdirected golf ball?
- Raucous sound of bird
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Approximate/area of golf course" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case approximate/area of golf course = rough.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ROUGH mean?
ROUGH noun- The unmowed part of a golf course.
- A rude fellow; a coarse bully; a rowdy.
- A scuffed and roughened area of the pitch, where the bowler's feet fall, used as a target by spin bowlers because of its unpredictable bounce.
- The raw material from which faceted or cabochon gems are created.
- A quick sketch, similar to a thumbnail but larger and more detailed, used for artistic brainstorming.
- Boisterous weather.
- A piece inserted in a horseshoe to keep the animal from slipping.
- To create in an approximate form.
- To commit the offense of roughing, i.e. to punch another player.
- To render rough; to roughen.
- To break in (a horse, etc.), especially for military purposes.
- To endure primitive conditions.
- To roughen a horse's shoes to keep the animal from slipping.
- Not smooth; uneven.
- Approximate; hasty or careless; not finished.
- Turbulent.
- Difficult; trying.
- Crude; unrefined
- Violent; not careful or subtle
- Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating.
- Not polished; uncut; said of a gem.
- Harsh-tasting.
- Somewhat ill; sick
- Unwell due to alcohol; hungover
- In a rough manner; rudely; roughly.