the part of the course where the grass is cut short between the tees and the putting greens, exclusive of the rough, trees, and hazards: More important than long drives is keeping your ball on the fairway.
b.
the mowed part of any hole between the tee and the green: The foursome is now on the tenth fairway.
3.
Nautical.
a.
the navigable portion of a river, harbor, or other partly enclosed body of water.
b.
the channel customarily navigated by vessels in such a body of water.
[fair-wey] 
