Creating a ramp with a Spurk golf mat.

[clubchamp98]

Following another thread.
Can you use a fairway mat to reduce a slope by putting some of the stabilising lugs in the ground but leaving some out to create a ramp that lessens the slope.?

I think that’s not what the mat was designed for.

 

[Orikoru]

Following another thread.
Can you use a fairway mat to reduce a slope by putting some of the stabilising lugs in the ground but leaving some out to create a ramp that lessens the slope.?

...in order to stop the ball rolling off of it. Just thought I'd finish your sentence for you since you left that bit out.

 

[clubchamp98]

...in order to stop the ball rolling off of it. Just thought I'd finish your sentence for you since you left that bit out.

That’s the main issue.

I was always taught you are not entitled to get a level lie.
But this mat is a talking point as users think they should have one.!
It’s open to interpretation

It’s a game played on uneven ground
But there’s money involved at mine now and it’s an issue.

They have been around a few years now and the rule needs clarification you can or you can’t.

 

[Orikoru]

That’s the main issue.

I was always taught you are not entitled to get a level lie.
But this mat is a talking point as users think they should have one.!
It’s open to interpretation

It’s a game played on uneven ground
But there’s money involved at mine now and it’s an issue.

They have been around a few years now and the rule needs clarification you can or you can’t.

I know we're having the same discussion again but it's nothing to do with what you're entitled to, it's the point that if you're using a mat the ball will not stay on it unless it's relatively flat, and thus you cannot play.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Following another thread.
Can you use a fairway mat to reduce a slope by putting some of the stabilising lugs in the ground but leaving some out to create a ramp that lessens the slope.?

I think that’s not what the mat was designed for.

Yes, I can.

 

[PaulMdj]

Why just Spurk Mats? Surely if you are genuinely concerned about the issue you should be questioning all mats that can be used in this way?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I thought not (but not 100% sure) - any golf equipment has to be used in the manner for which it is designed - so for instance having the prongs in a Spurk mat not digging into the ground but sitting on it to level the mat, I believe is not permitted. There prongs are for gripping the ground not for propping up one end of the mat.

 

[PaulMdj]

So if the fairway slopesand a ball comes to rest in a delve or dip in the fairway, my Club stipulates I should use a mat to play the ball.

If the mat bridges the delve and is put in as some suggest the ball could roll 30 - 40 feet down the slope, the mat is therefore in place over were the ball came to rest in such a manner that some of the lugs are higher on one side than the other.

The ball is then put on the mat and played, anyone suggesting I am somehow cheating needs to give their head a shake.

 

[woofers]

I’d start by looking at Rule 4.3a Allowed and Prohibited Uses of Equipment, (must not use equipment to create a potential advantage) and Model Local Rule E12 Use of Fairway Mats for some guidance on the placing of the mat and what to do if the ball rolls off it.

 

[rulie]

And to make it easy - MLR E-12:

Model Local Rule E-12​

“When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less and a putter is not being used for the stroke, the player must take free relief by lifting the original ball and placing the original ball or another ball on an artificial mat and play it from there. The mat must be placed on top of the spot where the ball came to rest.
If a ball when placed rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time. If the ball again does not stay on the mat, the mat must be moved to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest on the mat when placed.
If the ball on the mat is accidentally moved before a stroke is made, there is no penalty and the ball must be placed again on the mat.
If a tee is used to secure the mat into the ground, the ball must not be placed on the tee.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a

 

[Orikoru]

And to make it easy - MLR E-12:

Model Local Rule E-12​

“When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less and a putter is not being used for the stroke, the player must take free relief by lifting the original ball and placing the original ball or another ball on an artificial mat and play it from there. The mat must be placed on top of the spot where the ball came to rest.
If a ball when placed rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time. If the ball again does not stay on the mat, the mat must be moved to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest on the mat when placed.
If the ball on the mat is accidentally moved before a stroke is made, there is no penalty and the ball must be placed again on the mat.
If a tee is used to secure the mat into the ground, the ball must not be placed on the tee.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a

Just to save us some time - this was discussed in a separate thread.

ClubChamp claimed that you cannot alter the lie angle of the mat in an attempt to make sure the ball doesn't roll off of it. He thinks you need to move it to a completely different area where it's already flat.

But I argued that the rule does not say that you can't take action to try and make sure the ball stays on the mat - even if it means one end of it is off the ground, say, so it doesn't match the angle of the ground underneath. I'd have thought you need to try everything in your power to make the ball stay on the mat at the existing location before considering moving.

 

[rulie]

Just to save us some time - this was discussed in a separate thread.

ClubChamp claimed that you cannot alter the lie angle of the mat in an attempt to make sure the ball doesn't roll off of it. He thinks you need to move it to a completely different area where it's already flat.

But I argued that the rule does not say that you can't take action to try and make sure the ball stays on the mat - even if it means one end of it is off the ground, say, so it doesn't match the angle of the ground underneath. I'd have thought you need to try everything in your power to make the ball stay on the mat at the existing location before considering moving.

Just follow the directions in the Model Local Rule, it's quite clear (imo). And note the penalty statement.

 

[Orikoru]

Just follow the directions in the Model Local Rule, it's quite clear (imo). And note the penalty statement.

It's not at all, otherwise this topic wouldn't exist.

 

[D-S]

If the ‘not putting the prongs of the mat into the ground on one side to create a flatter lie’ is to be allowed, would this also mean that you could not put the prongs at the front of the mat in the ground thereby creating an upslope, allowing for example a driver to be hit more easily than would have been the case if the mat was flat on the ground?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I find the tee hole in the spurk is quite good at holging the ball when the mat ison a slight incline.
TBH, most people I play with press the mat down with their foot, and sometimes that does flatten the lie, HOWEVER..... this is casual play as we (our group) dont bother with winter comps and play for fun and quickness.

 

[Burnsey]

We play mats fairway only, which tend to be flat, with a little wiggle on moving left/right/back, but also permitted to move the ball 90 degrees off the fairway and exclude the mat, so no excuse for not being able to place fairly (in my opinion).

 

[rulie]

Why not just follow the procedure in LR E-12, it's the procedure authorized by the Rules of golf. Isn't doing anything else "not playing by the Rules"?

 

[Orikoru]

Why not just follow the procedure in LR E-12, it's the procedure authorized by the Rules of golf. Isn't doing anything else "not playing by the Rules"?

Ok, I'll assume you missed it and say it again...

The issue is that the official rule doesn't state whether you can adjust the lie angle of the mat - by leaving some of the 'feet' out of the ground for example - to make it flatter so that the ball doesn't roll off.

 

[PaulMdj]

Why not just follow the procedure in LR E-12, it's the procedure authorized by the Rules of golf. Isn't doing anything else "not playing by the Rules"?

There is no mention of how he mat is to be placed in the local rule to keep the ball on it.

I believe that is on purpose as there are many different varities of mat and it would be impossible for the local rule to cover them all.

 

[woofers]

Does anyone think Rule 4.3a Allowed and Prohibited Uses of Equipment, (must not use equipment to create a potential advantage), might be relevant to this discussion?