Fairway mats

[Lord Tyrion]

Can you explain that bit please.

I would suggest they do not have qualifying comps during this period, so h/c stay where they are. My club, and most around me, are the same. Next qualifying comp for me will be in April 26

 

[Tashyboy]

I think this is a more fundamental problem that some courses in the UK are not fit during winter to have qualifiers.

The use of an artificial mat should make it a NQ.


Just my opinion

One of the things I find odd about fairway mats is that if you love them you get the perfect lie every time. Yet during the season a ball drops into a divot and you play it where it lies making said divot and course look even worse.

I have said this before, our course during the winter months is affectionately known as mudwood not Norwood. It needs mats, but to have a Q when using mats is an odd un.

 

[IanM]

So, you can have preferred lies in rhe general area, and use of fairway mats on the fairway and still run qualifying competitions?

On one hand, it seems odd to me, but I suppose everyone is playing under the same conditions.

 

[D-S]

So, you can have preferred lies in rhe general area, and use of fairway mats on the fairway and still run qualifying competitions?

On one hand, it seems odd to me, but I suppose everyone is playing under the same conditions.

You can't have preferred lies in the General Area and run qualifying competitions.

 

[IanM]

You can't have preferred lies in the General Area and run qualifying competitions.

I initially thought that, then was told otherwise. You you have easy access to the reference so I can shove it in the appropriate spot?

 

[simsini]

Our club stopped using them last winter and gained members from another club nearby because of that decision. I can't see how they could reintroduce them without dozens of people kicking off.

 

[rulefan]

I initially thought that, then was told otherwise. You you have easy access to the reference so I can shove it in the appropriate spot?

Adverse/Extreme Weather Reference Guide replaces Winter Checklist

The Adverse/Extreme Weather Reference Guide is being introduced to help clubs not just through winter, but all year round.

www.englandgolf.org

For scores to be acceptable for handicapping, the Local Rule may only allow the lie to be preferred on grass cut to fairway height or less, within six inches of the original lie of the ball. See the Model Local Rule E-3 here for further guidance and sample wording of the Rule.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Have you moved to Scotland? Your user name says you are in Kent. I am surprised that any golf course in south of England would need mats.

Why do you think that?
We get affected by the weather just like everyone else in the country and often with water shortages which itself cause issues on our fairways.
You would be surprised at the number of clubs this way that are using or looking to use mats in the winter. The difference come the spring makes their use worth every penny.

 

[IanM]

Adverse/Extreme Weather Reference Guide replaces Winter Checklist

The Adverse/Extreme Weather Reference Guide is being introduced to help clubs not just through winter, but all year round.

www.englandgolf.org

For scores to be acceptable for handicapping, the Local Rule may only allow the lie to be preferred on grass cut to fairway height or less, within six inches of the original lie of the ball. See the Model Local Rule E-3 here for further guidance and sample wording of the Rule.

I'm in Wales, I'll look up is it's different

 

[simsini]

I'm intrigued as to when winter mats became a thing off the fairway. I get why heavily used public courses would use mats off the tees, but there seems to be a huge increase in fairways mats being used in recent years, when I played some of these courses after winter and they don't even bother defining the fairways anyway. It can be hard to tell where the fairway actually is.

 

[Orikoru]

I've still never played anywhere with fairway mats. Seems like such a funny concept. Like a cross between golf and the driving range.

 

[timd77]

Is that a thing ( voluntary mats) ?
Could you have a qualifier if some used them and some didn’t.?

At my previous club they were optional, but no qualifiers over winter. I’m not sure about my current club. This is only my second winter there, the last one wasn’t particularly bad and so we didn’t have any winter rules in place.

 

[Neilds]

I've still never played anywhere with fairway mats. Seems like such a funny concept. Like a cross between golf and the driving range.

I might have to move to club that uses mats - I am a scratch player at the range!

 

[Orikoru]

I might have to move to club that uses mats - I am a scratch player at the range!

Same here to be fair - as long as it's auto-two-putt on the green like Trackman as well.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I've still never played anywhere with fairway mats. Seems like such a funny concept. Like a cross between golf and the driving range.

In a way, I agree. However come the spring time and your course has fairways that many are jealous of because of the drastically reduced bare patches, and groundstaff being ahead of the game rather than trying to catch up your realise its quite a good thing for the course.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I'm intrigued as to when winter mats became a thing off the fairway. I get why heavily used public courses would use mats off the tees, but there seems to be a huge increase in fairways mats being used in recent years, when I played some of these courses after winter and they don't even bother defining the fairways anyway. It can be hard to tell where the fairway actually is.

All about protecting the course and helping provide consistent lies during winter months

A lot more clubs will use them when there has been growth issues during the summer to leave a little covering of grass

 

[Swingalot]

Only place I've ever used a fairway mat was at RSG's. Good enough for them, good enough for any course .

 

[simsini]

All about protecting the course and helping provide consistent lies during winter months

A lot more clubs will use them when there has been growth issues during the summer to leave a little covering of grass

I would say on average where I am in Kent, the courses I played this summer that didn't use fairway mats the previous winter, were in better condition. I've played some shockers this summer, who have all blamed the condition on the dry weather anyway.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I would say on average where I am in Kent, the courses I played this summer that didn't use fairway mats the previous winter, were in better condition. I've played some shockers this summer, who have all blamed the condition on the dry weather anyway.

Most of the links courses use mats - RSG use them and that is always in great condition

If the course is able to have consistent growth then it won’t need mats

We had them one year after a very dry summer and burnt fairways and then heavy rains made the course mud

 

[D-S]

I'm in Wales, I'll look up is it's different

Looks like Wales Golf mirrors EG or vice versa.

Winter golf preferred lies - Wales Golf

www.walesgolf.org