Fairway mats

[simsini]

That's the problem.....there isn't much grass around here in the middle of winter. The grass you do have gets less and less as people use preferred lies to move to a clump of grass and then destroy that as well.

Yes, we use bags of sand as well. Helps fill the divots so at least they are level come spring. Grass seed just isn't going to start to grow until at least into April and the soil temps get up to 10C or so. How long after that before the grass actually fills in decently?.....June?

Then, there are the not insignificant amount of golfers who just can't be bothered to take a bag of sand with them......or rake sand, repair ball marks etc.

I think it must be different down here in Kent because it'll always be a few degrees warmer. Some courses are bringing in fairway mats this weekend with 12-16°C being forecast for the next couple of weeks.

Like I said, I haven't noticed any difference come early May at a number of courses that either use them or don't. If anything, the more expensive courses round here definitely don't ever use them and they are always in way better condition in spring.

I liken mats in golf to playing football on AstroTurf. I understand why football clubs do it to save money on maintenance and to be able to use the pitch more frequently, but both football and golf are meant to be played in grass.

 

[Mandofred]

I think it must be different down here in Kent because it'll always be a few degrees warmer. Some courses are bringing in fairway mats this weekend with 12-16°C being forecast for the next couple of weeks.

Like I said, I haven't noticed any difference come early May at a number of courses that either use them or don't. If anything, the more expensive courses round here definitely don't ever use them and they are always in way better condition in spring.

I liken mats in golf to playing football on AstroTurf. I understand why clubs do it to save money on maintenance, but both football and golf are meant to be played in grass.

I wouldn't doubt that at all. More expensive courses are most likely to spend a lot more money/man power on the course. It's hard to compare an expensive course to a less expensive course and expect similar results.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I think it must be different down here in Kent because it'll always be a few degrees warmer. Some courses are bringing in fairway mats this weekend with 12-16°C being forecast for the next couple of weeks.

Like I said, I haven't noticed any difference come early May at a number of courses that either use them or don't. If anything, the more expensive courses round here definitely don't ever use them and they are always in way better condition in spring.

I liken mats in golf to playing football on AstroTurf. I understand why football clubs do it to save money on maintenance and to be able to use the pitch more frequently, but both football and golf are meant to be played in grass.

It's not just temperature, but the amount of wet weather the last few winters have given us.
Even some of the coastal links courses closed due to rain and being so wet and that is as rare as hens teeth. We have to accept the weather patterns have changed, so clubs taking measures to give a decent course condition have to be accepted.
Even some of the Open qualifying courses have been known to make members use mats in the run up to the Open, and thats not winter.

 

[simsini]

It's not just temperature, but the amount of wet weather the last few winters have given us.
Even some of the coastal links courses closed due to rain and being so wet and that is as rare as hens teeth. We have to accept the weather patterns have changed, so clubs taking measures to give a decent course condition have to be accepted.
Even some of the Open qualifying courses have been known to make members use mats in the run up to the Open, and thats not winter.

Except they don't have to be accepted, we don't have compulsory mats. I've got no problem with courses closing if they are too wet, that would happen if mats are used or not.

 

[Robster59]

We had no mats last winter and the course wasn't damaged. We did have mats in pervious years, but members complained so they ditched them. Without mats the course looked as good as it would otherwise in early May, as the green keepers and members went round the course and filled in any remaining divots.

I wouldn't join a course that had mats, especially from a set date when the forecast is at least 13°C during the day for the next 2 weeks. Where I am if they were introduced, or temporary tees or greens used for that matter, our group are already saying they'd join somewhere where they are guaranteed to never need them like Chart Hills.

Also, when we had mats, we didn't have a qualifying round for over 4 months, which is ridiculous.

But then again, you are in South East England, whereas I am in Scotland. We are talking two substantially different climates.
In Scotland it is generally expected that in inland courses (links are different), winter brings a fairway protection scheme. You would struggle to find any course you could easily move to, unless you moved to one on the coast.
The average temperature for our course between November and March is anywhere between O°C and 3°C (Average Monthly Temperature G77).

At the moment our temperature is around 7°C and only going to get colder. Grass will not regrow in this period and whilst it is all very well and good to say that the greenkeepers and members went round the course I would make a couple of comments on that.

• Our greenkeepers are involved in an intensive winter improvement scheme and having to repair divots would detract from that very important job.
• It's great that you have members to volunteer to do this (as do we) but do they really repair every divot?

You can choose to play where you wish. But it isn't always as cut and dried as some people like to think.

Even St. Andrews Old Course use them in the Winter.

 

[simsini]

But then again, you are in South East England, whereas I am in Scotland. We are talking two substantially different climates.
In Scotland it is generally expected that in inland courses (links are different), winter brings a fairway protection scheme. You would struggle to find any course you could easily move to, unless you moved to one on the coast.
The average temperature for our course between November and March is anywhere between O°C and 3°C (Average Monthly Temperature G77).

At the moment our temperature is around 7°C and only going to get colder. Grass will not regrow in this period and whilst it is all very well and good to say that the greenkeepers and members went round the course I would make a couple of comments on that.

• Our greenkeepers are involved in an intensive winter improvement scheme and having to repair divots would detract from that very important job.
• It's great that you have members to volunteer to do this (as do we) but do they really repair every divot?

You can choose to play where you wish. But it isn't always as cut and dried as some people like to think.

I appreciate the climate is a few degrees colder up in Scotland, for reference the nearest climate station to me is https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/resear...ocation-specific-long-term-averages/u107f0x8m. In fairness, my points are more in relation to where I live, being one of the warmest areas of the country all year round.

The members will always miss divots, but the greenkeepers do go round and seed them too.

 

[Robster59]

I appreciate the climate is a few degrees colder up in Scotland, for reference the nearest climate station to me is https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/resear...ocation-specific-long-term-averages/u107f0x8m.

The members will always miss divots, but the greenkeepers do go round and seed them too.

As I said, our greenkeepers have better things to do on the course over the winter than replace divots of members who, for whatever reason, choose not to replace them themselves during the round..

 

[simsini]

As I said, our greenkeepers have better things to do on the course over the winter than replace divots of members who, for whatever reason, choose not to replace them themselves during the round..

I think if members are found to be not replacing divots, they should be disciplined if caught.

 

[Mandofred]

I think if members are found to be not replacing divots, they should be disciplined if caught.

That works in theory.....but if we actually could "discipline" members who don't replace divots, don't rake sand, don't repair ball marks etc......there would only be about 47 of us left

 

[Backache]

I think if members are found to be not replacing divots, they should be disciplined if caught.

On a practical basis this is probably not easy how often do you know someone is not replacing a divot?

 

[Tashyboy]

That works in theory.....but if we actually could "discipline" members who don't replace divots, don't rake sand, don't repair ball marks etc......there would only be about 47 of us left

Rake the bunkers. hit my second into the bunker and it landed on the fringe and the sand. Ball is about 12” above my feet. I knobbed it into the next bunker.12” from the lip. I promptly knobbed it again with a PW. Ball flew up and hit the lip and nearly took my head off. Third shot I knocked it 70yds. A couple of frustrating minutes later the bunkers look a thing of beauty after I have done. I looked up and 3 PP were grinning away at my flippin shenanigans. Rake sand

 

[Tashyboy]

Just outta interest, I don’t use mats. But some PP do.We have now had an email saying pick and place is now in place. But not the use of fairway mats. Why? Are we protecting the course or not.

 

[Neilds]

Just outta interest, I don’t use mats. But some PP do.We have now had an email saying pick and place is now in place. But not the use of fairway mats. Why? Are we protecting the course or not.

Pick and place is to help you not the course.

 

[Mandofred]

Just outta interest, I don’t use mats. But some PP do.We have now had an email saying pick and place is now in place. But not the use of fairway mats. Why? Are we protecting the course or not.

Mats are optional at the course closest to me. I've just started using them again. Sometime in the future....when the head honcho's of the club decide.....it will be required. There are people like me who are fine with using mats and think it just makes things more pleasant during the winter when the ground is just crap. I'm fine with using them everywhere but penalty areas. I'm probably done turning in cards for most of the winter......and I'm out for a good while with cataract surgeries....I really don't want an eye full of dirt. Others....truly hate mats and fight to prevent them like the plague.

 

[Robster59]

I think if members are found to be not replacing divots, they should be disciplined if caught.

You do know how big a golf course is? And in the winter there are a lot less people to spot it happening.
I will challenge anyone I see not replacing a divot, but I see divots on course but never see the perpetrators.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Divots can also be pulled out by crows. We used to see that a lot at a past club, links course. If you see a divot close to the gouge, it may often be our feathered friends, not a poorly trained golfer.

 

[Robster59]

Rake the bunkers. hit my second into the bunker and it landed on the fringe and the sand. Ball is about 12” above my feet. I knobbed it into the next bunker.12” from the lip. I promptly knobbed it again with a PW. Ball flew up and hit the lip and nearly took my head off. Third shot I knocked it 70yds. A couple of frustrating minutes later the bunkers look a thing of beauty after I have done. I looked up and 3 PP were grinning away at my flippin shenanigans. Rake sand

Oh for a video of that!

 

[Robster59]

Divots can also be pulled out by crows. We used to see that a lot at a past club, links course. If you see a divot close to the gouge, it may often be our feathered friends, not a poorly trained golfer.

I would agree with that, but you can usually tell those as they are normally lying next to the divot. The errant ones are usually some distance away.

 

[simsini]

You do know how big a golf course is? And in the winter there are a lot less people to spot it happening.
I will challenge anyone I see not replacing a divot, but I see divots on course but never see the perpetrators.

Of course, but that's why I said if caught. I essentially hate mats with a passion and would do anything and everything to not use them. Including, if I needed to, joining a different golf club even with membership fees over £1k higher, that has better fairways in the summer when they haven't used them.

 

[Robster59]

Of course, but that's why I said if caught. I essentially hate mats with a passion and would do anything and everything to not use them. Including, if I needed to, joining a different golf club even with membership fees over £1k higher. that has better fairways in the summer when they haven't used them.

Each to their own.