Fairway mats

[Voyager EMH]

From Rules of Golf

Compulsory Use of Fairway Mats
Purpose. It may be necessary to protect parts of the course from damage during play, such as when prolonged periods of cold weather are limiting the amount of grass growth. When this is the case, a Committee may decide to require the use of mats on parts of the general area cut to fairway height or less, when a putter is not being used for the stroke.

Not compulsory at our course.
No qualifying scores Oct to March.
Social golf only.
Free use anywhere on the course to protect any part of the course. (Maybe not bunkers!)
No restrictions.

 

[KenL]

Not compulsory at our course.
No qualifying scores Oct to March.
Social golf only.
Free use anywhere on the course to protect any part of the course. (Maybe not bunkers!)
No restrictions.

No score because the course is shortened?
Can you use your mat in heavy rough?

 

[spongebob59]

Little more info coming out
In use Nov -> Feb/March.

Rules for use to be issued soon.
Maybe I should order mine now and get some practice in

 

[clubchamp98]

It sounds a bit counter intuitive, but I struggle to hit well off a mat. I’ve tried a few, and have a Spurk, but I tend to hit a lot of bad shots. As a consequence, I prefer to move the ball to the semi where we can play it off the deck.

Part of the problem is that I can’t do my normal pre-shot routine which is two practice swings, brushing the grass, then hitting.

I’m sure it’s as much a mental thing as anything.

I’m determined to master the mat this winter. Out of interest, what’s the best ball position on the Spurk, front, middle or back?

Try gripping down the shaft as the mat puts the ball above your feet.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Little more info coming out
In use Nov -> Feb/March.

Rules for use to be issued soon.
Maybe I should order mine now and get some practice in

We put little blue flags all the way down every hole, and if the ball is within those flag lines you must use a mat.
I belive by doing so means Q cards can be put in.

 

[KenL]

We put little blue flags all the way down every hole, and if the ball is within those flag lines you must use a mat.
I belive by doing so means Q cards can be put in.

Depends where the flags are.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Depends where the flags are

They mark the fairways, as the mowers probably wont be in use to give full defintion.

 

[rulefan]

We have had compulsory use for about 5 years now. The reaction of members has changed from 30% anti to virtually all saying the quality of the course in the Spring justifies their use. The mats used were variously of the types in this video but I favoured the 'Rocket Launcher'. Others preferred others and once they had settled on the type everyone was happy with the spring conditions and seemingly had no issues with the mats.

 

[Voyager EMH]

No score because the course is shortened?
Can you use your mat in heavy rough?

Yes, not a measured course once the artificial surface tees are in operation.

Yes, when we have placing in the general area.
It does get very soggy at times.

 

[timd77]

Reading this thread I hope ours introduce voluntary or compulsory mats. Not sure I can face another winter of fatting wedges and irons.

 

[clubchamp98]

Reading this thread I hope ours introduce voluntary or compulsory mats. Not sure I can face another winter of fatting wedges and irons.

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

 

[Bunkermagnet]

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

At ours, once the mats are in use they are compulsary.

 

[D-S]

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

No.

 

[Tashyboy]

Couple more questions:

How are they policed?
I can see quite a few of the more stubborn not using them ( the sort that ignore the roped off areas during winter).

Does the ground need to soft?
Looks like they need to be pushed into the fairway

Re fairway mats, I suppose it is what it is.me I am not a massive fan of them but thoroughly understand the need for them. In the past our place has been “use fairway mats if you want to”. Some of the lads place the mats down with the front slightly higher. This kinda gives them an elevated strike. I have seen the lads proper smash shots with a driver on an elevated mat. Where as if the ball was on a wet fairway there is no chance of you playing that shot.

 

[rulie]

Re fairway mats, I suppose it is what it is.me I am not a massive fan of them but thoroughly understand the need for them. In the past our place has been use fairway mats if you want to. Some of the lads place the mats down with the front slightly higher. This kinda gives them an elevated strike. I have seen the lads proper smash shots with a driver on a elevated mat. Where as if the ball was on a wet fairway there is no chance of you playing that shot.

But, the goal of the mats is to protect the course condition. At some point, they may provide an advantage to some players, others not. One could ask what is more important? Course condition/protection or posting scores? I'd vote for course condition. Make them mandatory and do away with score posting.

 

[Mandofred]

Re fairway mats, I suppose it is what it is.me I am not a massive fan of them but thoroughly understand the need for them. In the past our place has been use fairway mats if you want to. Some of the lads place the mats down with the front slightly higher. This kinda gives them an elevated strike. I have seen the lads proper smash shots with a driver on a elevated mat. Where as if the ball was on a wet fairway there is no chance of you playing that shot.

When my first club went to winter mats I used to do several different things with them......until someone pointed it out that you are NOT supposed to do certain things. You aren't allowed to put the ball on the edge of the mat...which is the same as putting your ball on a small tee......or bend the mat so that it has a section that is elevated. No problem.....just needed someone to let me know the right way of using them.....although it would seem that there should have been a notice put up about the correct way of using them.....or an email or something. Then you have the rocket launchers? type of mat, which I still have one somewhere. Plastic piece that is molded into a small arc.....I liked that at first, but when hitting wedges I would quite often get too far under the ball and just pop it up. There was a guy at the club that carried at least 3 different mats with him.....I liked that idea until the club mgr made a rule that you could use only one type of mat in a round. Loved the arc style mat when hitting long shots, and the flat mat when hitting shorter shots.

 

[Johhny99]

My club banned me using Spurk mat when purchased one as rule you had to only use a "club issue mat" ... so I used that but really poor and even took a divet out it...then I noticed an d pointed out we had several issued "club mats" over the years. Players already using different mats and using them upside down, in the rough..... the purpose of the mat is to protect the course, handicap frozen anyway over winter.......I even contatcted Spurk to ask if their mat banned at any other club but they found it funny and could not beilive it.

Anyway, common sense prevailed and we can now use any golf mat at tmy club.....my spurk mat is back and to be honest only like it as easy to use and hard sturdy and protects the fairways which is the whole point!

 

[D-S]

My club banned me using Spurk mat when purchased one as rule you had to only use a "club issue mat" ... so I used that but really poor and even took a divet out it...then I noticed an d pointed out we had several issued "club mats" over the years. Players already using different mats and using them upside down, in the rough..... the purpose of the mat is to protect the course, handicap frozen anyway over winter.......I even contatcted Spurk to ask if their mat banned at any other club but they found it funny and could not beilive it.

Anyway, common sense prevailed and we can now use any golf mat at tmy club.....my spurk mat is back and to be honest only like it as easy to use and hard sturdy and protects the fairways which is the whole point!

Can you explain that bit please.

 

[clubchamp98]

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

 

[sunshine]

Club will be introducing fairway mats this winter whilst the fairways recover.

Having never used them , what do I need to know.

They are supplying mats but is it worth getting my own and which one ?

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.