Fairway mats

[simsini]

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

RSG would be in great condition anyway, how many people are playing there for £350 a round? I'm mainly talking about run of the mill courses that don't bother cutting their fairways in the summer, then saying they are protecting the course in winter. It's laughable really.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

RSG would be in great condition anyway, how many people are playing there for £350 a round? I'm mainly talking about run of the mill courses that don't bother cutting their fairways in the summer, then saying they are protecting the course in winter. It's laughable really.

Well that’s just poor club maintenance as opposed to the usage of fairway mats

 

[simsini]

Well that’s just poor club maintenance as opposed to the usage of fairway mats

It is, but that's why it makes their reasoning for fairway mats ridiculous.

 

[Neilds]

Well that’s just poor club maintenance as opposed to the usage of fairway mats

I think RSG will have a lot more greens staff and less traffic than the average club - just can't compare

 

[Bunkermagnet]

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.

May I ask where abouts in Kent?
I can assure you many clubs are talking and mats are becoming subject matter

 

[simsini]

May I ask where abouts in Kent?
I can assure you many clubs are talking and mats are becoming subject matter

West Kent and Maidstone areas.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

West Kent and Maidstone areas.

Very close then. The use of mats will spread in time.

 

[simsini]

Very close then. The use of mats will spread in time.

Bearsted went from using them in the past to not using them at all, after drainage works led to huge improvements in winter. I know of few people who actually wanted to use them, everyone moaned big time. Then a number of members joined from Sittingbourne last winter specifically saying they were fed up of using mats.

I'm not a member there, but I don't think they've ever used them at Kings Hill and it's always the best course for condition in winter. I used to be a member at Knole Park and they never had mats at the time either, and it was still in better condition than most all year round.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Bearsted went from using them in the past to not using them at all, after drainage works led to huge improvements in winter. I know of few people who actually wanted to use them, everyone moaned big time.

I'm not a member there, but I don't think they've ever used them at Kings Hill and it's always the best course for condition in winter. I used to be a member at Knole Park and they never had mats at the time either, and it was still in better condition than most all year round.

In the past, I dont disagree. But after the leatherjacket problem of a few years ago and the eratic weather of recent times courses without fairway irrigation ( and thats when there's no drought order) have suffered.

 

[Robster59]

I just use the multimat. I got mine in Purple as, well, it appears nobody else has. I have no trouble hitting off it, and use both sides depending on the shot I want to play.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I just use the multimat. I got mine in Purple as, well, it appears nobody else has. I have no trouble hitting off it, and use both sides depending on the shot I want to play.

Thats what my club issues, only in green or you can buy them in purple like that.
You would be surprised how many green (free club issue you return after a game) went missing after a very short space of time.

 

[Johhny99]

Can you explain that bit please.

Cannot submit card for handicap purposes as course not playing fully...playing off fairway mats and winter tees......

 

[Robster59]

Thats what my club issues, only in green or you can buy them in purple like that.
You would be surprised how many green (free club issue you return after a game) went missing after a very short space of time.

Same happened at our place. Then they started charging a £10 refundable deposit. Amazingly the loss rate fell dramatically.

 

[CliveW]

I carry two mats. One with the pile straight up and down for straight shots and one with the pile going across for drawing and fading the ball.

 

[rulie]

I carry two mats. One with the pile straight up and down for straight shots and one with the pile going across for drawing and fading the ball.

Hopefully you're not posting scores while using these? Imo, the purpose of the "pile going across" mat wouldn't be within the Rules.

 

[KenL]

I carry two mats. One with the pile straight up and down for straight shots and one with the pile going across for drawing and fading the ball.

Really? I would think (hope) that could be a rule breach if it actually worked.

 

[Robin Hood]

One of our players uses a multimat.
He turns it sideways and puts his ball on the edge and uses it like a tee.
It irritates some others but he is adamant it is allowed and within the spirit of the game.

 

[KenL]

One of our players uses a multimat.
He turns it sideways and puts his ball on the edge and uses it like a tee.
It irritates some others but he is adamant it is allowed and within the spirit of the game.

He is not using the mat to protect the course, so that is cheating in my book.

 

[Mandofred]

One of our players uses a multimat.
He turns it sideways and puts his ball on the edge and uses it like a tee.
It irritates some others but he is adamant it is allowed and within the spirit of the game.

When I first joined a club 10 years ago.....I did this until it was pointed out you aren't allowed to. This is something I copied and pasted from somewhere....

No, you cannot use the edge of the mat to gain an unfair advantage, such as "teeing up" the ball; instead, the ball must be placed in the central area of the mat. The use of winter mats is to protect the course from damage during wet and cold weather, and placing the ball on the edge is not an intended use of the mat.

 

[Robin Hood]

When I first joined a club 10 years ago.....I did this until it was pointed out you aren't allowed to. This is something I copied and pasted from somewhere....

No, you cannot use the edge of the mat to gain an unfair advantage, such as "teeing up" the ball; instead, the ball must be placed in the central area of the mat. The use of winter mats is to protect the course from damage during wet and cold weather, and placing the ball on the edge is not an intended use of the mat.

That’s really interesting - I’ll share it with a few others - watch out for sparks over Sherwood Forest.