Fairway mats

[Bunkermagnet]

Ah…my bad - no idea what I was thinking as the guidance from the club is quite clear.

‘Due to restrictions noted within the rules of golf, it is currently proposed that they be used only during casual, social, (non club competition play) rounds.’

Btw…if I look for holes in the rules it is not that I would wish to exploit any such holes. I only really look for guidance on how the rules stop from being exploited what might appear to be a hole. The rules guys are good at explaining these sorts of things and how what might appear to be a hole actually isn’t.

Simple answer is the club mark the "fairway" (or area designated mats must be used) with little flags, like they do for moles, so then you can have your comps or qualifying.
Mats I think should either mandatory or not used. The benefits come the spring will only be there if everyone uses them.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

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.

Yes, I agree. However, my club’s management is completely against the use of mats.
The course stays open regardless of weather and the fairways become rice puddings.
No grass on fairways any sense until August/ September!!

 

[Swinglowandslow]

Personally wouldn't play anywhere that uses them in the winter. A load of hassle and takes away the whole point of golf. It's about interaction with the ball and turf. Take away either of those and you might as well go down the range or to Top Golf.

At our place in last few years, what turf?

 

[Swango1980]

Been playing regulalry for 20 years now. Until this year, I had never used fairway mats. Despite playing at courses that have clay based rather than sand based turf, and so do get pretty mucky in places when it gets cold and wet. I had heard of one or two other places that did use them, and I must admit my reaction was I'd never want to play at a club that required fairway mats. It just sounded like it would be a real hassle, and awful to play from.

So, I was sad when I heard we would need to use them this winter. The club got cheap mats for everyone, although I bought a Spurk golf mat off Amazon, and used that right from the start. After about 2 holes of my first ever round with one, I realised that it was actually no hassle at all. I was also pleasantly surprised that I could still strike good golf shots. In fact, it is miles better than trying to find a preferred lie on a boggy golf course, especially after a dry summer where the grass struggled to grow.

So, I'm no longer a pessimistic when it comes to fairway mats over the winter. I'm just happy to be out there swinging a golf club in the off season period. And I get a consistent lie every time. And my golf clubs stay cleaner

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Been playing regulalry for 20 years now. Until this year, I had never used fairway mats. Despite playing at courses that have clay based rather than sand based turf, and so do get pretty mucky in places when it gets cold and wet. I had heard of one or two other places that did use them, and I must admit my reaction was I'd never want to play at a club that required fairway mats. It just sounded like it would be a real hassle, and awful to play from.

So, I was sad when I heard we would need to use them this winter. The club got cheap mats for everyone, although I bought a Spurk golf mat off Amazon, and used that right from the start. After about 2 holes of my first ever round with one, I realised that it was actually no hassle at all. I was also pleasantly surprised that I could still strike good golf shots. In fact, it is miles better than trying to find a preferred lie on a boggy golf course, especially after a dry summer where the grass struggled to grow.

So, I'm no longer a pessimistic when it comes to fairway mats over the winter. I'm just happy to be out there swinging a golf club in the off season period. And I get a consistent lie every time. And my golf clubs stay cleaner

I'm up for using a mat for the first time this winter. I recognise that the damage we do to a wet fairway when taking a divot cannot be easily repaired as very often the divot taken disintegrates into smithereens..and more often than not there is not one piece of turf, or even sometimes two or three, that can adequately repair the damage done.

But hey. You wanna hear the moaning and whinging from some at my place about the club not providing a mat to every member - we have to buy one (£20 for a Spurk through the club) if we want to use one...it isn't mandatory. Ho hum...

 

[clubchamp98]

Yes, I agree. However, my club’s management is completely against the use of mats.
The course stays open regardless of weather and the fairways become rice puddings.
No grass on fairways any sense until August/ September!!

I just don’t understand this.
We worked on loads of courses that had mats and they looked great over winter!
Without mats the divots don’t repair if the grass has stopped growing over the colder months.
Birds pull them out and the course looks scruffy with loose divots everywhere.

They eventually look the same as soon as the grass starts growing but it’s a lot of work to repair the divot holes.
So clubs save a lot of man hours if they use mats over winter.

But golf clubs and common sense are a rare combination.

 

[D-S]

Up until 3 or 4 years ago fairway mats were a totally unheard of phenomenon in this part of the world. They, or even the idea of them, simply did not exist.

Now club either providing or requesting players use them is, if not commonplace, often seen. I still know of only one course around here where they are mandatory. One local club moved from requested to mandatory last year but there was such a backlash that they had to reverse the decision.

Clubs aren’t suddenly much more precious about protecting their fairways than they were 10 years ago and, looking at rainfall figures over the last 20 odd years, the last 3 or 4 autumns and winters are slightly above average but not exceptionally so (we had significantly wetter September-March periods in 2012-2014 for example) . Therefore this radical shift in winter golf must basically be due to the withdrawal of pesticides or am I missing another obvious reason?

 

[Swango1980]

I'm up for using a mat for the first time this winter. I recognise that the damage we do to a wet fairway when taking a divot cannot be easily repaired as very often the divot taken disintegrates into smithereens..and more often than not there is not one piece of turf, or even sometimes two or three, that can adequately repair the damage done.

But hey. You wanna hear the moaning and whinging from some at my place about the club not providing a mat to every member - we have to buy one (£20 for a Spurk through the club) if we want to use one...it isn't mandatory. Ho hum...

I'm not sure of the finances. But no way would it have made sense to buy Spurk mats for every member / guests who wish to play.

What out club did was buy a few hundred cheap ones, to give out to members for free. I'm guessing they were probably around a couple of quid each. They also bought a limited number of Spurk ones, which members can purchase if they wish.

 

[Swango1980]

Up until 3 or 4 years ago fairway mats were a totally unheard of phenomenon in this part of the world. They, or even the idea of them, simply did not exist.

Now club either providing or requesting players use them is, if not commonplace, often seen. I still know of only one course around here where they are mandatory. One local club moved from requested to mandatory last year but there was such a backlash that they had to reverse the decision.

Clubs aren’t suddenly much more precious about protecting their fairways than they were 10 years ago and, looking at rainfall figures over the last 20 odd years, the last 3 or 4 autumns and winters are slightly above average but not exceptionally so (we had significantly wetter September-March periods in 2012-2014 for example) . Therefore this radical shift in winter golf must basically be due to the withdrawal of pesticides or am I missing another obvious reason?

Could it also be due to the fact that publicity around fairway mats is starting to hit critical mass, and becoming more accepted amongst golfers? Golfers switching clubs share their experience with them, and suddenly another club adopts them. Also, are fairway mats becoming better and more readily available. Just went onto Spurk website, and it seems like they started in 2017, and I'm sure they've improved over the years. What did the best fairway mats look like before then?

 

[upsidedown]

Up until 3 or 4 years ago fairway mats were a totally unheard of phenomenon in this part of the world. They, or even the idea of them, simply did not exist.

Now club either providing or requesting players use them is, if not commonplace, often seen. I still know of only one course around here where they are mandatory. One local club moved from requested to mandatory last year but there was such a backlash that they had to reverse the decision.

Clubs aren’t suddenly much more precious about protecting their fairways than they were 10 years ago and, looking at rainfall figures over the last 20 odd years, the last 3 or 4 autumns and winters are slightly above average but not exceptionally so (we had significantly wetter September-March periods in 2012-2014 for example) . Therefore this radical shift in winter golf must basically be due to the withdrawal of pesticides or am I missing another obvious reason?

Spot on , withdrawl of carbendazim in 2017 was huge blow as it paid a huge part in keeping worm casts to a miminum

 

[Mandofred]

Up until 3 or 4 years ago fairway mats were a totally unheard of phenomenon in this part of the world. They, or even the idea of them, simply did not exist.

Now club either providing or requesting players use them is, if not commonplace, often seen. I still know of only one course around here where they are mandatory. One local club moved from requested to mandatory last year but there was such a backlash that they had to reverse the decision.

Clubs aren’t suddenly much more precious about protecting their fairways than they were 10 years ago and, looking at rainfall figures over the last 20 odd years, the last 3 or 4 autumns and winters are slightly above average but not exceptionally so (we had significantly wetter September-March periods in 2012-2014 for example) . Therefore this radical shift in winter golf must basically be due to the withdrawal of pesticides or am I missing another obvious reason?

Things change. Golfers are VERY resistant to change. I ask this question.....are these courses (a lot of famous courses) switching to fairway mats just because it's popular....or because they work? Common sense would say it's because they work.

 

[clubchamp98]

Things change. Golfers are VERY resistant to change. I ask this question.....are these courses (a lot of famous courses) switching to fairway mats just because it's popular....or because they work? Common sense would say it's because they work.

They do work and save a lot of money come spring!

Man hours to repair old divots.
Sand and seed which costs a fortune now.

 

[clubchamp98]

Just had an email saying drop off fairways for winter.
But you have a choice of playing off them if you have your own mat.

Never had mats before.

 

[London424]

I'm not sure of the finances. But no way would it have made sense to buy Spurk mats for every member / guests who wish to play.

What out club did was buy a few hundred cheap ones, to give out to members for free. I'm guessing they were probably around a couple of quid each. They also bought a limited number of Spurk ones, which members can purchase if they wish.

Our club bought them for all members and we had a fiver taken off our accounts as our contribution. First year we’ve had to use them this winter.

 

[Robster59]

Just seen this on Facebook for all you with Spurk mats and looking for an advantage.
Spurk launcher

 

[Slime]

If a cheater wants to cheat, he'll always find a way.

 

[Swango1980]

Just seen this on Facebook for all you with Spurk mats and looking for an advantage.
Spurk launcher

I can't imagine the ball would stay on it unless flat

 

[rulefan]

Just seen this on Facebook for all you with Spurk mats and looking for an advantage.
Spurk launcher

4.3a would seem to fit the bill regardless of 20.3

must not create a potential advantage by:

• Using equipment (other than a club or a ball) that artificially eliminates or reduces the need for a skill or judgment that is essential to the challenge of the game, or
• Using equipment (including a club or a ball) in an abnormal way in making a stroke. “Abnormal way” means a way that is fundamentally different than its intended use and is not normally recognized as part of playing the game. (The spikes being part of the design)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Got my Spurk mat today - Captain says about 100 members have ordered one (maybe not all the Spurk) on first club order - which he thinks (and I agree) its a pretty good start for a membership of 635.

Club rule is that we can use in a match if all players agree. Likewise we can use one in a rollup if all playing any day agree - even if not all want to use one. Truth is that the main rollup I play in have some skeptics and those who think the club should have bought them for members - so they'll no doubt be bloody-minded and say no.

I will be bearing @rulefan's 2nd bullet point when I'm out with others who are using a mat.

 

[clubchamp98]

4.3a would seem to fit the bill regardless of 20.3

must not create a potential advantage by:

• Using equipment (other than a club or a ball) that artificially eliminates or reduces the need for a skill or judgment that is essential to the challenge of the game, or
• Using equipment (including a club or a ball) in an abnormal way in making a stroke. “Abnormal way” means a way that is fundamentally different than its intended use and is not normally recognized as part of playing the game. (The spikes being part of the design)

Or just using a mat in the first place!

Golf is a game played on grass mostly.
Except the desert.