rulefan
Tour Winner
MLR E-12 effectively gives permission.
Fairway mats
- Thread starter spongebob59
- Start date
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Yes I know.
Swinglowandslow
Well-known member
Is it seriously thought that some players want to use a mat in order to give them an advantage?
( I could make a case that it is a disadvantage for some ), but it seems obvious to me that players and clubs advocating their use wish to help to keep the course in as good order as possible. And not only for the present time but for earlier recovery in Spring or summer.
( our course’s winter rice pudding fairways don’t recover till well into summer).
And I venture to suggest that the need to use mats now is greater because of much milder and so wetter autumns/winters than decades ago.
As for ruling that they can be used if all in a group agree, that seems to me a bit of a decision cop out. If allowed then it should be up to the individual, or a club requirement or club rejection , surely?
One in a group saying no doesn’t make for a very pleasant atmosphere possibly.?
( I could make a case that it is a disadvantage for some ), but it seems obvious to me that players and clubs advocating their use wish to help to keep the course in as good order as possible. And not only for the present time but for earlier recovery in Spring or summer.
( our course’s winter rice pudding fairways don’t recover till well into summer).
And I venture to suggest that the need to use mats now is greater because of much milder and so wetter autumns/winters than decades ago.
As for ruling that they can be used if all in a group agree, that seems to me a bit of a decision cop out. If allowed then it should be up to the individual, or a club requirement or club rejection , surely?
One in a group saying no doesn’t make for a very pleasant atmosphere possibly.?
Mandofred
Well-known member
Mostly mud around here....individual grass blades run away screaming for mercy.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
It’s winter golf so no big deal imo.
The fairways will always recover once the temps warm up and the grass is growing again.
The biggest advantage to mats is it saves a lot of money in springtime!
If you take divots out in colder months they won’t heal.
This then costs a lot of money in man hours and soil / seed which is not cheap now to fill three months worth of divots.
As for one player saying “no” that’s a joke nobody should dictate to other players what they can do I agree.
That must come from the club.
All use them or not.!
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
They will always come back to their roots!
Mandofred
Well-known member
They will always come back to their roots!
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Great voice.
JonnyGutteridge
Newbie
Update: we have mats on 6 holes, from 75-180ish yards away from the greens. I have absolutely no issue with them at all.
Firstly the improvement in the fairways is already showing. These are the wettest spots on the course, so it’s actually nice play off a mat, means they are far less likely to close the front 9 when it rains too. Also the mats seem fine to play off, in fact I am better off a mat!
from me
Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
Big up thanks to Ian ( I think it was) had a winning bid of £80 for four Spurk mats on the John Pye site. 
A guy I played with on Tuesday mentioned that the two lads who invented the Spurk mat are millionaires and now they have cracked the American market.
A guy I played with on Tuesday mentioned that the two lads who invented the Spurk mat are millionaires and now they have cracked the American market.
PaulMdj
Well-known member
Was your bid £80.00 or your final total?Big up thanks to Ian ( I think it was) had a winning bid of £80 for four Spurk mats on the John Pye site.
A guy I played with on Tuesday mentioned that the two lads who invented the Spurk mat are millionaires and now they have cracked the American market.
LincolnShep
Head Pro
Played with a cheapo mat the other day, provided by the course I was visiting in return for a £5 deposit.
I had some foreboding, but it was OK and my score was better than average (for me). It helps that their rule only requires the use of mats in the fairway. What's a fairway?
I had some foreboding, but it was OK and my score was better than average (for me). It helps that their rule only requires the use of mats in the fairway. What's a fairway?
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Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
£80 and 10p all in, Ave let the lads off with the 2 1/2p they owe me. Should be delivered tomorrow
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Took my Spurk mat out for a few holes yesterday afternoon - just to see how I got on as had never used one before.
Well…I can most certainly say that my ball strike was improved…with significant improvements with my 7i and 6i - much more like what I can achieve on the range with these two clubs. Standing over the ball with it sat on the mat I felt more relaxed and confident, and sure enough I was able to make a much more relaxed yet committed swing.
And once I got the hang of just chucking it down, quickly lining it up and knocking it in - using it didn’t really slow my pace of play. I can however see how, for the very particular golfer, lining it up could be a time-consuming fiddle.
So why would I not use the mat while I can…? Looks like it could be a significant aid to improving my game ‘on the course’.
Hmmm…
Well…I can most certainly say that my ball strike was improved…with significant improvements with my 7i and 6i - much more like what I can achieve on the range with these two clubs. Standing over the ball with it sat on the mat I felt more relaxed and confident, and sure enough I was able to make a much more relaxed yet committed swing.
And once I got the hang of just chucking it down, quickly lining it up and knocking it in - using it didn’t really slow my pace of play. I can however see how, for the very particular golfer, lining it up could be a time-consuming fiddle.
So why would I not use the mat while I can…? Looks like it could be a significant aid to improving my game ‘on the course’.
Hmmm…
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Did you find it improved your alignment ?Took my Spurk mat out for a few holes yesterday afternoon - just to see how I got on as had never used one before.
Well…I can most certainly say that my ball strike was improved…with significant improvements with my 7i and 6i - much more like what I can achieve on the range with these two clubs. Standing over the ball with it sat on the mat I felt more relaxed and confident, and sure enough I was able to make a much more relaxed yet committed swing.
And once I got the hang of just chucking it down, quickly lining it up and knocking it in - using it didn’t really slow my pace of play. I can however see how, for the very particular golfer, lining it up could be a time-consuming fiddle.
So why would I not use the mat while I can…? Looks like it could be a significant aid to improving my game ‘on the course’.
Hmmm…
I’m thinking of getting one as my aim has always been poor.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Not particularly improved it as I always take care over my alignment as part of my pre-shot process. But most certainly it saved me bothering about picking my close alignment spot on the ground. But of course that meant I had to nudge the mat a bit to get it pointing on the distant target line I wanted as I imagine it would be very disconcerting to be striking across the ‘line of the mat’. That could be a fiddle if I was very particular about it, and potentially irritating to others playing with me - but I wasn’t…and I was by myself.
C7usk
Well-known member
I find they really help from 50-100 yds especially. We are to take the ball to nearest side of fairway and place in the rough. Quite often find myself trying to get too fluffy a lie in the rough and then not getting a good connection. Maybe hitting too high up the club face. Using the mat from the fairway I find it much more consistent. And you quite often have a better line to the flag, compared to from the rough.
rudebhoy
Q-School Graduate
Agreed. I only use mine from 100 yards or less. Anything more, I move it to the semi-rough and play off the deck. Works for me.
KenL
Tour Rookie
We are asked to use our mat from fairway or semi (unless putting in a score).
Golfnut1957
Newbie
The most important thing for me about using a mat was ably demonstrated yesterday. On the 3rd I was a foot off the fairway, the club have mandated mats for fairways only, so I played my approach with my PW directly off the turf (mud). It was as good a shot as any I had hit earlier in the round off the mat, the main difference was the 8 inch long shag pile rug that I created and which pretty much disintegrated in midair. I did my best to repair the damage, but the truth is that scar is now there until April/May.Took my Spurk mat out for a few holes yesterday afternoon - just to see how I got on as had never used one before.
Well…I can most certainly say that my ball strike was improved…with significant improvements with my 7i and 6i - much more like what I can achieve on the range with these two clubs. Standing over the ball with it sat on the mat I felt more relaxed and confident, and sure enough I was able to make a much more relaxed yet committed swing.
And once I got the hang of just chucking it down, quickly lining it up and knocking it in - using it didn’t really slow my pace of play. I can however see how, for the very particular golfer, lining it up could be a time-consuming fiddle.
So why would I not use the mat while I can…? Looks like it could be a significant aid to improving my game ‘on the course’.
Hmmm…
The daftest thing is there is currently hardly any definition between fairway and semi. Why the club just don't mandate mats right up to the tree line and save even more of the course is beyond me.
