Fairway mats

[louise_a]

Wont be long now before mats are put away until the end of the year, at my club we do advocate using a mat anywhere in the general area, which seems sensible tome as we do not run qualifying competitions during the winter.

 

[Golfnut1957]

Has anyone opted for the long pile spurk matt over the short pile? Just wondering how different the two play

Played using a matt (short pile) at the weekend for the first time ever and found it was ok with my irons but really struggled with my woods.

I think I have already mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I haven't checked. My mates daughter bought him the long pile as a present when he wanted the short pile, so he trimmed half of it so he has a 50/50. Ironically, he appears to favour the long pile.

 

[Mandofred]

I've got a Spurk, and a cheapie plastic mat. I prefer the cheapie mat. I just don't know why every course in the "mud zone" don't use them during the winter. Likely as usual.....golfers don't like change.

 

[Neilds]

Brazilian clubs Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro were playing against each other on Sunday. Interesting match, that included 23 red cards.

This occured after a mass brawl. If VAR had been involved, I dread to think how long it would have taken to evaluate everything that had gone on, before giving their recommendations to the ref.

But which fairway mats were each team using?

 

[Robin Hood]

I was playing today and noticed that 2 of us had Spurk and two had plastic mats. It was obvious that those with Spurks were much more consistent.
The plastic mats had not been secured with a tee, and were a little “warped” and therefore had a significant movement when not hit cleanly, resulting in more duff shots.
We all play off similar (mid) handicaps, and have had compulsory mats for some weeks.
I’m sticking with a Spurk.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Has anyone opted for the long pile spurk matt over the short pile? Just wondering how different the two play

Played using a matt (short pile) at the weekend for the first time ever and found it was ok with my irons but really struggled with my woods.

One of the chaps in our group has the long pile versions.
Having tried ours (who have the short pile version) he finds he's more able to get a better contact, especially with woods.

 

[Swango1980]

But which fairway mats were each team using?

Oops

 

[Mandofred]

I was playing today and noticed that 2 of us had Spurk and two had plastic mats. It was obvious that those with Spurks were much more consistent.
The plastic mats had not been secured with a tee, and were a little “warped” and therefore had a significant movement when not hit cleanly, resulting in more duff shots.
We all play off similar (mid) handicaps, and have had compulsory mats for some weeks.
I’m sticking with a Spurk.

There is NO reason to secure a cheapie mat......just hit the bloody ball first. At that point.....it doesn't matter what mat you use.

 

[clubchamp98]

Has anyone opted for the long pile spurk matt over the short pile? Just wondering how different the two play

Played using a matt (short pile) at the weekend for the first time ever and found it was ok with my irons but really struggled with my woods.

My mate has a short pile but on a slope the ball won’t stay on the mat.

 

[Mandofred]

My mate has a short pile but on a slope the ball won’t stay on the mat.

There is a skill to it.....leaving one side of a Spurk higher than the other helps. Another advantage of the cheapie mat on the smooth side....it has an area that allows the ball to stay in place unless it's really slanted.

 

[upsidedown]

My mate has a short pile but on a slope the ball won’t stay on the mat.

Use the hole until slope gets too severe

 

[Robin Hood]

There is NO reason to secure a cheapie mat......just hit the bloody ball first. At that point.....it doesn't matter what mat you use.

Hitting the “bloody” ball first….
If only we were all that consistent

 

[C7usk]

Hitting the “bloody” ball first….
If only we were all that consistent

Lol.. I've only read that comment about 5 times.. .. Most of us are sh#t and if we could do that consistently we'd be off a lot lower hcp.

 

[clubchamp98]

There is a skill to it.....leaving one side of a Spurk higher than the other helps. Another advantage of the cheapie mat on the smooth side....it has an area that allows the ball to stay in place unless it's really slanted.

Is that strictly legal under the rules.

Imo it’s not.

 

[Swango1980]

Is that strictly legal under the rules.

Imo it’s not.

Tell me the rule that says that the mat has to be flat or one way up only. Do you carry a spirit level to check?

A major part of using fairway mats is to improve your lie in horrible winter conditions. As long as you are only placing your ball on that mat, I see no issue with how it is used.

Incidentally, with Spurk mat, anytime I am on a slope, I straighten mat to give myself a flat lie. And that isn't to act outside the spirit of the game in this case. It is the only way I can stop the ball from rolling off the mat.

 

[clubchamp98]

Tell me the rule that says that the mat has to be flat or one way up only. Do you carry a spirit level to check?

A major part of using fairway mats is to improve your lie in horrible winter conditions. As long as you are only placing your ball on that mat, I see no issue with how it is used.

Incidentally, with Spurk mat, anytime I am on a slope, I straighten mat to give myself a flat lie. And that isn't to act outside the spirit of the game in this case. It is the only way I can stop the ball from rolling off the mat.

That’s the same as building a stance imo.
Using a mat to give yourself a flatter lie is bending the rules!
Mats are for bad conditions not to give yourself a flatter lie!

Incidentally that’s cheating imo.
The lugs are to hold the mat in place not to use as a ramp when you have a up/ downhill lie.

 

[Neilds]

That’s the same as building a stance imo.
Using a mat to give yourself a flatter lie is bending the rules!
Mats are for bad conditions not to give yourself a flatter lie!

Incidentally that’s cheating imo.
The lugs are to hold the mat in place not to use as a ramp when you have a up/ downhill lie.

Using your logic - and playing to your 'rules', do you always make sure your lie is no better than the original lie when playing winter rules?

 

[Sausagefingers23]

Given the replies ive opted for a long pile matt - I need as much help as I can get!

 

[Mandofred]

That’s the same as building a stance imo.
Using a mat to give yourself a flatter lie is bending the rules!
Mats are for bad conditions not to give yourself a flatter lie!

Incidentally that’s cheating imo.
The lugs are to hold the mat in place not to use as a ramp when you have a up/ downhill lie.

You have a right to your opinion. It's just not worth worrying about while playing on muddy yucky ground.....in my opinion of course. Two of the courses I play on require the use of fairway mats. If you are using a fairway mat and the ball rolls off the mat.....I've seen online where you are supposed to move the mat as far as needed to get to a spot (no nearer the hole) where the ball won't roll off the mat. If you do that....it could take years before you find a level place where the ball won't roll off the mat......a sane person isn't going to do that. One of the reasons I stopped using a Spurk is because my cheapie mat has a place on the smooth side that holds a ball from rolling off unless it's pretty steep......is that "cheating" as well?

 

[Swango1980]

That’s the same as building a stance imo.
Using a mat to give yourself a flatter lie is bending the rules!
Mats are for bad conditions not to give yourself a flatter lie!

Incidentally that’s cheating imo.
The lugs are to hold the mat in place not to use as a ramp when you have a up/ downhill lie.

OK. Well, if I ever play with you and I'm on a slope, I'll place my mat along the line of the slope, and then ask you to put your finger on the top of my ball to hold it in position