Fairway mats

[Tashyboy]

I assume your mate doesn't use a Spurk mat? Nothing will keep the ball on it if it is tilted even slightly.

Every mat in our fuddle is a Spurk mat and the ball does stay on the mat

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I used a Spurk for the first time at the weekend and, I won’t lie, I hated it. I’d rather not play golf in the winter than be compelled to use one again.

I had a couple of years at a club that insisted on them. Really didn't enjoy using them. This year, different club, I decided to try again as parts of my course get quite soggy. Different mindset, different approach to how I hit the ball. Much better and much more preferable to a face full of mud.

Don't be too put off by them

 

[Tashyboy]

I used a Spurk for the first time at the weekend and, I won’t lie, I hated it. I’d rather not play golf in the winter than be compelled to use one again.

One thing I will say, the other week we played at college pines near Worksop. It is a sand based course and drains gorgeous. We were gobsmacked how much run we was getting on the ball. Bottom line you never needed the Spurk mat. The following week our place. Sweet lord, we were back playing at “Mudwood” the nickname of our course which is Norwood.

 

[Voyager EMH]

I started using a Spurk last winter.
We don't have a qualifying course from Nov to March - social golf only. We have some artificial surface winter tees - thus the course is not a measured course.

Very easy to tilt it slightly. My first realisation was what a wonderful alignment "cheating aid" it is. Fat iron shots go much further - another "cheating aid".

All in all, my view is that if a course needs fairway mats, then it is not fit for qualifying scores. And fairway mat use should make any score non-qualifying.
All the this-and-that issues would then be done away with.

Total lack of run in the winter and poorer quality greens makes absolute nonsense of Course Ratings and Slope Ratings at too many courses.

 

[D-S]

I started using a Spurk last winter.
We don't have a qualifying course from Nov to March - social golf only. We have some artificial surface winter tees - thus the course is not a measured course.

Very easy to tilt it slightly. My first realisation was what a wonderful alignment "cheating aid" it is. Fat iron shots go much further - another "cheating aid".

All in all, my view is that if a course needs fairway mats, then it is not fit for qualifying scores. And fairway mat use should make any score non-qualifying.
All the this-and-that issues would then be done away with.

Total lack of run in the winter and poorer quality greens makes absolute nonsense of Course Ratings and Slope Ratings at too many courses.

Whilst I totally agree with your final sentence, I would just that 'artificial surface winter tees' is not the reason that it is not a measured course, it is the fact that the course from those tees has not been rated. Having 'artificial surface winter tees' in of itself does not preclude the course being measured and subsequently rated.

 

[PaulMdj]

I don’t understand all these “cheating aid” comments, nobody is forced to use a particular type of mat and the main purpose of the mats being used is to PROTECT the course.

If you’re not happy using a mat either play at a course that doesn’t use them or stop playing when they are mandated.

Individual Clubs, in the main, do what is best for the members.

 

[Orikoru]

Are you saying “ you can use a spurk to take some of the slope off.” ? As has been suggested.

So if it’s a requirement you need to find a flat spot where it won’t roll off the mat

Just been reading this conversation, I don't understand your logic at all. If you have two options to make the ball stay on the mat:
1. alter the lie angle of the mat very slightly so the ball stays on.
2. move your ball and mat to a completely new area where it is flat.

I can't understand why you think 2 is the better option than 1?? Either way you are having to give yourself a flatter lie than where your ball was, but to my mind 1 is far less disruption and deviation from the original lie than 2. With option 2 you are far more likely to be improving your lie too - i.e. the ball might no longer be above or below your feet.

 

[clubchamp98]

Just been reading this conversation, I don't understand your logic at all. If you have two options to make the ball stay on the mat:
1. alter the lie angle of the mat very slightly so the ball stays on.
2. move your ball and mat to a completely new area where it is flat.

I can't understand why you think 2 is the better option than 1?? Either way you are having to give yourself a flatter lie than where your ball was, but to my mind 1 is far less disruption and deviation from the original lie than 2. With option 2 you are far more likely to be improving your lie too - i.e. the ball might no longer be above or below your feet.

Read local rule E-12.

If you’re on a slope it’s part of the game to be able to play from that slope.
Not use an artificial aid to lessen the slope.

It’s the same as on the green.
If the ball won’t stay on the spot you have to move it.

I can’t understand why golfers think it’s ok to use an artificial aid to negate a slope on the golf course.

 

[Orikoru]

Read local rule E-12.

If you’re on a slope it’s part of the game to be able to play from that slope.
Not use an artificial aid to lessen the slope.

It’s the same as on the green.
If the ball won’t stay on the spot you have to move it.

I can’t understand why golfers think it’s ok to use an artificial aid to negate a slope on the golf course.

Ok, I've read it. It says:
"If a ball when placed rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time. If the ball again does not stay on the mat, the mat must be moved to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest on the mat when placed."

It does not say that you can't take action to try and ensure it does stay on the mat does it? Nowhere does it say you must not tilt the mat to allow the ball to stay on?

Why are you talking about having to play from the slope, we've established that when using mats it's impossible to do that because the ball rolls off. Nobody is trying to negate the slope for personal gain, they're doing it so the ball stays on the bloody mat so they can actually play a shot.

 

[Swango1980]

Read local rule E-12.

If you’re on a slope it’s part of the game to be able to play from that slope.
Not use an artificial aid to lessen the slope.

It’s the same as on the green.
If the ball won’t stay on the spot you have to move it.

I can’t understand why golfers think it’s ok to use an artificial aid to negate a slope on the golf course.

Yet you then are happy about moving to another part of the course where you....wait for it....lessen the slope!?

 

[clubchamp98]

Ok, I've read it. It says:
"If a ball when placed rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time. If the ball again does not stay on the mat, the mat must be moved to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest on the mat when placed."

It does not say that you can't take action to try and ensure it does stay on the mat does it? Nowhere does it say you must not tilt the mat to allow the ball to stay on?

Why are you talking about having to play from the slope, we've established that when using mats it's impossible to do that because the ball rolls off. Nobody is trying to negate the slope for personal gain, they're doing it so the ball stays on the bloody mat so they can actually play a shot.

The mats are to protect the course.
Not help you negate a slope.
The lugs are to stop the mat moving not tee it up at the angle you like.( yes that’s been happening )

We’re playing comps already and this caused a big argument in the clubhouse.
The mat should be flat on the turf not higher at one end.

It’s an unintended consequence that hasn’t been thought through properly and as there is now money involved it’s become a problem .

 

[clubchamp98]

Yet you then are happy about moving to another part of the course where you....wait for it....lessen the slope!?

That’s the rule I had no input into the rules of golf.

 

[Orikoru]

The mats are to protect the course.
Not help you negate a slope.
The lugs are to stop the mat moving not tee it up at the angle you like.( yes that’s been happening )

We’re playing comps already and this caused a big argument in the clubhouse.
The mat should be flat on the turf not higher at one end.

It’s an unintended consequence that hasn’t been thought through properly and as there is now money involved it’s become a problem .

Why aren't you understanding? There is no choice in the matter. You cannot play off a slope if you're using mats, because the ball doesn't stay on.

In your solution, moving the mat to a flat area, you are massively negating the slope because the ball will no longer be above or below your feet, it will be perfectly flat.

In the other solution, tilting the lie angle of the mat slightly, you are only moderately affecting the slope as the lie is a bit flatter, but it will still be above or below your feet. So that is the better solution.

I don't think this can be clearer, and you are very much swimming against the tide here.

 

[clubchamp98]

Why aren't you understanding? There is no choice in the matter. You cannot play off a slope if you're using mats, because the ball doesn't stay on.

In your solution, moving the mat to a flat area, you are massively negating the slope because the ball will no longer be above or below your feet, it will be perfectly flat.

In the other solution, tilting the lie angle of the mat slightly, you are only moderately affecting the slope as the lie is a bit flatter, but it will still be above or below your feet. So that is the better solution.

I don't think this can be clearer, and you are very much swimming against the tide here.

What are you not understanding ?

The rules say you should find a flatter place

How many other rules do you ignore if you don’t like them?

 

[Orikoru]

What are you not understanding ?

The rules say you should find a flatter place

How many other rules do you ignore if you don’t like them?

I have covered my interpretation of the rule here (click).

It does not say you shouldn't try everything you can to make the ball stay on the mat in the current position. You've imagined that part.

 

[Backache]

What are you not understanding ?

The rules say you should find a flatter place

How many other rules do you ignore if you don’t like them?

The rule does not say you cannot place the mat to prevent the ball from rolling. As Ori suggests there is no actual advantage to doing this rather than finding a flatter place . If the law does not prevent you from doing so why should you not do it?

 

[clubchamp98]

I have covered my interpretation of the rule here (click).

It does not say you shouldn't try everything you can to make the ball stay on the mat in the current position. You've imagined that part.

Your interpretation is the problem.

Golfers have their own interpretations of this rule.
It needs sorting out.

 

[Orikoru]

Your interpretation is the problem.

Golfers have their own interpretations of this rule.
It needs sorting out.

Is it though? Because everyone else who's replied has agreed with me. I think your interpretation is the problem. You've inserted a whole extra sentence - along the lines of "thou must not alter the lie angle of the mat to help the ball stay on" - that simply isn't there!

 

[Swango1980]

Your interpretation is the problem.

Golfers have their own interpretations of this rule.
It needs sorting out.

You seem to have this thing in your head that tells you there is a rule that says "the fairway mat MUST be placed parallel to the ground it lies on". Yet you have failed to tell us where that rule is.

I've played every weekend all winter with fairway mats, and not one person I have played with has interpreted the rule as you have.

As I have said, if I use a Spurk mat, even it the mat is at a slight angle, the ball rolls off. This is because the surface is hard and flat, so there is nothing to keep the ball stationary. I have no choice to change the angle of the mat (usually slightly) to ensure the ball stays on. Moving to another area of the course that is geographically perfectly flat make absolutely no sense. It could take considerable time to find such an area, royally anger everyone I'm playing with and playing behind me, all to give myself a flat lie. The very thing you are saying I shouldn't have when positioning the mat in the original location anyway.

The only reason there is a rule that tells us that we can move to a flatter area of a course is for extreme cases, where a golfer may be on a very steep slope and it is impossible to get the ball to stay on the mat, no matter how they position it.

 

[clubchamp98]

You seem to have this thing in your head that tells you there is a rule that says "the fairway mat MUST be placed parallel to the ground it lies on". Yet you have failed to tell us where that rule is.

I've played every weekend all winter with fairway mats, and not one person I have played with has interpreted the rule as you have.

As I have said, if I use a Spurk mat, even it the mat is at a slight angle, the ball rolls off. This is because the surface is hard and flat, so there is nothing to keep the ball stationary. I have no choice to change the angle of the mat (usually slightly) to ensure the ball stays on. Moving to another area of the course that is geographically perfectly flat make absolutely no sense. It could take considerable time to find such an area, royally anger everyone I'm playing with and playing behind me, all to give myself a flat lie. The very thing you are saying I shouldn't have when positioning the mat in the original location anyway.

The only reason there is a rule that tells us that we can move to a flatter area of a course is for extreme cases, where a golfer may be on a very steep slope and it is impossible to get the ball to stay on the mat, no matter how they position it.

Yes that’s my interpretation it should be flat on the ground.

You should not use it any other way.