Fairway mats

[clubchamp98]

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!

Everyone ?
Voyager dosnt

I googled misuse of a golf mat it’s very informative.
If this is going to be the norm the rules need to be clarified as it can be interpreted many ways.

 

[Orikoru]

Everyone ?
Voyager dosnt

I googled misuse of a golf mat it’s very informative.
If this is going to be the norm the rules need to be clarified as it can be interpreted many ways.

I do agree there are quite a few golf rules that are a bit wooly and open to interpretation, which isn't ideal.

 

[clubchamp98]

I do agree there are quite a few golf rules that are a bit wooly and open to interpretation, which isn't ideal.

I have asked for a ruling in the rules thread.
Should be interesting.

 

[Swango1980]

Everyone ?
Voyager dosnt

I googled misuse of a golf mat it’s very informative.
If this is going to be the norm the rules need to be clarified as it can be interpreted many ways.

Id we are allowed to use Google in this discussion, then after I asked it about adjusting the slope of a fairway mat, I got:

"Yes, you can adjust the angle, slope, or position of a fairway mat when playing during winter conditions, provided you comply with the specific local rules set by your golf club. While the goal is to place the mat on top of the original spot where the ball came to rest, mats are designed to provide a consistent lie, and adjusting them to suit the slope or to create a better striking surface is common practice to protect the turf.

• Addressing Slope Issues: If the fairway is not flat, you can place the mat to neutralize the slope, offering a more level lie, or you can use it on a slight upslope to assist with launch.
• Mat Type Affects Performance: Better-designed mats with firm bases and spikes provide a more stable surface, allowing for consistent shots, even on sloped areas."

 

[Robin Hood]

• Mat Type Affects Performance: Better-designed mats with firm bases and spikes provide a more stable surface, allowing for consistent shots, even on sloped areas."

And this was my point earlier in the week.

What a lot of fuss……

 

[Voyager EMH]

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.

At my course.
Some of the measured tees are not used in the winter and the alternative can vary.
When it is too frosty, we can not use the artificial surface tees. Too slippery.
The markers are then put on some rough ground nearby.
Thus the course can not be measured in any practical accurate way.
We have placing in the general area from some time in November right through to March.
Very little point in measuring our different winter tees to cater for qualifying scores. There is no desire or will to do so.

You extracted from my description of my course only, that I was making a general statement about all courses. I was not doing so. I was merely describing the reality of my course.

 

[IanM]

I always wondered about the need/wish for qualifying scores etc in winter where the course/climate just isnt up to it.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I always wondered about the need/wish for qualifying scores etc in winter where the course/climate just isnt up to it.

You might want to have that discussion with EG .

My own course never had scoring comps in the winter until this season, under pressure from the county. My group made our own decision, we simply played but did not enter the comps. We were not alone in taking this route.

 

[PaulMdj]

I always wondered about the need/wish for qualifying scores etc in winter where the course/climate just isnt up to it.

I nearly agree, last winter was very mild and tbf, there was no reason not to play qualifiers, this winter, absolutely agree.

 

[IanM]

You might want to have that discussion with EG .

They measure success using odd metrics!

I don't know of any local courses who do qualifiers in the winter. I don't detect any pressure from Wales Golf. (Yet)

The issue isn’t mats this this, it's the appalling condition of the land.

If the comps became qualifiers, I wouldn't bother playing in them. We've walked in from the 12th several times , as we'd had enough.

I've played more golf in 2026 in Devon than I have locally.

 

[Swango1980]

I always wondered about the need/wish for qualifying scores etc in winter where the course/climate just isnt up to it.

I got my first card of the year in on Sunday. Shot a 76 and a 0.9 decrease to my handicap

 

[Tashyboy]

Not read all the comments re the mats and slopes, but I will Try and simplify it. If the ball is on an uphill slope you can level out the mat by putting the front end into the ground and back up. Downhill slope put the back of the mat in the ground and raise the front so the mat is level. Again if the ground falls away the nearest part of the mat to you put in the ground and leave the far end raised. If the slope falls toward you. Put the far end of the mat into the ground and raise the mat closest to you.
Bottom line ( and I can only say the above is with a spurk mat) you have an option of levelling your playing surface. I have seen it done.
It’s one of the reasons why I think the governance of mats needs to be national. Clubs can quite easily put down their own local rules. But it still give scope to improve your lie. And am sure that should anyone improve there lie without a mat. Your looking at penalty shots.

 

[Swango1980]

Not read all the comments re the mats and slopes, but I will Try and simplify it. If the ball is on an uphill slope you can level out the mat by putting the front end into the ground and back up. Downhill slope put the back of the mat in the ground and raise the front so the mat is level. Again if the ground falls away the nearest part of the mat to you put in the ground and leave the far end raised. If the slope falls toward you. Put the far end of the mat into the ground and raise the mat closest to you.
Bottom line ( and I can only say the above is with a spurk mat) you have an option of levelling your playing surface. I have seen it done.
It’s one of the reasons why I think the governance of mats needs to be national. Clubs can quite easily put down their own local rules. But it still give scope to improve your lie. And am sure that should anyone improve there lie without a mat. Your looking at penalty shots.

How positive are you on this comment?

How else would you define the "preferred lies" period that is adopted during the winter months at most clubs!?

 

[D-S]

They measure success using odd metrics!

I don't know of any local courses who do qualifiers in the winter. I don't detect any pressure from Wales Golf. (Yet)

The issue isn’t mats this this, it's the appalling condition of the land.

If the comps became qualifiers, I wouldn't bother playing in them. We've walked in from the 12th several times , as we'd had enough.

I've played more golf in 2026 in Devon than I have locally.

Depends what you term as local as over the bridge the majority of clubs do run qualifiers in the winter, whether they should do or not is a different question.