We are now on fairway mats bit my question is, in a qualifying competition during the season can I use a mat to play from the tee ?
We are now on fairway mats bit my question is, in a qualifying competition during the season can I use a mat to play from the tee ?
So can the use be voluntary ?Dec.1(a) Status of a competition when the use of fairway mats is obligatory
Q. May an Affiliated Club conduct a Qualifying Competition(s) when the use of fairway mats to protect the course is obligatory?
A. Yes, a club may run Qualifying Competition(s) under such conditions provided:
• their use is restricted to the preferred lie period (period as directed by the Union).
• all other requirements for Competition Play Conditions have been satisfied.
• a Local Rule for the use of fairway mats has been set out in the Conditions of the Competition.
But all players must be required to use them.
’A ball that comes to rest on a closely mown area through the green must be lifted, placed on and played from an Astroturf, or similar type of mat.
If the basis for using one from 150 and in is because it is compulsory to do so, and there is no other LR regarding their use, you would have to look to the rules for guidance about their use elsewhere... on the tee this would come down to whether the mat met the definition of a tee in appendix IV, but for the rest of the course it would be hard to see how you get round 13.2As it stands, it is compulsory from 150 in, outside that, there has been no instruction, so a matter of choice as most see it.