Lift from fairway and drop in rough?

[jdpjamesp]

Been looking at local courses for ones to play over Christmas/New Year and noticed one that had the following in their winter rules: "Lift from fairway and drop in rough". I can understand the thinking, and googling suggests this is reasonably common, but they're still charging full price for a round. Am I being unreasonable in deciding I don't want to play there? What other extreme winter rules are common?

 

[garyinderry]

Carrying around a foot long mat and having to hit off that is worse than taking to the rough or first cut

 

[IanG]

Drop in the rough for full price seems a bit tough for me. Some clubs have either play of off a mat or drop in the semi and a much reduced green fee in the winter which seems more reasonable.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

100% entirely up to the individual. If they are not charging that much from a round and I like the track better than other options then I'd probably be OK with having to do that. Golf at this time of year is pretty random in any case, and in fact you might actually get a better or less tight lie in the first cut rough than on the fairrway

 

[Deleted member 16999]

We Tee up on the fairways during Winter, does me nut in!! People using Driver Driver on Par 5's, but, Winter golf doesn't count

 

[jdpjamesp]

We Tee up on the fairways during Winter, does me nut in!! People using Driver Driver on Par 5's, but, Winter golf doesn't count

That wouldn't help in my case - the number of times I take a divot with my blasted driver...

 

[Deleted member 16999]

That wouldn't help in my case - the number of times I take a divot with my blasted driver...

To be honest the reason I don't like it, is that at the end of 3-4 months every shot is off a tee and come the spring it takes afew weeks or more to get used to hitting off the ground again, especially when it's not sitting nice etc!, totally understand it's to protect the course, but I'd prefer drop to the side or even mats!!

 

[IanG]

When I first moved to a club that used mats for 10 weeks over winter I hated the idea. But having done it for a few years now I find it not so bad at all. After a few rounds you get used to the different ball placement. It does make the game easier since you get a pretty consistent strike off the mat and no digging into the turf. They are pretty forgiving. Winter golf is often challenging enough and a little leg up over the worst of the winter is no great burden to bear.

The real trouble comes in March when you are back to the reality of tight turf and unlucky lies. At least there are not so many divot holes to settle in!

 

[chellie]

Certainly wouldn't be paying full rate in winter for a course with those winter rules.

 

[Karl102]

We are either fairway mats or place in the rough (drop if you don't find a fairway). It's pants, but beats shopping and DIY any day!!!

 

[MendieGK]

We are either fairway mats or place in the rough (drop if you don't find a fairway). It's pants, but beats shopping and DIY any day!!!

Ours is the same as this, but only on certain holes (6 or 7 IRMC). Doesnt bother me too much, and as all events are non Qs it really makes no odds.

When i play friendly rounds in the winter we always do place in the rough, no point getting stressed about muddy awful lies.

Our comps also do, rake & place in the bunkers too.

 

[patricks148]

we used to have this over winter, so from 1st Nov till end of Feb on certain holes, mostly inside 150 yards, drop to the side. The club does charge a winter rate but that more to do with being off well forward tee and the course being shortened to under 5000 yards and 5 of the best holes being made into short par 3's.

This year we have gone to mats on the fairway and first cut , full course more or less, I don't mind the mats TBH, always get a good lie and on short chips, you get a load of spin so its just go at the pin all the time.

got to be better than the course chunked to pieces when there is no growth.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Winter lasts so long it must be crap to play like this for almost half the year. I wouldn't pay any price, never mind full price to play a course like this. I am eternally grateful to play on a course that drains so well that preferred lies on fairways are all we need in the winter. In fact, last time I played, I don't think I bothered to take more than a couple of preferred lies the course was so dry.

 

[patricks148]

Winter lasts so long it must be crap to play like this for almost half the year. I opulent pay any price, never mind full price to play a course like this. I am eternally grateful to play on a course that drains so well that preferred lies on fairways are all we need in the winter. In fact, last time I played, I don't think I bothered to take more than a couple of preferred lies the course was so dry.

its nothing to do with the course being wet for us, in fact the course is bone dry at the moment. Its more to do with the fact that the grass stops growing for 3 or 4 months so the is no growth to repair divots.

we are further north latitude wise than Moscow.

 

[turkish]

its nothing to do with the course being wet for us, in fact the course is bone dry at the moment. Its more to do with the fact that the grass stops growing for 3 or 4 months so the is no growth to repair divots.

we are further north latitude wise than Moscow.

Yes this is exactly the same for us; to let the course heal properly and come the new season it is usually in immaculate condition which is good.

Re the mats I much prefer placing in rough to keep you used to a normal golf swing without having to take into consideration a wee matt that can move about- unless it's making my shot much harder. IE a short staight pitch vs now having to pitch over a bunker

 

[woody69]

We Tee up on the fairways during Winter, does me nut in!! People using Driver Driver on Par 5's, but, Winter golf doesn't count

I really don't understand this. Driver aside I take a divot with pretty much every other club off the tee, so I'm not sure how it would protect the fairways.

 

[patricks148]

I really don't understand this. Driver aside I take a divot with pretty much every other club off the tee, so I'm not sure how it would protect the fairways.

This does not make much sense to me either TBH, i take a divot with all my iron shots, so would just be the same as not teeing it up

 

[williamalex1]

Yes this is exactly the same for us; to let the course heal properly and come the new season it is usually in immaculate condition which is good.

Re the mats I much prefer placing in rough to keep you used to a normal golf swing without having to take into consideration a wee matt that can move about- unless it's making my shot much harder. IE a short staight pitch vs now having to pitch over a bunker

We have much the same winter rules, except when within 30 yards of greens we can play as it lies, there's temporary marker posts in place on every hole.

IMO placing in the rough is a bad idea , come the new season if by chance you miss the fairway by a yard or so, you'll find your ball in an old divot .
Buy yourself a rocket launcher :thup:

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Been looking at local courses for ones to play over Christmas/New Year and noticed one that had the following in their winter rules: "Lift from fairway and drop in rough". I can understand the thinking, and googling suggests this is reasonably common, but they're still charging full price for a round. Am I being unreasonable in deciding I don't want to play there? What other extreme winter rules are common?

Are you paying full rate as in the summer rate or are you paying the winter rate?

For me winter rate is not playing the full course and expecting some bunkers out of action due to refurbishments etc. Its more and more common to find mats and dropping points off the fairway these days.

We have just started it on shorter par 4's by placing just off the fairway, it gives the greenkeepers and the course a real head start once the season starts next year.

 

[louise_a]

We use mats or drop in first cut, its not too bad as the alternative at moment would be course closed.

It was odd at Bolton Old Links on Sunday, they had play off the fairway outside 150yds, but move to first cut inside.