Mats - compulsory or voluntary?

[D-S]

I note from the EG Winter Checklist that qualifying scores are acceptable when a rule making compulsory to use mats is in place.
“Acceptable Scores may be returned in Competitions and in General Play when there is a Local Rule in place requiring the compulsory use of fairway mats to protect the natural surfaces of the course, during the preferred lies period.”
Do some clubs therefore have ‘voluntary‘ mats and, if so, have they made them compulsory now due to this ruling or has this always been the case?

 

[rulefan]

See post #4 here

Mats (tees and fairway mats) for Q scores

EngGolf's check list for maintaining Q conditions during winter says - "Acceptable Scores may be returned in Competitions and in General Play when there is a Local Rule in place requiring the compulsory use of fairway mats to protect the natural surfaces of the course, during the preferred lies...

forums.golfmonthly.com

2blue
I've now had clarification from EG that the term 'compulsory' can be replaced with 'recommended' so that with a LR in place optional mats will be allowed for those who wish to protect their course during it's most vulnerable period. Common sense prevails..... good old EngGolf!!

 

[D-S]

Does anyone have this 'clarification' in writing? as they haven't changed their wording for this year's Checklist.

 

[jim8flog]

We only have mats on the tees and have LR that when they are in use players must stand on them as well as teeing off from them.

 

[Banchory Buddha]

Do some clubs therefore have ‘voluntary‘ mats and, if so, have they made them compulsory now due to this ruling or has this always been the case?

My home club has voluntary mats through winter. We have no competitions in winter period.

 

[Colin L]

I've never quite seen the point of making the use of mats voluntary. If the course is to be protected, why allow those who don't care to continue to hack it up?

 

[rulefan]

I've never quite seen the point of making the use of mats voluntary. If the course is to be protected, why allow those who don't care to continue to hack it up?

When we first introduced compulsory mats most resistance came from those (better?) players, whose stroke making included taking a divot. In the event, they are the players who now appreciate the improved quality of the fairways in the spring and ironically, like to display their skills in nipping the ball off the mats.

 

[Backache]

I've never quite seen the point of making the use of mats voluntary. If the course is to be protected, why allow those who don't care to continue to hack it up?

As a matter of interest is there any course that outside competitions bans mats? I'd have thought they're always optional when they are not compulsory.

 

[rulefan]

As a matter of interest is there any course that outside competitions bans mats? I'd have thought they're always optional when they are not compulsory.

In my experience they are compulsory for all play but seemingly not everywhere. Pretty pointless otherwise if not compulsory.

 

[D-S]

So, if qualifiers are allowed with ‘voluntary’ mats, (which has been said is ok although we have not seen it in writing and it seems contrary to the wording in the EG checklist), could a player who just doesn’t like playing off soft, muddy fairways just elect to take a mat out with him onto the course and have a different ‘playing surface’ to all other competitors?

 

[rulefan]

I can't now find it but isn't there in the Rules a clause which says that Rules (including model Local Rules) cannot be modified or changed in any substantive or significant way (or words to that effect).
I would say the difference between must and may is significant.

Edit:
8 Committee Procedures
Model Local Rules preamble
and (1) Guidelines for Establishing Local Rules

 

[Colin L]

MLR -E12 does not contemplate optional use of fairway mats. Its purpose is to mandate their compulsory use. I think it is questionable whether optional use can be within the rules.

 

[Old Colner]

Is there some confusion here, in my experience, the optional use of mats generally means that if you want to play from the fairway you must use a mat, the option being take the ball to the side and play from the rough, isn't it this that makes the scores non qualifying?

We have as part of our winter rules, no play from the fairways unless using a mat, option is take to the side, we have no qualifying competitions or accept any cards for handicap over the winter.

 

[DickInShorts]

Is there some confusion here, in my experience, the optional use of mats generally means that if you want to play from the fairway you must use a mat, the option being take the ball to the side and play from the rough, isn't it this that makes the scores non qualifying?

We have as part of our winter rules, no play from the fairways unless using a mat, option is take to the side, we have no qualifying competitions or accept any cards for handicap over the winter.

That’s what they did at Moray GC when I was a member there