Mats used as teeing area

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Interesteing thread - I will check at the club for what we have in place. We have tee mats on a few holes and I have heard some debate about whether 2cls still applies and whether standing off the mat is permissable.

As an aside - our head greenkeeper last week posted a short video about why we go onto temp greens and mats when there is hard frost. He showed the damage that can be caused to grass by pointing out the very minor and superficial damage on our 1st tee (black footprints as the grass breaks) by players walking about the tee and across it to the putting green when frosty conditions - as you'd get on a frosted green but more of an issue on a green than on a tee. As a comparison he pointed out the much more significant damage caused by players feet when teeing off when the ground is frosted and no mat - with all players stance taken in the same area of the tee. A very big difference with real damage obvious. He wasn't that bothered as the 1st tee is huge and he knows that the damaged grass will recover. But he was making the point in respect of why temp greens, and why we need mats on smaller teeing grounds in conditions of harder frost.

 

[rulefan]

Ta.

As a subsidiary question: given that the rule is being put in place as "course protection" measure, but in matchplay, a player can overlook a breach of a rule committed by an opponent, how can one (reasonably) ensure that the rule is adhered to in match play situations? Or will it be that one simply has to rely on the integrity of the players?

The latter I'm afraid. But if reported by someone else on the course, you could take disciplinary action.

 

[clubchamp98]

Just dug out this thread as we are considering introducing this local rule (ie requiring players to stand on, and play the ball from, the artificial mat).

If using the wording above for the rule itself, would it now be appropriate to say the penalty for breach of the local rule is "General Penalty" - rather than separately referring to match play and stroke play? (Or, is there some reason that means the two forms of play need to be specifically mentioned?)

We had a local rule for mats ,but it did state “ if the mat is frozen and becomes dangerous you may stand off the mat but ball must be within the markers.”
Some of our mats were elevated on steel frames which made this impossible if it was frozen.
Winter golf should never be that serious.

 

[jim8flog]

Ta.

As a subsidiary question: given that the rule is being put in place as "course protection" measure, but in matchplay, a player can overlook a breach of a rule committed by an opponent, how can one (reasonably) ensure that the rule is adhered to in match play situations? Or will it be that one simply has to rely on the integrity of the players?

1.3 b (1)
If two or more players deliberately agree to ignore any Rule or penalty they know applies and any of those players have started the round, they are disqualified (even if they have not yet acted on the agreement).
There is no differentiation between stroke and match play

An opponent can overlook a breach but I would suggest that should it happen on more than one occasion for the same breach it is ignoring the rules.

Match Play

3.1 d (4)
• If the player knows or believes that the opponent has breached a Rule that has a penalty, the player may act on the breach or choose to ignore it.
• But if the player and opponent deliberately agree to ignore a breach or penalty they know applies, both players are disqualified under Rule 1.3b.

 

[rulefan]

1.3 b (1)

• But if the player and opponent deliberately agree to ignore a breach or penalty they know applies, both players are disqualified under Rule 1.3b.

 

[Ye Olde Boomer]

Tee maintenance is an issue that could be addresses easily with artifical turf. Wouldn't want to see it anyplace else, but don't see a problem with tee boxes.