No more playing off fairways until March :(

[ManinBlack]

I am just so, so pleased to play on a heathland course where we play a full length course off proper tees 12 months of the year, with no mats used and preferred lies only on the fairways ( which, today, was totally unnecessary) Winter in this country lasts for the best part of 6 months, October to March & not playing a proper course all that time would really get me down.

 

[User20205]

If they introduced this at my club I'd be very unhappy ( not going to happen as we have very good members who use divot bags to leave us with fantastic fairways in the spring ) but would never consider leaving.

There are musings that we may use 6 temporary greens in the week on a rotation to give the main greens a rest, we know that when they have not been used for a while they certainly benefit from rest.

To me the club is more than just a place to play golf and am very happy with ours.

I agree absolutely. I'm not happy about mats, but I understand. To leave a club (or threaten to) because of this, I don't understand.

It's just an extension of winter rules, and if winters keep on getting wetter we may have to accept it

 

[Soft hands]

It's my 1st year as a member of a club. We don't have qualifiers from Oct to Feb,I'll probably appreciate summer more using winter to work on the swing with no pressure of comps.

Dont get get me wrong if like to play a full course but what can I do. Due to frost all temporary greens today just went out for a knock and a laugh.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The simple fact is for the money I'm paying I expect to be able to play off grass. Not convinced there is any need to use mats to protect the course. The course hasn't suffered even with the wettest winter last year, more traffic on the front nine being the only nine open and times. It's my leisure time and at a reasonably hefty cost and for the money I want the club to let me enjoy it to the maximum and off grass.

 

[SammmeBee]

I don't get this. I get the maximum I can for my membership in terms of playing, using the facilities and that includes eating there regularly and I socialise both at functions and with a regular group of partners. I really don't see that as being a consumer but it doesn't sway my opinion that for a membership of c£1600 I wouldn't pay that and play off a mat. It really is that simple.

Yet you accept the condition that Royal Ascot is presented in.....

Not VFM in anyone's books for £1600.....sorry.

 

[Leereed]

We are now off mats and I dislike them,you are hoping every drive lands in the first cut.(not a problem for me).full shots off mats are not to bad,it's chip shot, half shot that I find hard, no feel off mats.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Yet you accept the condition that Royal Ascot is presented in.....

Not VFM in anyone's books for £1600.....sorry.

You last played it when? Extensive work done to improve drainage in last six weeks. Greens two years into a three year programme and getting better and quicker to putt on in the golfing season. As a cost, we're still cheaper than other comparable courses in the area and have benefits like no booked tee times to worry about

 

[Duckster]

The simple fact is for the money I'm paying I expect to be able to play off grass. Not convinced there is any need to use mats to protect the course. The course hasn't suffered even with the wettest winter last year, more traffic on the front nine being the only nine open and times. It's my leisure time and at a reasonably hefty cost and for the money I want the club to let me enjoy it to the maximum and off grass.

But what would you do if all the clubs near you (including yours) used mats bar one. But that one had the worst fairways in the area for the other 9 months of the year?

Would you move then for the sake of 3 months of hitting of damp, frozen fairways rather than a mat?

 

[Soft hands]

I suppose it comes down to why you choose which club to be a member to as well I suppose.

I pay 600ish for membership i can walk there in 10mins or so. I could join clubs for around a 1000 but have to travel 20/30 mins to get there. The location of my club is important to me so I can live with mats for few months.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

But what would you do if all the clubs near you (including yours) used mats bar one. But that one had the worst fairways in the area for the other 9 months of the year?

Would you move then for the sake of 3 months of hitting of damp, frozen fairways rather than a mat?

A different argument completely and to be honest one that won't happen so it's academic. Not one locally have or has mats. If that scenario were to arise, it would depend on many factors including the atmosphere and craic in the club, whether they had booked tee times, practice facilities, cost, location and travelling times and what exactly the state of these "worse" fairways were really like. As I said, a scenario that won't arise but to answer the question, I'd probably look at the club not using mats and see how it really played and make a decision from there (if it met most of the other criteria I'd look for when joining)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I suppose it comes down to why you choose which club to be a member to as well I suppose.

I pay 600ish for membership i can walk there in 10mins or so. I could join clubs for around a 1000 but have to travel 20/30 mins to get there. The location of my club is important to me so I can live with mats for few months.

My club is only 15 minutes in the car and five minutes from Ascot station so I leave my clubs in the locker and jump in a cab after the commute home in the summer but convenience isn't my main consideration.

 

[Soft hands]

My club is only 15 minutes in the car and five minutes from Ascot station so I leave my clubs in the locker and jump in a cab after the commute home in the summer but convenience isn't my main consideration.

i know that's fair enough. For me I like to be able to go up if I have a spare hour to practice the location is important couldn't really see myself moving.

 

[DaveyG]

This is getting abit silly now making up scenario's to force opinions.

The fact is we are comparing in some case two different countries and expecting people to see your point of view.

I am midlands based and even here you notice a slight difference in the climate when going down south... I worked in Scotland for 6 months a couple of years ago and had snow in the week and bbq's on the weekend when I got back... If mats are needed in your part of the world at your club fair enough... Enjoy it! But I also wouldnmt join a club which had compulsory matts... We pay good money to play this game and I expect to play the game properly.

Im lucky enough to be at a club where it will never be a problem because the funding pumped into our place is amazing... I couldn't even tell you how many green staff are on the books looking after our three courses... Bar the odd bunker being raked early doors I find everything in good order every round

 

[Duckster]

This is getting abit silly now making up scenario's to force opinions.

The fact is we are comparing in some case two different countries and expecting people to see your point of view.

I am midlands based and even here you notice a slight difference in the climate when going down south... I worked in Scotland for 6 months a couple of years ago and had snow in the week and bbq's on the weekend when I got back... If mats are needed in your part of the world at your club fair enough... Enjoy it! But I also wouldnmt join a club which had compulsory matts... We pay good money to play this game and I expect to play the game properly.

Im lucky enough to be at a club where it will never be a problem because the funding pumped into our place is amazing... I couldn't even tell you how many green staff are on the books looking after our three courses... Bar the odd bunker being raked early doors I find everything in good order every round

Not trying to force an opinion, rather trying to put in a situation that lots of courses / members face.

Personally I'd rather not join a club that didn't look after its course so it could play to it's full potential. If that meant mats, then so be it. In fact the use of mats, whilst being a bit disheartening for the months they are in play, could even be seen as a positive reason to actually join the club.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not trying to force an opinion, rather trying to put in a situation that lots of courses / members face.

Personally I'd rather not join a club that didn't look after its course so it could play to it's full potential. If that meant mats, then so be it. In fact the use of mats, whilst being a bit disheartening for the months they are in play, could even be seen as a positive reason to actually join the club.

Not sure what gives you and others the impression my club isn't looking after the course to its full potential. We simply have no issues with the quality of fairway and no need to use mats. It really is that simple. If that changed and we needed mats then I'd be off

 

[Deleted member 15344]

What was the improved drainage for ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What was the improved drainage for ?

12 and 13 were the two lowest lying holes and so suffered from waterlogging more than any others. Introduced a new drainage ditch on 12 and drainage under the fairway. Run off into a ditch on 13 has let the water there run away better. Also, they went around the course and took bracken and debris from all ditches. Already standing up well after the heavy rain last weekend so money well spent.

 

[Foxholer]

What was the improved drainage for ?

Er....Improving drainage?

 

[Duckster]

Not sure what gives you and others the impression my club isn't looking after the course to its full potential. We simply have no issues with the quality of fairway and no need to use mats. It really is that simple. If that changed and we needed mats then I'd be off

Have I said your club isn't looking after it's course? Or have i just said that I would look at a club that uses mats (if required) to bring the course to it's full potential as being a bonus.

What I'm trying to get across is that in certain situations, fairway mats over winter are good. Your not in that situation and as far as I'm aware, you've never been in that situation.

 

[tsped83]

Er....Improving drainage?

:rofl: