D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
I will have a look at your set up on Monday if you want Gordon and give you a few pointers
No problem, I can drag you down to my level if you want mate
No more playing off fairways until March :(
- Thread starter louise_a
- Start date
No problem, I can drag you down to my level if you want mate
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
No problem, I can drag you down to my level if you want mate
Nooooooo!!
My chipping is good Gordon.
It's everything else that's *****.
EuanRoss
Assistant Pro
We have mats all winter but as a North east Scottish links course prone to frost, we don't really have a choice in my opinion. We also have forward tees which if we are on the normal greens, maximises the number of wedges being hit in, maximising the number of substantial divots.
I hate them but to be honest, I think they are needed. When the temp is close to freezing and sometimes below, I'm just happy to get out on the course. Winter golf is what it is to me. A laugh and a time to try a few different things. We don't have qualifiers so who cares what you score really.
I hate them but to be honest, I think they are needed. When the temp is close to freezing and sometimes below, I'm just happy to get out on the course. Winter golf is what it is to me. A laugh and a time to try a few different things. We don't have qualifiers so who cares what you score really.
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richart
Major Champion
It is not going to happen, but if it did I doubt many would leave. Personally wouldn't mind mats, as it would save me walking miles collecting my divots.:thup: When we used to regularily have temporary greens in the winter, the course was reduced to 15 holes, and I didn't notice a flood of leavers. We just get on with it and don't whinge because we knew the course, especially the greens, would be in great condition through the spring, summer and autumn months.Try suggesting it at your place and see what the reaction is then!
If you are a member of a club you like, with a quality course why would you leave to probably pay a joining fee to join a club not as good ?
mcbroon
Journeyman Pro
We have the option of mats or playing from the first cut. I don't like mats so play from the first cut.
The chances of the weather being good enough for me to play from the end of Nov to the end of Feb are fairly slim up here, so it's not going to affect more than 10 rounds.
No big deal.
The chances of the weather being good enough for me to play from the end of Nov to the end of Feb are fairly slim up here, so it's not going to affect more than 10 rounds.
No big deal.
bluewolf
Money List Winner
Is there a course in the South that uses mats AND has a formal interview before joining? If there is then it can't have too many members.
In all seriousness though, the mats tend not to bother me as much as temp greens and forward tee boxes. I do understand the arguments for each one, but my last course had all 3. It was like a pitch and putt for 3 months!!!!!
In all seriousness though, the mats tend not to bother me as much as temp greens and forward tee boxes. I do understand the arguments for each one, but my last course had all 3. It was like a pitch and putt for 3 months!!!!!
Foxholer
Blackballed
nta73
Assistant Pro
not into this mat idea,
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I used to frequent a course that made you tee the ball up if on the fairway during bad weather.
It seemed to work and it was a lovely feeling being able to cream a drive 150 yards from off the fairway.
It seemed to work and it was a lovely feeling being able to cream a drive 150 yards from off the fairway.
CliveW
Tour Winner
That was tried at my last course, but players were still taking huge divots when they used wedges.
User20205
Money List Winner
Just back from the club, first qualifier off mats.
I was wrong there is some dissent. Apparently some have threatened to leave. One fella in the pro shop came out with the ' I don't play £xxxx a year to etc etc'.
What a consumer!!!
I'll concede if it was every winter it may be an issue, but to threaten to leave because the club want a decent centenary. It's poor IMO. I hope the club call their bluff.
I was wrong there is some dissent. Apparently some have threatened to leave. One fella in the pro shop came out with the ' I don't play £xxxx a year to etc etc'.
What a consumer!!!
I'll concede if it was every winter it may be an issue, but to threaten to leave because the club want a decent centenary. It's poor IMO. I hope the club call their bluff.
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
I've not played off mats before but wouldn't fancy it. I would probably consider changing clubs if that were the case, but I don't understand the people questioning those who have said they would leave! It's personal choice, it's got nothing to do with you, so perhaps learn to respect their stance. None of them have questioned constantly why those who would stay wouldn't leave...
Foxholer
Blackballed
Just back from the club, first qualifier off mats.
I was wrong there is some dissent. Apparently some have threatened to leave. One fella in the pro shop came out with the ' I don't play £xxxx a year to etc etc'.
What a consumer!!!
I'll concede if it was every winter it may be an issue, but to threaten to leave because the club want a decent centenary. It's poor IMO. I hope the club call their bluff.
I think even I would 'forgive' that one!
The last few years we have gone to mats and drop to the side. I don't have an issue with it, only tend to use the mat from 120 yards in and once you get used to it its fine. Our grass can have periods of a couple of months when there is no growth at all. There used to be parts of the course that were wrecked for months as everyone ended up in the same spots.
pretty much all the courses up here now use them to protect parts of the fairways.
pretty much all the courses up here now use them to protect parts of the fairways.
I'm surprised at some of the ' mats no membership' stand point. Especially those that reference the amount paid
There's a point of difference between a member and a consumer. There seem to be more consumers....
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.
User20205
Money List Winner
No it's crystal clear, you just can't like your club very much if you'd leave over the use of mats for 3 months. What if they had temp greens for a while, what if they closed the practice ground for a bit. Would you leave then?
Soft hands
Assistant Pro
We are on mats now as well im guessing most clubs in my area are though so changing wouldn't be an option unless I want to travel 20/30 mins,current club is less than 5 mins away max.
louise_a
Money List Winner
There are some strong feelings on this topic. I would rather not play off mats but its something that has happened since I joined my club so I don't know any different. I don't know how I would feel if my club hadn't used them and then introduced them, however, as I am very involved in stuff at the club I guess I would probably stay.
upsidedown
Tour Winner
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.
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.
We have temp greens when frost or whether dictates and I understand the necessity. We do close the practice ground on several occasions per year and for a significant time before and after the Royal race meet as it's used for coach parking. We even closed the course to accommodate the Red Bull airace (and for the next two years), but we get a decent payment to do so it benefits the club and has allowed us to renew equipment and engage in some very beneficial drainage works. I know these are happening and accept that as part of my membership.
The one thing we have never struggled with is the quality of the fairways even with full winter play on them. Even when we had the 125th year centenary celebrations a couple of years ago after a very tough winter with snow on the ground for ages and then playing once the course opened. At one point we only had the front nine open last year so it was taken all the traffic for a six week period and guess what, not a single problem with the quality of the fairway this spring or summer. I think this "get it right for the centenary" is actually masking the issue that perhaps there has been a problem for a while.
Whether or not that's the case, we've never had a need. If they came in, I wouldn't be renewing my membership and going on to a club that didn't need mats. My subs are not a small outlay per annum and so I want to play "proper" golf off grass. It's a simple personal choice.
