No more playing off fairways until March :(

[chrisd]

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

I just find it strange that a point that several of us have made that we wouldn't want to pay membership at a club who decide to introduce winter mats is debated so forcefully - it's an honest view and no matter how much you tell us we're wrong this really is a debate where everyone is entitled to their opinion and like it or not we pays our money and we takes our chance!

 

[richart]

I just find it strange that a point that several of us have made that we wouldn't want to pay membership at a club who decide to introduce winter mats is debated so forcefully - it's an honest view and no matter how much you tell us we're wrong this really is a debate where everyone is entitled to their opinion and like it or not we pays our money and we takes our chance!

Just my opinion, but anyone that left a club because they introduced mats one year in the winter, is probably not that happy with their club in the first place. Perhaps the straw that broke the camels back ?

I have a feeling if you were a member of Sunningdale, St Georges Hill, The Berkshire, etc, and they introduced winter mats you would not pack in your membership.

Anyway I will argue this matter when we play tomorrow Chris, and you will agree with me by the end of the round.:ears:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I just find it strange that a point that several of us have made that we wouldn't want to pay membership at a club who decide to introduce winter mats is debated so forcefully - it's an honest view and no matter how much you tell us we're wrong this really is a debate where everyone is entitled to their opinion and like it or not we pays our money and we takes our chance!

I've never said anywhere on here you're wrong. I merely said my decision would be not to play there if they introduced mats. Please don't misquote or put virtual words in my mouth

 

[chrisd]

I've never said anywhere on here you're wrong. I merely said my decision would be not to play there if they introduced mats. Please don't misquote or put virtual words in my mouth

Sorry HJS but please re read what I wrote as everything agrees with your position on this!

 

[chrisd]

Just my opinion, but anyone that left a club because they introduced mats one year in the winter, is probably not that happy with their club in the first place. Perhaps the straw that broke the camels back ?

I have a feeling if you were a member of Sunningdale, St Georges Hill, The Berkshire, etc, and they introduced winter mats you would not pack in your membership.

Anyway I will argue this matter when we play tomorrow Chris, and you will agree with me by the end of the round.:ears:

One season may not be a problem bur if it was going to be every winter it probably would be

 

[matt71]

Fairways are now out of use for our course now, not sure how long for but think maybe a month or so at least!

not using mats of the fairway been told to move the ball to the fringe or 1st cut then take shot from there.

Played yesterday day morning early and we had 18 temp winter greens but when the ladies winter comp started around 10 they put the flags back on the main greens!

for me I feel this is a good way to protect the course and I don't have an issue with not playing of the fairway I seldom hit them anyway lol

 

[Val]

Some of the responses on here are hilarious, really would people leave their clubs if the introduced fairway nats for winter? Most clubs have a first cut rule so even with the rule you don't have to play off them and the first cut on many courses in the winter is as good as the fairway

 

[User20205]

Some of the responses on here are hilarious, really would people leave their clubs if the introduced fairway nats for winter? Most clubs have a first cut rule so even with the rule you don't have to play off them and the first cut on many courses in the winter is as good as the fairway

Yes mate, seems a bit exteme.

I've got a hypothetical moral conundrum. Potentially it's being mooted at my place. An option is to make mats discretionary, and leave it up to the members assessment of the ground conditions. To me this is too much of a vanilla compromise.

To those that would leave. Do you never use the mat, irrespective of ground condition, because you don't fancy them.?

 

[CMAC]

havent read all the responses but to those threatening to leave- why dont you just not play when its that bad they want mats used?

even when our course is open if its really soft I dont bother. I can do 3,247 more interesting things than squelch round a muddy field chasing a muddy ball.

 

[backwoodsman]

Not going to argue this one much, but I think we who have said we'd move are being 'mis-targetted'. I think we all like our present clubs, our courses are in good nick, we currently don't use mats, and don't need to. It is simply that mats are not what we signed up for. If they became compulsory on a permanent basis (ie more than for a special occasion like an anniversary) then yes, we'd seriously think about moving to somewhere mats weren't necessary. For me, it would be a huge wrench but yes it's likely. Fortunately, t'ain't going to happen, and I ain't going to need to.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Some of the responses on here are hilarious, really would people leave their clubs if the introduced fairway nats for winter? Most clubs have a first cut rule so even with the rule you don't have to play off them and the first cut on many courses in the winter is as good as the fairway

Hope they dont bite

 

[garyinderry]

I would loved to have used a mat this morning. probably shouldn't have bothered tbh! back home now for some comfort food to cheer me up.

 

[ScienceBoy]

We go on mats on Monday at Ellesmere, so its hitting of a mat or from the first cut for the next 3 months for me.

Just enjoy the golf you have and then eventually the benefits next summer. There is always someone worse off, sad but usually true.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Some of the responses on here are hilarious, really would people leave their clubs if the introduced fairway nats for winter? Most clubs have a first cut rule so even with the rule you don't have to play off them and the first cut on many courses in the winter is as good as the fairway

Most clubs around your way maybe, not round here. I didn't even know such things existed until I joined this forum.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Yes mate, seems a bit exteme.

I've got a hypothetical moral conundrum. Potentially it's being mooted at my place. An option is to make mats discretionary, and leave it up to the members assessment of the ground conditions. To me this is too much of a vanilla compromise.

To those that would leave. Do you never use the mat, irrespective of ground condition, because you don't fancy them.?

The point is we don't have to and have never been asked to, most people wouldn't even know what one was and if our clubs suggested using them there would be uproar. I understand that in certain parts of the country they might be needed but I really can't see how using them around here could improve the state of the fairways the following year.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

havent read all the responses but to those threatening to leave- why dont you just not play when its that bad they want mats used?

even when our course is open if its really soft I dont bother. I can do 3,247 more interesting things than squelch round a muddy field chasing a muddy ball.

Having paid a four figure sum for membership, I want to ensure I get maximum value for money and that means the opportunity to play proper golf without mats even in the winter. As I've said NO clubs in the area have or ever had mats. It's not seen as necessary call it a consumer decision but I would leave if I was paying so much and not allowed to play golf without the aid of a mat. There are others on here that have agreed so I'm not actually as stubborn or pig headed (unless you consider the others the same) as some are suggesting

 

[shagster]

I must agree about not wanting to use mats.
Yes I would leave as well.
But if a course is that wet or as mentioned, has 18 temporaries, shut the course.
Also spend time and resource it working on the bad areas in the summer.
Do fairways need to be cut everyday in the season, surely better to tine and core wet areas and prepare the course.
As several have stated, in the south east, there are very few clubs under a thousand per annum and for that money you would want to play on grass. Not a problem playing off proper winter tee mats where you can push a tee in.
Again just my opinion
Shagster

 

[CMAC]

Having paid a four figure sum for membership, I want to ensure I get maximum value for money and that means the opportunity to play proper golf without mats even in the winter. As I've said NO clubs in the area have or ever had mats. It's not seen as necessary call it a consumer decision but I would leave if I was paying so much and not allowed to play golf without the aid of a mat. There are others on here that have agreed so I'm not actually as stubborn or pig headed (unless you consider the others the same) as some are suggesting

do you actually read replies or are you just looking for an argument! where did I say stubborn or pigheaded?

My point, which I clearly need to explain, is a muddy squelchy field that is bad enough that requires a mat is not fit to play anyway. If there are courses that do it verbatim even if its firm dry and mild thats a separate issue.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

do you actually read replies or are you just looking for an argument! where did I say stubborn or pigheaded?

My point, which I clearly need to explain, is a muddy squelchy field that is bad enough that requires a mat is not fit to play anyway. If there are courses that do it verbatim even if its firm dry and mild thats a separate issue.

If the course is so bad it's squelchy I'd question whether it should be open anyway and that the traffic going over such wet areas will cause as much damage. As I said (and you clearly need explaining too) is that for the cost I pay, I would leave as I don't think playing off mats represents value for money for my subs and that I'd rather find a course where I could play throughout the winter without the need for them

 

[CliveW]

Mats are not only in use where it is wet and soft. The reason they are used is to prevent divots as the grass will not grow in cold conditions. St. Andrews is a prime example, a links built on sand with no drainage issues, but mats in use from November until March.