No more playing off fairways until March :(

[IanG]

We too have to use mats from just before Xmas until end of Feb each year. This is to protect the course from divots during the winter (as Clive mentioned above for St Andrews). Our course is heavily used all year round and I have sufficient confidence in our ground staff to believe them that this is necessary. We the members wish it was not, but put up with it for the benefits it brings in Spring.

 

[chrisd]

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

I've never heard of a club in Kent have a first cut rule anywhere or ever and equally never known one to use mats in the winter, so you can possibly understand why we feel so dead set against them, but, as it's unlikely they will ever be mooted let's not get too worried!

 

[phil78]

We've just gone onto mats and tbh it's not something I've ever given much thought to, it's just one of those things.
On my old course up in Banchory they've been on mats and temporary greens for well over a month, a lot of the course doesn't get the sun on it over winter and the frost doesn't lift so this way means the members can at least play rather than just having the course sit closed.
there are no qualifying comps but the winter stablefords run for those that want to play. Other local courses are in a similar position.
It's not the same as playing the full course in summer but that just isn't available at this time of year, and I'd rather be out swinging a club than sitting inside all winter.


At the same time there's no way I could afford a four figure annual subscription so if you're paying that I can understand a difference of opinion.

 

[CliveW]

This is why we are on mats. This was the road to the course this morning and whilst the course was open, we got snowed off after four holes!

 

[LinksTurf]

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.
Shagster

I don't think this has anything to do with the membership fee. In many northern parts of the UK, the climate and very short days simply means the turf can't be repaired in the winter, no matter how many greenkeeping staff are employed. If we didn't use mats, it would take forever to get the course in condition again during the main season. I dont' like using mats, but it's better than no golf.

 

[shagster]

Very fair point
I am used to the Argyllshire area where it is a lot warmer then the east coast and have had snow from late October to the middle of March so I appreciate where you are coming from.
The climate is a lot different down here in the South East but so are the subs.
If I was paying a lot lower fee, then I would accept mats.
We get a lot of moans about the weather down here and I Live on the Sunshine Coast and yet it's not until late May that our course starts to shape up
Shagster