The Old Course in December

[The Autumn Wind]

Some advice needed please, from those of you that have played The Old Course at St Andrews in winter.

Am looking at playing there in December. I know that you have to use mats off the fairways from November to March, as stipulated on the St Andrews Links website but my questions are :

1) It says on the website you have to use mats but 'only off the fairways'. Does this mean that you don't need a mat from any of the tees ?

2) I'm assuming that a player can take the option of just moving his ball off the fairway into the 1st cut or semi rough and play from there without a mat ?

 

[User62651]

99% sure your assumptions are correct, it is 10 years since I played it in winter though. Re point 2 you're going to have some horrible angles in if you opt to take the ball into the semi every hole, just use the mat, they're not that bad.

 

[Dasit]

So you take a mat, pick your ball up then put the mat down and put the ball on the map?

really don't think I would enjoy doing that. Not that I hit that many fairways 😆

 

[The Autumn Wind]

99% sure your assumptions are correct, it is 10 years since I played it in winter though. Re point 2 you're going to have some horrible angles in if you opt to take the ball into the semi every hole, just use the mat, they're not that bad.

Ok, cheers :thup:

 

[golfcitydweller]

yea fairway mats ...clue`s in the name ....no mats used on tee`s ...moving the ball from centre of fairway to 1st cut is frowned upon , as autumn wind says use the mat , we use carpet tile !.. b&q have them ...enjoy

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Look on the bright side, you'll never have to hit out of a divot 😀. I've used mats before, really not a big deal.

 

[ScienceBoy]

So you take a mat, pick your ball up then put the mat down and put the ball on the map?

really don't think I would enjoy doing that. Not that I hit that many fairways 😆

I am pretty sure the fun bit is hitting the ball, not putting it on a mat.

 

[Farmergeddon]

We have switched to mats at the beginning of December for the last 3 years and I must admit it does make a difference come April and as most people have said they are not that bad, in fact on a clay based meadowland course like ours hitting off a mat makes the game easier, not sure its the same on a links mind you..

 

[patricks148]

Nothing wrong with a mat in winter.... always a good lie, hit it fat no problem ball still goes more or less the same distance..

embrace it, and tell the story how you shot X under handicap around the Old Course

 

[stokie_93]

Not sure if anyone will know, the mat rule at the Old Course is in affect until March.

Is this dependent on course condition etc or in effect at ALL times?

 

[Jimaroid]

Is this dependent on course condition etc or in effect at ALL times?

No exceptions, it's in effect until the date they say it isn't.

 

[louise_a]

We will go on mats probably December, depending on the weather, they do make life easier but it is better that taking big sloppy divots, it is a fact of life on most parkland courses, there are exceptions as I am sure people will come on and mention.