What Is The Point?

[CliveW]

I borrowed a demo Titleist 910 today as I was playing my old course at Uphall. With the exception of one drive, I split the fairway every time, only to have to pick the ball up and move it into the first cut of rough to play my next shot. (Winter Rules). I should have used my old driver as that is where I would have put the ball off the tee.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We don't have that rule and I rarely find a fairway anyway so it isn't a frustration I know well. However take solace in the fact that a) you are clearly swinging well and b) the new driver worked.

Did you buy it or not?

 

[Imurg]

I'm not a prolific finder of fairways - in fact winter rules has been on for 3 weeks but I only found out last friday.
Don't like the rule of playing from the first cut - makes a complete mockery of the game.

 

[drawboy]

It must have given you a nice feeling regardless of having to move the ball to know that if you do buy the Titleist you'll be in good shape for spring.

 

[CliveW]

We don't have that rule and I rarely find a fairway anyway so it isn't a frustration I know well. However take solace in the fact that a) you are clearly swinging well and b) the new driver worked.

Did you buy it or not?

Placed an order on Tuesday, so not long to wait I hope.

 

[Oddsocks]

I'm not aware or have never heard of this rule, can anyone explain this

 

[sawtooth]

I've never heard of that rule before. Are you allowed to place in the first cut? That wouldn't be so bad and you might actually be in better shape of a fluffy lie. Dropping on the other hand sounds a bit harsh.

 

[forefortheday]

We played it last year to keep the fairways good for next year.

Of course the snow at the start of the year (course is very exposed after the 14th and in dip between 2 and 13) put paid to most of that good intention.

No sign of it this year, we get to place on the nearest side so it can work to your advantage.

 

[goldenbare]

glad we don't do this, this time of year on our course its fairway or a 3 inch cut, yes I can only afford the muni. It dries out amazingly, built on an old waste tip in parts, dont light a ciggy on the sinking bits of the 18th

 

[Robobum]

I struggled with the logic of this when i heard it mentioned last year and I'm still struggling with the logic.

Do they think you won't take divots in the semi rough??

Or do you alternate years, one year nice fairways and no rough becuase it's been hacked to fudge, next year nice rough and a few divots on the fairway??

 

[shagster]

its a bit like have winter tees, then landing on a tee and using a wedge to take a foot long divot. if we are on winter tees, make all tees GUR and must take relief, or drop zone.
shagster

 

[SharkAttack]

We used this at my old club. Gives the fairways a break and the greenstaff time to seed the fairway in preparation for the following season (I did say my old club).

The big problem is when you move back on to the fairways at the start of the season you can't afford to miss the fairway, because you have no preferred lie and the first cut of rough is covered in divots.

 

[Marko77]

Don't know why more clubs just don't introduce mats from fairway in winter?

Does seem a shame to hit lots of nice drives only to have to move the ball into the rough.

 

[Leftie]

Is this a "Scotland" thing?

Or just north of the Watford Gap?

 

[Doh]

We did it in the past to protect the fairways now we just use fairways all the time, they recover well no problem.

 

[Crazyface]

Preferred lies at ours at the mo. Only one really suffers and that's the 8th as even the worst player is usually firing into the green winter or summer.

 

[thecraw]

The point is that it's Scottish winter time. There is next to no growth and the months of December January February and sometimes even March there is no growth. Taking big soggy wet winter divots from the fairways will result in the fairways being very poor come April time when I'm sure people will then start moaning that winter rules should have been in place to protect the fairways.

I am 100% in favour of lift from the fairway and place in the rough. In fact I suspect that I'm in a very very small minority who would happily play on winter greens from November till the middle of March in order to protect the greens if it ensured good greens for the April medal.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Crawford is spot on, there is no growth at all for 5 months so in an effort to keep the fairways playable you either use a mat or drop in the rough. I actually quite like the mat as you get a great lie every time

 

[brendy]

6 degrees and above grass will grow apparently. Our club does the same though it is currently closed with the amount of rain we have had, when the course is open, fairways are still in play. once Christmas is over, winter league starts and it is lift ball and place in the rough which is usually ok, you do get some awful lines into a green over a bunker where otherwise you were fine on the fairway, everyone is in the same boat though so no point worrying about it. As I say, Winter golf is a different kind of game to most of us in these isles.

 

[patricks148]

We have this from Jan at Tain. No problem with this at all, just kick the ball to the edge. Its better than using a mat which is what a lot of clubs do.