Winter greens and mats

[drawboy]

So winter is on it's way and with it for many temporary greens (yuk ) and mats. If you have them do you think you get value for money from your course and also do you think it's a cop out for poor green keepers who cannot present a course to play in winter?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No winter mats and only on temps for hard frosts so I'm more than happy.

 

[TonyN]

Hate the tee's but only on temps for frost, cant be helped!

ALthough, my mate was saying in switzerland they used to whip the frost off the greens first thing, Maybe I miss-heard him but thats what it sounded like

 

[matt01]

we much the same
have a few mats and temp greens only in bad frost
so not to bad
just the wet and cold to put up with for 6 months!!

 

[barb]

This will be my 1st winter at our new club so not sure what they do yet. Hopefully everything remains as it is.

 

[Up_Point_1]

Apologies if this is a dopey question but this has been bugging me for years.

Why is it that we're dumped onto temporary greens in winter when the mains greens are frozen, and yet when it's wet and soft underfoot during the winter months the main greens are still is use. Surely more damage is going to be caused to a green when it's soft underfoot than when it's rock hard.

I confuzzed

 

[TonyN]

Someything in the frost causes disease if its trodden in, something like fungimicyelium (SP) thats why clubs leave it for the sun to dry it out! Makes the greens turn brown!

 

[rgs]

No temp tees or greens then we dont get extreme cold weather in Dublin.

 

[stevek1969]

We asked this question last year as the course was closed when it looked perfect. When the greens are frozen you cant do any damage but when they start to thaw out you get about half an inch which is soft this is when the damage is done all the roots snap and you dont get any growth in the spring.

Our place no mats no temps we play the course as it is only on 4 holes do we have temp astroturf mats which are built in and very good these are at the back of the tees which makes the course longer, nightmare eh

 

[Tommo21]

Just a thought..........how come the temp greens last the winter no probs.

 

[Jigger]

No temp greens where I play in the north east. About 4 temp tees over 27 holes. Come april greens are still in great nick. I guess we're fortunate to have green keepers who work their socks off although we do pay for it. Then again. It's because of the condition over the winter that I pay my fees.

 

[Herbie]

Just a thought..........how come the temp greens last the winter no probs.

Cos no one ever lands a ball on one

 

[DCB]

When I started playing regularly 30 years back, people didn't play as much during harsh weather in the winter. The course didn't take the traffic that is evident nowadays. There weren't powakaddy trolleys running all over the place. Life was simple, the course was closed in bad weather, people carried their bags or had to use the new fangled Wide Wheel for their trolley. The result was a course which survived the winter in reasonable nick.

Nowadys with so many folks retired early the courses are busier. People do play in poor weather.

Temp greens therefor become more important to protect the main green during periods of harsh weather.

If you're next to the sea it's not a pronblem, but an inland parkland course then it's a necessary evil I'm afraid.

To the OP to blame the greenkeepers is a bit off IMO they have a hard enough time without getting stick for this as well.

Try searching for some facts on turf and agronomy before making sweeping statements about greenkeepers and their ability.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Totally agree with DCB that to blame greenkeepers is unfair. Most are pretty good at what they do and its a struggle at the best of time balancing what is right for the course against club/management wishes. Playing on frosted greens will crucify them for the Spring and when the growing weather comes the roots will be dead and the greens a mess which will take most of the summer to repair.

We all know that from time to time there will be temps. Its a fact of winter golf and the best you can do is accept it and think of the longer term view and the sunnier warmer days to come

 

[andiritchie]

I feel sorry for you guys

I have temp mats and have to play shots off a mat off the fairway but we play full greens all year,

TBH just getting 9 holes in in winter at my home track is enough,i just enjoy putting the ball in the hole

 

[RGDave]

I can live with mats. We don't have temps (ever!) and it shows because our greens are never 100% even in late summer.....we pay a price, I guess.

 

[andiritchie]

I will pay money to pay good tracks in winter Nefyn sp? is a must for me.

Preferred lies and mud up to your knee!

You got to love winter golf

 

[Smiffy]

My clubs will be more or less hibernating over the winter months and will only come out for special occasions.
If I do play it will likely be at Lewes where they never have temporary greens and only a few mats are used on certain holes.
I can live without it to be honest.

 

[birdieman]

I've always been slightly intrigued by these -


winter golf

Anyone got a pair??
Not very cool are they?

 

[jammydodger]

A guy I played with used to wear a pair of wellies with spikes on the bottom. Good idea however the club started putting stuff down to kill off the top layer of worms and that made the fairways absolutely beautiful in winter. You could play 18 holes and your trousers were immaculate when you came off.