Metal/Soft Spikes

JimDean

Was down at the K club the other day there.

Strolling to the first tee, as I go past the pro shop yer man comes out and tells me that metal spikes are not allowed on the course.

I give him a look, "are you serious, mate". The place is swamped, soft spikes would present a hazard to my health on those surfaces. They get caught up with grass and other tatter, providing no grip whatsoever. Infact they cannot even be easily cleaned using a tee or what not.


Advice for clubs, this is NOT, NOT America or Dubai. This kip is called IRELAND. It rains 380 days a year. Get over yourselves.

(After a little bit of a barney rubble, yer man let me on my way).

ShriekingSheet

JimDean wrote: »

Was down at the K club the other day there.

Strolling to the first tee, as I go past the pro shop yer man comes out and tells me that metal spikes are not allowed on the course.

I give him a look, "are you serious, mate". The place is swamped, soft spikes would present a hazard to my health on those surfaces. They get caught up with grass and other tatter, providing no grip whatsoever. Infact they cannot even be easily cleaned using a tee or what not.


Advice for clubs, this is NOT, NOT America or Dubai. This kip is called IRELAND. It rains 380 days a year. Get over yourselves.

(After a little bit of a barney rubble, yer man let me on my way).

I agree, and think that there's little difference between the two on our greens - and if anything, Black Widow soft spikes just do a different kind of damage to steel ones.

Regardless, what were you thinking? It must be nearly 10 years since the vast majority of parkland courses put this rule in place.

JimDean

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Black Widow soft spikes just do a different kind of damage to steel ones. .

You got that right, and they need replaced every few months.

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Regardless, what were you thinking? It must be nearly 10 years since the vast majority of parkland courses put this rule in place.

Rules? I am well aware of the "rules". The rules would be very useful to me when I am sitting in the Matter with the leg in bits.

Osgoodisgood

JimDean wrote: »

Rules? I am well aware of the "rules". The rules would be very useful to me when I am sitting in the Matter with the leg in bits.

Just a teensy weensy exaggeration perhaps?

ShriekingSheet

JimDean wrote: »

Rules? I am well aware of the "rules". The rules would be very useful to me when I am sitting in the Matter with the leg in bits.

So you showed up in metal spikes, in full knowledge they weren't allowed and were then surprised you got in an argument with staff at the K Club? :P

JimDean

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

So you showed up in metal spikes, in full knowledge they weren't allowed and were then surprised you got in an argument with staff at the K Club? :P

Do you get the point I was making?

It comes down to common sense over the petty school teacher mentality.

Whyner

Did anyone see the sign in The European encouraging metal spikes?

stumpypeeps

The main reason we as Greenkeepers dislike the use of metal spikes is due to the damage the cause on the greens, especially around the cup. Now while I know the majority of guys will not drag their feet, unfortunately a lot of guys do. We can spot when a group, with one person wearing spikes, passes through a green.

Not doubting the added value of metal spikes, especially during winter, but theirs a reason soft spikes are used.

Tin_Cup

Have to say personally I have never had a problem with grip while wearing soft spikes.

I do loudly blame them though when I slip swinging but I know deep down I just made a god awful swing and ended up off balance!

thegen

Lads,

I have had it from our Pro that the greenkeeper does not mind metal spikes in fact he quite likes them. Not sure as to why, aeration maybe? Stumpy any ideas on this?

stumpypeeps

thegen wrote: »

Lads,

I have had it from our Pro that the greenkeeper does not mind metal spikes in fact he quite likes them. Not sure as to why, aeration maybe? Stumpy any ideas on this?

The spikes wouldn't penetrate the surface deep enough to be of any use aeration wise. So thats probably not it.

Perhaps the added traction you get from metal spikes prevents the twisting you often see on tee boxes. You know those swirls caused by an off balance swing.

The main issue we have with metal spikes is they tend to scuff the surface of the greens, and cause terrible damage around the cup.

Now if a pro or low handicap is wearing metal spikes, they step properly on the green. Others tend to drag their feet and scuff and mark them. A group of high handicappers wearing spikes inevitably means cutting the greens again the next day, regardless of growth. Its a pain.

stockdam

I think soft spikes have got much better than they used to be. Mine used to clog up badly and you could slip in them (especially in the slimy stuff that you sometimes see).

Metal spikes are fine on greens provided you don't drag your feet.

I think there's probably more damage done to greens by people not fixing their pitch-marks properly (most people either don't do it or else do it incorrectly).

Atlantic1

stumpypeeps wrote: »

The main reason we as Greenkeepers dislike the use of metal spikes is due to the damage the cause on the greens, especially around the cup. Now while I know the majority of guys will not drag their feet, unfortunately a lot of guys do. We can spot when a group, with one person wearing spikes, passes through a green.

Not doubting the added value of metal spikes, especially during winter, but theirs a reason soft spikes are used.

Have to agree with you, Stumpy. Metal spikes do a lot of damage in the way you described, but most especially to sand based greens. I think all clubs with sand based greens insist on soft spikes. It always surprises me a little though, that Pro's don't have to obey this rule, when playing tournaments.

DonkeyPokerTour

The answer to all our problems, perfect grip when its needed and no spikes at all on the green:

http://www.kickspike.com/

george67

I read an article saying that a lot of american courses prefer metal spikes due to the amount of claims due to slipping . In the article they were also called the greatest con in golf .

kermitpwee

JimDean wrote: »

Do you get the point I was making?

It comes down to common sense over the petty school teacher mentality.

Its soft spikes in the majority of places now and has been for a long time.

soundsham

metal spikes allowed if you want in winter time and only soft spikes in summer in our place,

I'd say about 10-15% use metals in winter usually the older guys