Playing of Winter Mats

Senna

From tomorrow on my local club have introduced a "Winter Mats" only policy, were we have to play all shots from those stupid plastic mats.
Every other year they have allow dropping onto the semi rough but the recent delude of rain must have brought this on.
Has anyone played from these mats before?

Kace

I have never even seen one of these before. Very uncommon I think. Any pics of what you're using ?

GreeBo

I've seen them on links before, never parkland.

WHIP IT!

Yeah, commonplace at Portmarnock and Royal Dublin etc in winter...

Senna

have to pick them tomorrow so not sure what their like. I'm guessing their a 2ft x 2ft piece of artificial grass like they have at driving ranges.

The Aul Switcharoo

Senna wrote: »

have to pick them tomorrow so not sure what their like. I'm guessing their a 2ft x 2ft piece of artificial grass like they have at driving ranges.

That is a bit weird alright. Never heard of them before. Wouldn't mind trying it out myself - god knows I strike it better in the range!

onlyfinewine

Senna wrote: »

have to pick them tomorrow so not sure what their like. I'm guessing their a 2ft x 2ft piece of artificial grass like they have at driving ranges.

The ones I have used in Lahinch were about 12 inches by 6 inches and you could anchor them by putting tees through the eyelets provided into the ground. They were quite thin and you could get a lot of spin with a crisp strike.

The other mats I played off were in Limerick Golf Club and were much thicker and a little larger. They had a double sided artificial grass moulded in which was thicker on one side, so you could choose how high you wanted the ball to be for your shot. If you struck these a little heavy they took away a lot of distance from the shot. In my opinion a much better solution to sparing the fairways during the winter because a) you got to play your shot from where it lay and b) no damage was caused to the fairway or localised damage in the rough from playing shots from just off the fairway.

Senna

I never liked hitting irons off mats because you couldn't hit a shot fat, which used to be my "bad" shot. I'm just picturing playing off mats all winter then come next summer i'll start hitting shots fat again. Maybe its all in my head, but i'll update this post after i play a round.

GreeBo

Senna wrote: »

I never liked hitting irons off mats because you couldn't hit a shot fat, which used to be my "bad" shot. I'm just picturing playing off mats all winter then come next summer i'll start hitting shots fat again. Maybe its all in my head, but i'll update this post after i play a round.

You can hit kinda hit them fat of these mats though, its still soft ground underneath, not like concrete in a range...

MisterAnarchy

Senna wrote: »

From tomorrow on my local club have introduced a "Winter Mats" only policy, were we have to play all shots from those stupid plastic mats.

Farcical stuff,you might as well put away the clubs for the winter or else the club should refund you your sub.
I never heard such nonsense in all my days.

Senna

Yeah it is ridiculous, but members in Letterkenny are well used to it, the course used to be unplayable for 4/5 months of the year until they remodelled the course, but its so low lying that it will never be playable all year round.

Looks like it'll be links golf for the winter for me.

onlyfinewine

Senna wrote: »

Yeah it is ridiculous, but members in Letterkenny are well used to it, the course used to be unplayable for 4/5 months of the year until they remodelled the course, but its so low lying that it will never be playable all year round.

Looks like it'll be links golf for the winter for me.

Both Ballybunion (drop to rough at side of fairway) and Lahinch (mat) use this type of relief for the fairways during parts of the winter.

So it is not only the inland heavy clay courses that appear to need protecting? This was never done on links to my memory before the last decade or thereabouts, so does it indicate a heavier amount of play during the season or a more careful approach during the winter?

Should it even be necessary in the first place?

tippman26

does any1 have a pic of 1?do u get them the clubhouse before going out and have to carry it around with you?

GreeBo

onlyfinewine wrote: »

Both Ballybunion (drop to rough at side of fairway) and Lahinch (mat) use this type of relief for the fairways during parts of the winter.

So it is not only the inland heavy clay courses that appear to need protecting? This was never done on links to my memory before the last decade or thereabouts, so does it indicate a heavier amount of play during the season or a more careful approach during the winter?

Should it even be necessary in the first place?

Its been done for years, my old man used to have one in the boot of his car for playing various links courses around the country.

Senna

Is it used more on links because there is very little growth on the fairways? and they don't want them worn during the "non-growth" season?

onlyfinewine

GreeBo wrote: »

Its been done for years, my old man used to have one in the boot of his car for playing various links courses around the country.

How far back are you talking in relation to the carrying of the mat and which areas of links courses were involved?

First time I remember mats being used was in Limerick during a fairway sanding program which was to last 5 years, and that was (I think) around 1990 onwards.

GreeBo

onlyfinewine wrote: »

How far back are you talking in relation to the carrying of the mat and which areas of links courses were involved?

First time I remember mats being used was in Limerick during a fairway sanding program which was to last 5 years, and that was (I think) around 1990 onwards.

1990 would be about right, thats 22 years ago now!
Portmarnock at least.

btw OP here is one for about €5

link_2007

They look like a really mouldy slice of bread, especially the one posted by onlyfinewine.

FixdePitchmark

That piece of bread is funny.

Who is the forum expert on greenkeeping - i guess the fact the grass does not grow much in winter , that if a divot is taken at this time of year it will not regrow ?

But The Links Portmarnock claim they have had no winter rules for 8 years. Unless they use winter greens but no winter rules ?

The Island don't play fairways for a few months. Seems to be inconsistency.

Myksyk

Yeah have played with them in Lahinch a few times. They usually bring them in Dec to Feb i think. Not great playing off them tbh. I expected material something like you'd see on a driving range mat but in fact they were about 6"x12" plastic rectangles dotted with rows of 1cm high clusters of plastic grass. You pin them to the ground using tees, front and/or back. Actually here are the ones they use in Lahinch.