As winter looms and the weather starts to impact the condition of golf courses, arguments about the merits of golf fairway mats will undoubtedly begin in clubhouses throughout the UK. While some golfers are perfectly happy to use winter golf mats, others absolutely hate them. The simple answer to the question “do you need to use a golf fairway mat in the winter?” is that it is very much up to the individual club.
So, within this blog post we will take a closer look at golf fairway mats, their purpose, why some clubs make them compulsory during winter months and the rules around the use of golf mats. We’ll also take a look at the different types of golf fairway mats available to golfers. Hopefully at the end of this blog post new and experienced golfers alike will be better informed about golf fairway mats and why clubs sometimes insist on their use.
What is the Reason for the Use of Golf Fairway Mats?
There are two main reasons for the use of winter golf fairway mats, one is to protect the course and the other to improve the playing experience for golf club members and visitors. During the cold wet winter months grass will not grow, which in turn means that the ground will not recover from any damage.
The number of golfers playing through winter has increased over the last few years which, while great for the sport, puts a lot more stress on the courses. To ensure that courses remain in good condition and, more importantly, have the chance to recover properly for the summer season, there has to be some sort of compromise and that is the use of fairway mats.
It is estimated that each golfer will take around 20 divots during a round, half of which are on the fairway. That means a single fourball will take 40 divots out of the fairway per round. When that is multiplied by the number of golfers playing the course over the winter it is easy to see the pressure put on the course and greenkeepers. By insisting on the use of golf fairway mats, courses are able to stay open when otherwise weather conditions may dictate they have to close.
As well as protecting the course and contrary to popular opinion golf mats can improve the playing experience. Hitting off wet or frozen ground can be difficult and having a stable base can make playing shots much easier.
Do All Golf Courses Make the Use of Mats Compulsory During the Winter
No, some courses, especially links courses that have a sandy base, are not adversely affected by the weather meaning there is no need to use mats. Some golf clubs are reluctant to make the use of golf mats mandatory as they worry it will put off visitors and affect much needed income for the club. These clubs often make the use of mats optional leaving the decision up to the players themselves.
Other courses however will make the use of mats compulsory for members and visitors once the weather starts to affect the course. So, as you can see there is no uniform answer to the question as it very much depends on the greens committee at the club.
Golf Mats and Competitions
Once a golf club makes the use of mats optional or mandatory then they can be used in competitions. Clubs may have different local rules around the use of mats, however in most cases the mat is placed where the ball lies and the ball placed on it. You then take your shot from that position as you would normally. In some cases clubs allow the mat to be placed within six inches of where the ball lies.
Previously once mats were introduced then scores would not count towards a players handicap. However, under the new world handicap system qualifiers can be played off mats as long as they are only used on parts of the course cut to fairway height or less. Once the use of mats is allowed in the rough then scores can no longer be submitted for handicap purposes.
Hopefully this article has given you a greater understanding of why some golf clubs insist on the use of golf fairway mats. If you are looking for a high quality golf mat why not contact the team here at Artificial Grass Direct we have a range of golf mats with different pile heights suitable for golfers of all standards.
FAQs
What is the Best Type of Golf Mat?
There are a number of different options when it comes to golf mats. It’s difficult to say which is best as that is very much down to the individual golfer. The most popular options tend to be the multi mat which is made from a plastic moulding and the other is an artificial grass mat.
Are golf mats more forgiving than grass?
Mats do tend to be more forgiving than grass. Hence why, up until recently, rounds played off fairway mats wouldn’t count towards a players handicap. These days, however, they can count if the fairway mats are only used on the fairways themselves.
Are fairway mats legal?
It’s always worth checking with the individual club at which you are playing. Some may have different rules for competitions and some may wish for fairway mats to be compulsory during the winter months.