I Don't Mind Fairway Mats But I Can't Stand Winter Greens

What begins to change at your golf course when winter makes its typically unwelcome appearance? You might start to see important maintenance projects getting underway, alongside the introduction of other measures like winter tees, fairway mats, and, perhaps most disappointing of all, the spectre of temporary greens.

Now, each of these are often essential to ensure the long-term health and condition of the surfaces on which we play, making sure that they will look their absolute best when the joy of springtime and summer rolls around. We support the work of greenkeepers and would encourage all golfers to be appreciative and respectful of all decisions that are made.

However, that doesn't mean we can't feel a little apathetic when we arrive at our local golf club and see which winter measures are now in place. It's just something you have to accept when searching for your golfing fix at this time of the year, but certain things do put me off entirely.

Fairway Mats & Winter Tees

Having lived and spent considerable time in different parts of Scotland, I have seen pretty much everything with regard to both the impact of wintry weather and the measures taken by golf courses to adjust to it.

Tees are often reconstructed and maintained during the quieter season, meaning that you have to play off either another assigned surface or perhaps a mat. I would considerably prefer the former, but I can tolerate the latter, even if it's never the same hitting off artificial grass, albeit it's not dissimilar to hitting shots at the range.

In St Andrews, where I live today, you see both of these measures deployed in certain positions. The 1st tee of the Old Course is played from a mat until the spring, and that is also replicated on the par 3s, although other areas of the layout are played from more forward, less trampled positions, so the holes feel more or less the same length as they would normally.

Fairway mats are required on all of the courses here, but if you miss the short grass as often as I do, and putt towards the greens from afar, you would be surprised at how infrequently these little accessories are needed. Carrying them around and placing them beneath your ball is nothing more than a minor inconvenience and you will appreciate the positives when you enjoy immaculate fairways during the peak season.

When you consider temporary tees and fairway mats, while it's not ideal, when you rein in your expectations for what winter golf is all about, you will simply relish just being out there and playing your golf course relatively closely to how it's intended to be presented.

Winter Greens

That said, I do struggle to embrace winter greens, although I am understanding of the need for them in the face of frosty or extremely wet conditions. They're also vital whenever more extensive work is being done to the main putting surface.

Without the temporary greens, there is no doubt that our golf courses would have to close more frequently, which is a compromise that those golfers who still play regularly throughout winter often have to make.

But they do take away so much of the character and enjoyment of playing a particular golf hole, as the position, style and difficulty of the greens dictate so much to the player. When you lose that dynamic, you have given up much of the intrigue and thrill of playing the course.

Fortunately, where I am now, winter greens are not usually a factor in St Andrews, but they were at past golf clubs where I played, which was an experience that I found dispiriting, to say the least. 

While I was grateful that the course remained open and respected the need for these measures, it just wasn't for me, and that's why I got into the unfortunate habit of not playing for several months.

Many golfers will nonetheless consume the benefits of being outdoors, breathing in the fresh air and getting exercise, while meeting friends and keeping their games ticking over, and I doff my proverbial cap to you all.

But when it comes to winter golf, for better or worse, I don't mind fairway mats and winter tees, but while I have often felt guilty about having this feeling, temporary greens are the ultimate turn-off and diminish my enthusiasm for playing.

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