Carnoustie Replacement

[Andrew Mitchell]

I played last week with a couple of guys who had just come back from a trip to Carnoustie.  They confirmed they had been asked to play off mats (& negotiated a 50% discount for doing so - who said Yorkshiremen were tight ). They said it was no problem as it only applied if you managed to hit the fairway! Also you could play without mats from the first cut of rough.

They reported that Carnoustie is in great condition albeit rather green in appearance due to the wet summer.

[Jim Dawson]

Good Afternoon All,
We returned from our Scotland trip last week. We left the Glasgow airport shortly before the bomb went off.
As to playing Carnouste with the mats:
Most of you replied that we should play Carnouste 2 weeks before The Open, even if we had to hit off of mats.
We did play it and had great results. Hitting off of the mats, about 20 times for me, was not any problem or distraction. It helped some of my shots.
Thanks to all who said to play off the mats.
If anyone has any interest on hearing some highlights of our trip, I would be glad to expound on it in another thread.

Thanks again,
Jim Dawso

[Wayne_Kozun]

Why would they make golfers play from mats at Carnoustie?  Did Oakmont make members play from mats for a month or two before the US Open?  Can't divots be pretty much dealt with by filling in with a sand/seed mix?  Even if it doesn't grown in on time then you are still hitting from a decent lie.

I just played the course that will be hosting the Canadian Open in two weeks and although it was cart path only there were no restrictions on hitting from the fairway.  Sure it is not a major but I think this is rather ridiculous at Carnoustie.

[Evan_Green]

Why would they make golfers play from mats at Carnoustie?  Did Oakmont make members play from mats for a month or two before the US Open?  Can't divots be pretty much dealt with by filling in with a sand/seed mix?  Even if it doesn't grown in on time then you are still hitting from a decent lie.

But Wayne, Carnoustie gets a lot more traffic than Oakmont...

[David_Elvins]

Why would they make golfers play from mats at Carnoustie?  Did Oakmont make members play from mats for a month or two before the US Open?

 
Because Carnoustie is a busy golf course played by golfers from all around the world and Oakmont is a members only course with less rounds per week.
The other thing to consider is that a lot of the Scottish courses funnel balls to particular areas that receive extremely heavy wear.  I don't know what course you played in Canada but it may not have had the same characteristics.

I think it is fantastic that Carnoustie seems to have no restrictions on play by unacompanied guests just two weeks before the Open.  That should be celebrated.

[Brian_Ewen]

It wasnt very hard to negotiate a 50% reduction for hitting off mats , as it was well advertised locally and on the Carnoustie website .

[Sean_A]

Why would they make golfers play from mats at Carnoustie?  Did Oakmont make members play from mats for a month or two before the US Open?  Can't divots be pretty much dealt with by filling in with a sand/seed mix?  Even if it doesn't grown in on time then you are still hitting from a decent lie.

I just played the course that will be hosting the Canadian Open in two weeks and although it was cart path only there were no restrictions on hitting from the fairway.  Sure it is not a major but I think this is rather ridiculous at Carnoustie.

Wayne

So far as I know, its been a policy of either the host club or the R&A to play off mats before the Open for many years now.  In fact, more and more links are requiring mats off the fairway in winter if the they think the course won't be in good condition for the spring/summer.  Part of the problem is birds flipping the divots for food and the grass doesn't recover.  

Ciao

[redanman]

Why would they make golfers play from mats at Carnoustie?  

So North American of you.

Study up on links agronomics and report back.

Carnoustie is on linksland. It is not a lush parkland setting.