Fly mats - general comments are welcome

We are considering putting them in at some courses and were curious if anyone has played on them or installed them? How do they seem to hold up? General comments are welcome
Peace
DR

[rhett]

I like 'em. Someone was talking on another thread about dirt on the pads. I've seen concrete pads covered in dirt, and they don't work so swell that way either. Sweep 'em off whether they are concrete or FlyPad! Duh...

I like 'em.

I like 'em.

Make sure you level the area before setting them down. They aren't "Instant Pads", they are FlyPads.

Light hiking shoes work great on them *AND* provide excellent traction all over the course. Cleats grab on them. But then again about th eonly reason to wear cleats is on a course with dirt tee-pads that turn into mud-bogs with use. If you have FlyPads, no need for cleats!

Level the area, sweep 'em, and wear light hikers.

yeah, I always seem to misplace my broom, but when I do bring it and have a back up on the card, we just play limbo. lol

[chains11864]

"No need for cleats"....until you walk of the piece of rubber onto the earth, where it has been raining, and is muddy...tried not to comment, but the pure blindness caused me too much pain.

DOUG...go to the "TEE PADS MAKE THE COURSE" thread for more opinions on "fly pads", some good, and some bad, but I think there are pros and cons to everything...except rubber welcome mats being considered for disc golf.

feel the love...

Chains

Yeah, I carry a fly pad on my cart and lay it down all all drives and mid range shots.

[ozdisc]

Doug check your email later about this. Chris.

[flyboy]

I cant keep up with all this talk about me I will sit back and listen.Brandon do you have a life?Fly 18 has a name concrete does not.

[wander]

This isn't talk about you, Reese. This is talk about Fly 18 tee pads. There are obviously mixed reviews. Were the talk just about you, you probably wouldn't see much variation on the theme.

The only time I see players avoiding a concrete tee pad is when there is ice. Yet, I have watched a good 25% of players tee from the side of Fly 18 pads when given the opportunity.

[neonnoodle]

"But then again about th eonly reason to wear cleats is on a course with dirt tee-pads that turn into mud-bogs with use. If you have FlyPads, no need for cleats!"

This might be true in CA, I don't know, but on the East Coast, where we don't have to empty the CO River to have grass, cleats are often a must. Personally I avoid wearing cleats as much as possible and for the same reason I'm not a fan of Fly Pads or overly textured concrete tee pads; because they put too much stress on my ankles, knees, hips and back. But when you really need the traction and that is more times than not lately (with all of the rain), wearing cleats on a Fly Pad is just about the worst combination possible as far as added stress to those parts of the body.

I've played on them and I do not like them. I can understand that they may be a decent option for temporary tees, but if a course is going to be in only for a few days for an event then the natural surface is probably a better option and certainly a less expensive one.

I wish Reese all the best in his efforts, I just think that there are far better tee pad options available for most situations.

[flyboy]

fly 18 is an option just like my courses.

[neonnoodle]

What exactly do you do to get your courses in? Is it a similar process to getting them into a town, county or state park or even buying the land and putting them in? Do you design them? Do you have anyone helping you for each location? Do you go around maintaining them? Have any been pulled? Do they make any money for the local club there? What is the initial investment on your or anyones part to get one in? If they're on expensive golf courses are they able to be played at the same time as rich golfers are playing and on average how much does it cost?

I can think of at least three courses in Oregon (where it supposedly rains all the time...) and they (Fly pads) work beautifully - IMO - rain, shine, snow, whatever, assuming they've been properly installed and maintained (ie, brushed off if muddy, etc.).

Like 'em or hate 'em, they're a definate viable option for new course designers - especially in the early stages of course development and in environmentally sensitive areas where concrete is simply not an option.

Additionally, at least for Fly 18 courses, they're probably the only option a ball/disc golf course would seriously consider.

[quickdisc]

Opps !! Didn't know players were wearing cleats. Football or the metal baseball cleats? I have tried both. These types of shoes are made for Grass and/or Dirt. My baseball cleats work best off the pavement. I still slide on the Grass with my football cleats. Nothing is perfect. There is a solution to almost every situation we may come across in this Sport. Common sense helps out. I have played with folks though who throw common sense out the window so to speak. Oh well ,what can you do. Offer choices , find solutions to problems. It will keep some from whinning. Some will always whine no matter what is given or provided for them. Look for the good and don't dwell on the negative. Keep it in drive and stay out of reverse when possible. /msgboard/images/clipart/proud.gif

Thanks and stay positive.

[chains11864]

OK.......last comment on this at all....I objectively answered the question asked on the "TEE PADS MAKE THE COURSE" thread. I spoke about what I thought were the best options, as far as tee pads are concerned, that is all. I gave an educated, and honest, opinion about "fly pads", and what has been my experiences with them. Also, I reported what 90% of the people I have played with think of these as tee pad options in disc golf. REESE, I have not commented about you, or to you, at anytime, until now...you have a product for disc golf, great, love the idea of more thought going into our sport, BUT if you create a product, you have to be open to others opinions.

This is not Brandon vs. "fly pads"...I have a life, and avoid making immature statements like "do you have a life?" to others. Very simple, I commented on the earlier thread, then responded accordingly...WHEN I noticed it becoming full of ignorance, and people looking for arguments, I decided to end my participation, just like now.

B