Is there a north south divide?

[bobmac]

Now, I know you get good and bad golfers from all parts of Britain, but are Scottish golfers better players on average so lower handicaps than the southern softies I see down here?

What is the percentage of Cat I golfers at your club and do you think that percentage is higher north of the border.
The reason I ask is that the Cat I guys down here seem to be held in quite high esteem whereas up north, they seem to be 10 a penny.

 

[Basher]

Wouldn't say they were held in high esteem Bob. More like given a bit more respect than your average golfer. There are some Cat I golfers though who command and demand respect, everyone has seen them, they walk around as if they own the course.

 

[CMAC]

Interesting comment, I'd have thought there were far more cat1 players down south partly due to the better weather and larger population. I wonder what the actual statistic is.
With regards the respect they command I think the Scots are equally respectful of any category golfer, never really come across any prima donnas, they would get short shrift in the home of golf I think.

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

I'd say the Cat1 golfers up my way tend to be really nice guys who are willing to have a round with anyone and offer helpful advice.

I tend to find it's some of the mid handicappers who are storming around thinking they run the place, buying top of the range gear and forever striving to join the elite. They are so caught up in their own game they forget golf if a social sport and there to enjoy. There are some high handicappers in the same mould but fewer of them.

I would say though that this has been noticed on other golf courses and not my home club. I've only ever found one fella up there who boils my pee and apart from him everyone is welcoming and up for a round

 

[bladeplayer]

Bob do you mean the grade of Cat 1 is held in higher esteem or the actual Cat 1 players ? im sure every club has their sound cat 1 players & their knob cat 1's, this is more a reflection on the person than the catagory they play in , wouldnt have a clue as to whether there are more cat 1's north or south be intresting stat alright ..

 

[Doh]

I know all of our CAT1 players at my club as I Captain the scratch team (none playing) 99% of them are really down to earth fun loving guys with talent. I also know a lot of the top county players again most are good guys who would have a game with anyone.

 

[bobmac]

It's not so much about how the Cat I guys behave, it's just there seem to be alot more of them in Scotland by percentage of course. So when someone asks what's your h/cap in Scotland and they say 5 or 3 whatever, there's no wow factor.

 

[Dodger]

It's not so much about how the Cat I guys behave, it's just there seem to be alot more of them in Scotland by percentage of course. So when someone asks what's your h/cap in Scotland and they say 5 or 3 whatever, there's no wow factor.

I would be amazed if this was in fact a reality Bob.

I wonder if anyone can come up with the actual facts....

 

[Smiffy]

I think the courses we play down here are much harder so therefore a 10 handicapper from the South is most probably a much better golfer than his equivalent from Scotland or Northern England.

 

[Hobbit]

I think the courses we play down here are much harder so therefore a 10 handicapper from the South is most probably a much better golfer than his equivalent from Scotland or Northern England.

lol

Drops hand grenade in the pond and runs away sniggering

 

[CMAC]

I think the courses we play down here are much harder so therefore a 10 handicapper from the South is most probably a much better golfer than his equivalent from Scotland or Northern England.

think Smiffys got a point, a 10 h/capper down south playing in the warm sunshine and hard fairways is probably equivalent to a scratch golfer in the north who plays on a 7000 yd soft-no-run-course in 40mph winds

/adds another grenade and legs it

 

[chrisd]

I think the courses we play down here are much harder so therefore a 10 handicapper from the South is most probably a much better golfer than his equivalent from Scotland or Northern England.

Because of the higher cost of living and the extra cost of golf membership, us southerners practice much harder so that our membership is of equal value to up north, and enevitably our ability is much better as a result. Also our diet allows us to retain our sylph like figures in older age where deep fried Mars bars don't!

 

[johnboywalton]

think Smiffys got a point, a 10 h/capper down south playing in the warm sunshine and hard fairways is probably equivalent to a scratch golfer in the north who plays on a 7000 yd soft-no-run-course in 40mph winds

/adds another grenade and legs it

How do you keep your kilts down, with all that wind??

 

[USER1999]

Bob, cobblers mate.

My course has loads of cat ones. About 40 of them, may be more.

The south is not short of talent.

 

[Hobbit]

We've barely got time to practice oop north. We work down the pit for 25 hours a day. Then we trudge through the snow, in June, all the way home - we don't have cars. And when we get home we have to make sure the tarpaulin is secure otherwise the driving blizzard will sneak in and pinch what little heat we manage to generate from burning the kitchen table.

And then, at dawn, we fight our way to the course for a quick 18 before work. We have to knock it round in as few shots as possible otherwise we'd be late... HENCE why all northern folk, including the Scots, are Cat 1 golfers.

Must dash, got to put another bairn on the fire!

 

[bluewolf]

We've barely got time to practice oop north. We work down the pit for 25 hours a day. Then we trudge through the snow, in June, all the way home - we don't have cars. And when we get home we have to make sure the tarpaulin is secure otherwise the driving blizzard will sneak in and pinch what little heat we manage to generate from burning the kitchen table.

And then, at dawn, we fight our way to the course for a quick 18 before work. We have to knock it round in as few shots as possible otherwise we'd be late... HENCE why all northern folk, including the Scots, are Cat 1 golfers.

Must dash, got to put another bairn on the fire!

pah, luxury...etc etc etc..

 

[USER1999]

May be northern folk have to be good at golf because they cannot afford to lose as many balls as us affluent southerners.

 

[bluewolf]

May be northern folk have to be good at golf because they cannot afford to lose as many balls as us affluent southerners.

we cant afford balls. we all come down on the beverly hillbillies charabang and loot southern courses of all the lost gold plated Titleist pro v1's, sell them to the midlanders, then buy barrel loads of top flites to use on our goat mown northern hellhole courses.

 

[USER1999]

Thought as much.

 

[chrisd]

We've barely got time to practice oop north. We work down the pit for 25 hours a day. Then we trudge through the snow, in June, all the way home - we don't have cars. And when we get home we have to make sure the tarpaulin is secure otherwise the driving blizzard will sneak in and pinch what little heat we manage to generate from burning the kitchen table.

And then, at dawn, we fight our way to the course for a quick 18 before work. We have to knock it round in as few shots as possible otherwise we'd be late... HENCE why all northern folk, including the Scots, are Cat 1 golfers.

Must dash, got to put another bairn on the fire!

Nothing but moan you northern lot, we buy yer flippin coal from yer dont we !!!!


Chris