North v South 2012

Is there any news on this years N v S ? I would think we are all eager to ignite prior rivalries

I'm in Mart.

& Me.

I've just been going through the event survey/feedback and am sorting at the mo.

I can say it won't be the weekend/monday after the Masters due to the Bank Holiday weekend for Easters

As long as it's not 27/28 May I'm in.  28 May is my 40th and I intend to spend it worse for wear

It would be a good idea to have a date so that people can plan things around it.

Russ

I might abstain...Give my liver a rest!!http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/teeth_smile.gif" title="laugh" width="20" />

Or just sick of being a Southern loser Dave?

That i am Chris, hoping our luck will change this year . we always win on a leap year lol.

Im defo in this time as long as it doesnt clash with anything else planned.

TEAM SOUTH

I'm in - subject to date / previous commitments

as am i!!

Darren - what about Cleobury as a venue. Warm up 9 holes for everyone then 18 holes of competition, well probably 13 in my match when I hand out a beating to a southern softie!!!

Good idea, they've got lodges on site as well where people can stay but you need to book up fast. I hear that at least 2 of them have gone in May so some Northener can celebrate his 40th (again but in the sun this time)!!!

Oh yes - looking forward to it already!!!

Much as I like Cleobury I don't think it's particularly suitable - it's only got 4 lodges with a maximum occupancy of 4 people each.  And it's in the middle of nowhere so where will the other 30 or 40 people stay?.  

Patshull Park's got 49 rooms though...

I'd be happy with Patshull & it's nothing to do with the fact that I always play well there

Like this saving me a job.  Date wise as mentioned above it won't be in April due to Masters weekend being with the Bank Holidays.

Date will therefore be around June.

Location wise there was no real consensus the majority were split between the same location or another central with Southern bias.

Beware the double bank holiday in June Darren.....

Won't get no arguments from me about patshull park. Great venue for golf and food and very reasonably priced if I recall. I have suggested this as a venue before so maybe we should give it a chance.

Patshull Park is the wrong side of Birmingham to make it accessible to the Southern players

If picked I'd love to play - but be gentle with me.

June would be nice - in Italy the backend of May.

The Belfry fits the criteria nicely

Just had a look at the Patshull website, looks really good track !

I didnt play in 2010 so i cant comment on the changed layout and improved conditions at the abbey.

As the course was in terrible nick and we started on the 10th, thus not finishing infront of the great gallery at the Abbey in 2009 the extra 40 minutes in the car look like time well spent to me Darren.

Would love to be involved again, if there is room

Tim, do you mean 2011, you definitely turned up in 2010!

i'm up for that...the north team that is

love n v s

I love the Abbey, I now know my way around when pi###d,along with a few others It's all about Health and Safety! just 1 of many good reasons for the Abbey.

I don't care where we play, the North will kick Southern ass again no matter the location

By the way, how about The Warwickshire?  Never played it myself but appears to fit all the requirements

Might be too far South, but Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club, next to Silverstone is my suggestion. Played a couple of corporate golf days there.

Should go and recky it Chris, looks promising.

Used to live only 30 minutes away but never visited

24 hours then to chuck in some suggestions so I can get this nailed on Friday.  Obviously central (ish) with good road links.

well spotted dave. i definately had a couple of drinks after the sunday round but not enough to miss a year lol !

Is there a hotel at  the Warwickshire?

i hope so tim because the courses get great reviews, but i couldnt see any sign of one on their website !

Forest of Arden

Welcombe - Stratford

Telford golf & Hotel

Hawkstone Park

David, have you played all of those ?

The Welcombe is a great course & there's some really good match play holes.

the Warwickshire is also very very nice.

decisions, decisions Darren.....the choice is yours!

Not played Hawkstone, probably too far from SOuth anyway.

Welcombe was good, more difficult for North lot to reach.
Telford is a Q Hotels, (expensive beer!) but course is decent.
Forest of Arden easy to get to,

Belfry could be good too, but the company is in receivership (part of the Quinn empire- I think someone is buying it though) The brabazon would be too expensive, but other courses are good too.

I've not played in this event, but looking to use Golfshake for more games of golf this year, problem is I am a teacher so can only be off at set times, poor us !!

Trying to wrap this up.

A key requirement is that the venue most be able to accomodate anyone wanting to stay over the night before and play a round the day before, especially so given we have had 80% of players (50+) doing this the last 2 years. 

I've set-up a quick survey to gauge preferred option and price point: https://docs.google.com/a/golfshake.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_GB&formkey=dDBjcnlEY1ZGSUpHWUlXVjgtT050V1E6MQ#gid
=0

So now, Worcestershire is in the North. I learn something everyday.

Its North of the South John so it must qualify as the North!

You do realise, Dave, that if the border gets any lower there will not be a team from the South.

Im definately in!! :-)TEAM NORTH!!!!

Who's this new girl?

I'd be up for this, put me down for the North

I'd like to be in too.... Team North.

Would it be better to alternate venues between the North and South, home and away. The options on Darrens survey are all very much south if you divide the UK in half.

Look, we go through this every bloody year.  The event is held in the MIDLANDS, we've had endless discussions about where the dividing line is (I still reckon it should be the wash to the Brizzle channel - but we won't do that one to death again) but it's really up to where you feel your loyalties lie.  I'm from Essex but live in Derby, but I want to play for the North because that's where my heart lies.  People travel from all over the country for this event - just because the Abbey is near Brum doesn't mean to say that people coming from up North have a shorter journey than the soft Southerners. 

Well said Tim

How far away do you live again John?

Tim,

Not far enough to justify staying over http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/wink_smile.gif" title="wink" width="20" />

I might say its on the south coast and stay over anyway!!!

Still little old me tim :-)

Thanks to everyone who took the time to provide feedback in last year's survey and the recent survey on the North vs South. Having analysed the results The Abbey once again came out to top, purely for location, facilities and price point.    

I've spoken with the course and last year's new hole 15th is bedding in well at present and has been closed off from October and will not open again until April to give it time to mature further.

Information will shortly be going live on Golfshake but this year there will once again be a slight date change.  The historical date of April/Masters link up is no more given the unpredictability of the weather and this year the Masters coinciding with the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.   Last year's June which tied in with the US Open once again clashes with Fathers day so that is generally a lesser option for those taking part.  

For 2012 we are looking at the 8th/9th July.  This also gives time for any pre match team meet ups, I'm organising a Southern event, and hopefully more predictable weather conditions.

More info to follow later today.



Regards, Darren.

North team registration here - http://www.golfshake.com/golf/view/6334/

South team registration here - http://www.golfshake.com/golf/view/6335/

I'm registered

I'm registered to. http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.gif" title="smiley" width="20" />

I'm on the list!http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/wink_smile.gif" title="wink" width="20" />

I'm in!!!  http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.gif" title="smiley" width="20" />

I don't think we should be too down on the Abbey, at the end of the day we are all playing the same course and the competition is the main thing.

The Abbey certainly wasnt my first choice, but as David says we all have to play the same course and it is about other factors aswell i suppose.

Any news on the format Darren ?

I am one of those hoping for singles matches to be squeezed in ( only because my partner was so tired of carrying me last time)

Foursomes and singles, the only fair way to play any kind of team match. 4 ball better ball  has always been a lottery and always will be.

I agree John. To get people out on the course & to speed things up do you think it could be done to play 2 singles matches as a 4 ball?

John F, your suggestion is certainly workable especially with the time involved being almost critical.

I totally agree with you both Johns, singles as 4 balls could work.

Sorry for my ignorance, but how would handicaps work with foursomes ?

"Half the difference of the combined", Tim.

Foursomes should speep up the play as well with hopefully half the shots being played. Fantastic format I love playing foursomes.

Foursomes is a much fairer format in that both players have to contribute, unlike 4ball better ball where dovetailing is what makes the winners and does not always produce a fair result.

Foursomes , I'd better partner you then Skipper .... I love hitting long second shots!! http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/tounge_smile.gif" title="cheeky" width="20" /> and you can polish your wedges! http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/teeth_smile.gif" title="laugh" width="20" />

Sounds like a plan, Dave.

I don't mind foursomes in a club competition when there are lots of club competitions going on aswell. However, for a once a year event, the thought of only playing half the shots is not that appealling unless this is in addtion to a singles on the Monday of course!

I agree Dave, I would want to play the foursomes on the Sunday & singles on the Monday.

That way it may let some people who can't make the Monday to contribute towards the competition on the Sunday & vice versa. I'm sure there will be enough people to make the numbers up for both days.

I've signed up for team south and just have a few questions. Is there a certain number of people who can play and is there anything you need to do to get into the team?

Not a chance!

I have just put in a player request for the South team. Redditch is just down the road so very handy for me!

Mark, you should be playing for the North if you are a local chap. Mind you the saarrf need all the help they can get.

Have we established who the North team captain and vice captains are yet.

Mr Marshall, good to see you around sir.  Hope you can make the event this year withut lady luck throwing some random event your way to spoil it for you.  Can you please leave your boy at home though as it makes the task of beating you a little easier.

Redditch is pretty much on the border of the North/South split for the the event; ithe geographical centre is actually further North.  Just out of interest I checked the mileages from a couple of distant major cities in each of the areas to Redditch.  Mileages courtesy of Google Maps.

• Newcastle to Redditch - 221 miles
• Plymouth to Redditch - 196 miles

I think that pretty much confirms that the location is as central as realisticly possible.  If you take our Scottish brethren into account as well then it actually suits the South better. 

I grew up in Herts so have always considered myself a Southerner . Plus the North team looks to be almost full.

You're defo a Southerner Mark.  Bet you drink shandy and everything (or lager top if you're on a big session)

@ David Marshall - thanks for nothing, I have never made any comment on the location being better for North or South and I couldn't give a t*ss either.  It is located really well for me but if it was moved elsewhere I wouldn't be moaning about it.

David - if I didn't want to travel to a venue that I either deemed out of range for either travel or cost then I wouldn't put my name down to attend.  I was more than happy for the venue to be further south.  The north team list is overflowing as there is strength in depth!!!!  To be honest if the numbers didn't work out right I would be more than happy to play for the south, it is meant to be social golf albeit with competitive banter.

@ Dave Homer "I would be more than happy to play for the south"

You splitter!!!!  Where's your loyalty?  I knew there was something dodgy about left handers

-Sorry Chris, moment of madness, I was feeling sorry for them as their Captain had abandoned ship!!!  - a sinking ship at that!!!!

David, don't worry mate your the souths best player exactly where you are !http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/tounge_smile.gif" title="cheeky" width="20" />

"You're defo a Southerner Mark.� Bet you drink shandy and everything (or lager top if you're on a big session)" And only half pints obviously !Talking of beer I can thoroughly recommend the produce of The Purity Brewing Company which is handily based just outside of Redditch! I have no association with them but have a unhealthy interest their UBU ale!

UBU, no there's a good beer.  Better than that Guiness rubbish Leyo drinks

Leyo, could have played right handed and still won last time!

Leyo did play right handed Dave.  Think it might be because he's right handed.  Not everyone is afflicted with leftieitis like you

Any decision on the format for this yet or news regarding cost and bookings etc?

im new to this but would love to be involved in the south beating the north!!

In that case jamie all you gotta do is go to the events section and register to play for the south team.

That will be the hardest work involved in winning back the trophy !! 

its all quiet on the golfing front on here guys!!!!! just wait til the northern lefties wins the trophy - yet again http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/teeth_smile.gif" title="laugh" width="20" /> see u all there on the sunday

Hey Lorna,

Do you fancy teaming up again this year for the better ball on Sunday?,

regards, Michael.

Less than 9 weeks to go!!!!! Doesn't seem as much banter going on this year. I may have missed a post or something but has a decision been made on the Sunday foremat yet? Same team colours as last year?

Matt, if you are playing for the South then still time this week.

Chris, same team colors. Sunday format given no consensus on format will be the usual stableford competition.

Info here Matt

http://www.golfshake.com/golf/view/6335/