Women golfers are dreaming of a green Christmas this year, according to a recent survey by Golfplan. Aiming to hit the frost covered fairways nearly twice as much as men this Christmas!

Women golfers are dreaming of a green Christmas this year, according to a recent survey by specialist golf insurance provider Golfplan.

Aiming to hit the frost covered fairways nearly twice as much as men this Christmas, women are hopeful of playing golf five times over Christmas with 48% stating they will fit in a round of golf on Christmas Day. 13% went as far to say they will play 10-12 times in the 12 days!

Men on the other hand only aim to play three times over the season, choosing to be gentlemen and stay at home with friends and family to lead the festivities instead. 59% they will not be playing on Christmas Day, preferring to tackle nine courses than nine holes.

The survey also revealed that as we age we’re less likely to visit the course over Christmas; three-quarters (78%) of 55+ year olds declaring they wouldn’t play golf on Christmas Day compared to half of 25-34 year olds (53%) who would. Northern Ireland’s golfers are most likely to be seen celebrating on the course at Christmas, whereas the North East’s golfers will be firmly at home on the sofa.

When it comes to presents, it’s no surprise that golf clubs and balls top our golfers’ lists (61%), with game enhancing lessons or swing analysis coming in a close second (46%). The North East (48%) said they would like new golfing garments while Yorkshire players are pro professional lessons (38%).

Nearly a third of UK golfers are dreaming of Rory Mcllroy being their caddy this Christmas (31%), while a fifth of women want Tiger Woods to carry their clubs (22%) and one in eight men would like to putt against Ian Poulter this December (12%).

Ian Campbell at Golfplan, said: “As golf insurance providers, we like to know when and why golf is played. This survey threw up some surprising results to us. Christmas is a great time of year to play golf, with added holiday time to spend at courses up and down the country. 22% us that the extra number of friends and family around December makes them hit the green more. What better way to celebrate Christmas?”

61 per cent of UK golfers would be tempted to a game in an attempt to burn off some Christmas calories. One in seven women golfers confessed they will play golf during the holidays to get a break from their other halves (14 per cent) and nearly a third of the North East golfers (29 per cent) admitted to playing to get some peace and quiet from their children. A quarter of Northern Ireland’s golfers will play to relieve boredom (27 per cent).

For more information please visit www.golfplan.co.uk

*500 amateur UK golfers were surveyed on 19th November 2014 by Censuswide, evenly split by gender, age and geographical location

Photograph: Getty Images