Times free for 2 or 4 in the ETIQUS Maasters sponsored by top man Jason Waite at excellent Dunham Forest on Monday

Results from Maxitours at panoramic Llangollen!

It took less than 55 minutes for the Maxitours tour bus to reach the fabulous venue of Llangollen in the North Wales valleys. Phil Smeathers looked contented to be surrounded by so many sheep and this was reflected in his better than usual play.

The attractive secretaries Barbara and Hayley were very welcoming, the greens and fairways were superb and the bacon baps were CRISPY and HUGE.

Dave Antrobus left his usual trail of destruction behind him today. He came over the top of his second shot into the tough 8th and missed the green badly to the left. He was then informed he had unfortunately played the wrong ball by a group on an adjoining fairway. Dave trudged to the green to collect the ball and hit it back to the rightful owner. Unfortunately it was by far Dave’s best shot of the day and the rightful owner had to duck for cover as the ball whistled past his forehead.

After all players went out my knees tuned to jelly as I made the worthwhile trip to walk on the famous Thomas Telford aquaduct which stands perilously 130ft high overlooking the stunning Llangollen valley. When I returned to the course it was Dave Madely whose legs were shaking as he stood over his three foot ‘downhiller’ after a superb approach at the last which narrowly claimed nearest the pin.

Martin Firths team is comprised of 4 likeable and big hitting lads in their mid thirties. After a superb start they all suffered a ‘mid round crisis’ and it was their overactive ”tear ducts rather than historic ‘Aquaduct’ that will be their main memory from today’s event. They narrowly missed out on the prizes with 81 points. ‘We blew it’ said a bleary eyed Firth.

Jeff Barrett from Leek has played plenty of team golf and before he went out he talked about the importance of all team members backing each other up in this format. As he handed his very average card in at the end of the day he complained ‘the lads backed me up alright, the only problem is it was against a brick wall.’

Maxitour regular David Smith(8) from Ringway is a class act. He informed me before play that his brother Terry was a late stand in and his handicap was currently inactive ‘we’ve got no chance, he’s hopeless any way’ he explained. Unfortunately David, Andy Hallows(10) and Ray Royle(21) had the round of their lives and came in with a best of the day 85 points. Under Maxitours rules they are unable to claim a top 3 prize. ‘We knew that before we went out- we just had a terrific day’ said the highly respected Architect and golfing gentleman.

Mick Mahon has never played Llangollen and he has been looking forward to the trip for months. He was due to pick his daughter up from Manchester Airport at 5pm last night however the plane was rerouted to an early morning landing at Heathrow. The rest of his team and their stand in were far from sympathetic as they chuckled to themselves over their pre round coffee and fresh bacon balms. ‘He’s not been to Heathrow, he’s just stuck in a queue in the jacamo sales’ said Frank Hindle. The team of Dave Westwood, John Farnworth and Tony Wilson then played great golf to finish 3rd on 81 points.

Second place went to Derek Hollindrake(8), Jonathon Finch(6), Rob Allen(12) and Tennis player Eric Knowles(7). Knowles has won the GB lawn tennis veterans doubles for the last 5 years so he knows how to pick a good partner and today a solid team effort saw them finish in a career best podium finish.

Taking today’s honours were the Saddleworth team of Lee Tilley(10), ex Wigan rugby league Chairman Pete Norbury(19), Rob Norbury (15)and Billy Coleman(18). I have played badly alongside these nice guys in many pro ams and we have never sniffed a prize so it is great to see them do so well today. Rob Norbury appeared as a star actor for over three years in the Hollyoaks soap opera , today for a change he impersonated a good golfer and was delighted with his maiden victory.

Many thanks to Mark and Julie from Holidays4golfers for sponsoring todays event. ALL of todays players will receive an £80 credit off the price of a golf holiday for 4 if you mention Maxitours! I have run several trips with these guys and I can sincerely recommend you to talk to them if you want a stress free golf holiday! http://www.holidays4golfers.com .

Thanks for all who played today, I received many, many great comments about todays venue!
Yours in golf, Tim

Nearest the Pin 18th hole Dave Madely Dozen Srixon AD333s
Nearest the Pin 14th Hole Tom Jarvis Dozen Srixon AD333s
2’s £112.50 5 pro Vs or 10 srixons each Jonathon Finch Martin France Dave McDougall Dave Madely Bill Parkinson Eric Knowles Mick Cannon Tom Jarvis

Monday’s Dunham Forest start times(13th October)

8.10 Jim Caldwell x2 Simon Conway x2
8.20
8.28 Simon Poucher x4
8.37
8.46
8.54 Colin Baxendale x4
9.03
9.12
9.21 Brian Keen x4
9.30 Phil Vokes x4
9.39 Dave Stanhope x4
9.48 Ian Ainsworth x4
9.57 Lewis Marland x4
10.06 Richard Blackwell x4
10.15 Brian Greenbank x4
10.24 Ian Bartholomew x4
10.33 Des Kelly x4
10.42 Ian King x4
10.51 Mick Mahon x4
11.00 Pete Short x2 Carl Kennedy x2
11.09 Dave Parsons x4
11.18
11.27 John Broadhurst x4
11.36 Ben Luscombe x4
11.45
11.54
12.03 Rob Weston x4
12.12 Ian Fairbrother x4
12.20 Charles Herbert x4
12.28 Steve Johnson x2 Nigel Oakes x2
12.36 Sam Leach x4
12.44 Eddie Ellis x4
12.52 Austin McBride x2 Stan Williams x2
1.00pm John Stubbs x4