Maxitours at delightful Dunham Forest
Around 100 selfish Maxitours golfers left their sweethearts at home and teed off in the Valentines Day sunshine at superb Dunham Forest today. It is hard to believe that we are still in F E B R U A R Y- the birds were singing and more than a few players were wearing tee shirts as the air mass moving up from Africa kept our Cheshire golfers very warm.

The course was incredibly dry and the greens were superb for our players today. Head Greenkeeper Davis Lippiate has done a truly great job getting the summer scorched fairways back to their usual excellent condition. He is incredibly switched on and planted a new species of grass seeds in the Autumn which can grow in just 4 degrees throughout the Winter- great work David.

Mike and Leslie Saxon run a tight ship and their lovely Clubhouse looks great after recent refurbishment work. Thanks to all your super staff for their hospitality.

There were plenty of frustrated squirrels on the course today. It is a very important time for mating with Spring around the corner and the squirrels need to be left alone in their natural habitat. Unfortunately Tim Johnsons wild tee shots kept disturbing them. ‘By hell there’s a lot of squirrels on that course!’ He reported after his round.

Romantic Dave Greenwood isn’t daft and he chose Valentines day to treat his attractive girlfriend Sarah with a round of golf. They scored a dreamy 40 points together ‘We have shared a wonderful afternoon together’ He concluded. James Shipstone is not quite so romantic and needs to look out. His lovely wife Alison paid the entry fee this morning and then decided to swap partners. She teamed up with the good-looking John Hunt instead and they were in the prizes.

It was so nice out there even I dusted down a couple of clubs and hit some balls off the quality Dunham turf. Dan Moore was so impressed with my swing he decided to get a closer look and hit a vicious hook off the 11th tee which whistled past my right ear and came to rest in the middle of the practice ground.

Mark Stanger turned up again in his red Ferrari California but unfortunately he struggled to find the hole with his golf ball. His Ferrari did find a hole on the way to the course however- a pothole caused by this winters frosty mornings -and Bolton council could be facing a hefty bill for damage to his suspension.

Roger Percival has a terrific short game but can struggle with his long approach shorts. Today he hit a ‘Quasimodo shot’ into the last green (Don’t want that back) to win nearest the pin. Nigel Hall was closest on the 8th.

Mike Verdon(15) was surprised to see his partner John Morgan(23) play well and was astonished to score 46 points and 5th place.
John Moorfield(6) and Mark Pasquall(12) finished in 4th with an excellent 47 points. They had a best of the day 26 points on the front nine.
It is great to see Knutsford nice guys Dave Kelly(9) and Dave Harlow(17) in the prizes. Kelly is playing well after some winter sun in Portugal. Under the gun over the closing holes Dave Harlow birdied one of the toughest par threes in Cheshire (15th) and then they played the closing three testing holes in level par to seal a super performance.

Lymm’s Martin France(3) and Peter Atherton(11) had five birdies between them as they scored 48 points. Martin had five birdies and Pete had none.
Winning on a better back nine was the ever present Brian Hopkins(4) and Gary Bresnahan(14) from Shrigley Hall. Brian has had a quiet spell without a win for a couple of years but he was on form today. ‘The greens were tremendous’ he reported ‘We knocked some putts in today!’

Thanks to all players for your support and 100% attendance.
Yours in Golf, Tim

Nearest the Pin 8th Nigel Hall Dozen AD333
Nearest the pin in 2 on 18th Roger Percival Doz AD333
2’s sweep £160 5 Pro V1s or 11 srixons
Martin France, Steve Hall, Dave Harlow, Mick Mahon , Neil Painter, Gav Sutcliffe Simon Walton Dave Sully John Wallis Andy Oakes

North Wales start sheet Thursday 21st Feb
9.12 David Kelly x4
9.21 Colin Roberts x4
9.30 Jim Caldwell x4
9.39 Simon Hemsley x4
9.48 Dave Blood x4
9.57 Ed Pysden x4
10.06 Phil Vokes x4
10.15 Neil Drummond x4 tbc
10.24 Dave Sully x4
10.33 Paul Fell x4
10.42 John Hunt x4
10.51 Roy Ainsworth x4
11.00 Chris Adams x4
11.09 Les Russon x4
11.18 Nigel Hallows x4
11.27 Ian Hellens x4
11.36 Steve Aspinall x4
11.45 Neil Drummond x4
11.54 Dave Blease x4
12.03 Neil Edwards x4
12.12 Neil Edwards x4
12.21 Phil Maher x4
12.30 Stuart Reynolds x4
12.39 Sam Leach x4
12.48 Mick Mahon x4
12.57 Joe Yates x4
1.06 Paul Rudkin x4
1.12 Roger Percival x4
1.21 Brian Hopkins x4
1.30 Dave Goodwin x4

Vale Of Llangollen start sheet
Friday 22nd Feb

9.00Colin Roberts x4
9.09 Simon Hemsley x4
9.18 Jim Caldwell x4
9.27
9.36 Barry Simpson x4.
9.45
9.54 Tom Butler x4.
10.03 Neil Drummond x4.
10.12 Chih Hu x4.
10.21 Paul Evans x4
10.30 Mick Mahon x4.
10.48
10.57 Paul Robinson x4.
11.06 Ian Walters x4.
11.15 Stuart Taylor x4
11.24 Les Russon x4.
11.32 Simon Wilkinson x4.
11.42 Dave Griffiths x4.
11.50 John Dickenson x4.
11.59
12.08
12.17 Paul Fell x4.
12.26 Rick Booth x4.
12.35
12.43
12.51 Steve Lambert x4.

Maxitours Quinta do Lago AM AM

Tee shirts and shorts were the order of the day once again as 48 Maxitours players enjoyed the stunning Portuguese sunshine.

After two terrific rounds on the best courses that the Algarve has to offer (Laranjal and Quinta South) Roger Percivals team had a four shot lead over Jim Clarkes team.

On the tremendous Quinta North Course they were overhauled after a fine final round by Clarke(12), Graham Jackson(8), Pete Ledger(19) and James Joyce(6). I followed them on the back nine and a great team effort was really excellent to watch.

Third place went to who the Chris Adams’ Prestbury team and Alan Baxters’ Mere team ended the tournament in an impressive 4th place.
Nearest the pins on the final Day were surprisingly won by Shubash Gupta and Martin Cox.

Thanks to everyone for making this trip so enjoyable to run. Terrific wine, food, company and golf throughout the week means eleven teams have already rebooked for next year.

Yours in Golf, Tim

Day 1 Winners Not in the top 3 overall.
Alan Baxter, Elspeth Baxter, Paul Blackwell and Alison Blackwell
Dozen Srixon/Wilson Ladies balls each
Day 2 Winners Shubash Gupta, Chih Hu, Ken Weatherley Graham Bonser
Maxitours shirt each
Day 3 Winners Bob Eastwood,Ian King, Ashley Elliott,Peter Robinson
Dozen Pro V1s each