Maxitours at Utterly Brilliant Vale Royal

A brilliant day was enjoyed by all at Vale Royal today. I say it every year but the course just gets better and better! Last years drainage work means the course is even drier than usual and the greens were in stunning condition for December.

‘It was immaculate out there!’ Reported Simon Poucher.
‘That’s a great track- superb!’ Complimented Nigel Ashton.

Manager Ian Embury and his five star team looked after us well today despite hosting a variety of functions in a busy Christmas Clubhouse. It was also great to speak to popular Club Captain John Redmond who was at the Club to meet us on arrival- brilliant.

Kevin Morgan has one of the biggest overswings in golf. During the Summer months he has a bruise on the outside of his left knee where his Driver sometimes cracks him at the top of his backswing. He always plays better in the Winter as he piles on the waterproofs and this restricts his flexibility so he has a more controlled game and suffers less pain. He was disappointed to see the sun out today and his team looked worried when he started to strip off. Sure enough, he hobbled his way back into the Clubhouse after his round clutching his left knee.

Joe Kirwan considerately checked in early this morning so I could make out his team’s scorecard to make my life easier before the big ten o’clock rush. I made the amateur mistake of enquiring about his recent golf holiday to Mauritius. I had to call a halt when the queue stretched down the stairs and Joe started to bring out his photographs.

Eventually Joe got on the golf course and played some great stuff in the perfect golfing conditions to help his Bramall team take 4th place with 86 points. Gareth Bradley(+2) Ian King(7) and Simon Hemsley(10) completed the quartet.

Sandiways Gary Neiles(5) played with John Longworth(14) and father and son Joe(14) and Paul Yates(9). Paul eagled the 2nd hole to pick up 4 points and his retired Dad returned the favour picking up 4 points just 2 holes later. Their 89 points was good enough for 3rd place.

Mottram Halls’ Martin Firth(6) Andy Bethell(12) Eddie Geary(14) and Rob Parry(7) took 2nd place also on 89 points. Geary eagled the par four 3rd hole and Firth drove the 13th green to set up an eagle for himself as they took 2nd place on the card play-off. Bethell has been sacked more times than Jose Mourinho but he made vital pars on the 17th and 18th to keep his place in the team.

According to his team mates Steve Hall (17)will become ‘The worst golfer in history to Captain Prestbury Golf Club’ when he takes the reigns in February. He actually played some uncharacteristically good golf today for a few holes and managed to come in seven times. Chris Adams(12) Richard Johnson(16) and Mike Sutton(8) all played well as the Prestbury bankers recorded their first victory for over a year. Well played chaps, great golf.

Thanks to everyone for your terrific support this year. What a great nine months of glorious golfing weather we have just had. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year.

Tim, Suzy, Ella and James xxxx

Nearest the pin 10th Lewis Marland Dozen AD333
Nearest the pin 16th Dave Mason Dozen AD333

2’s £155 4 pro v1s or 10 srixon AD333s Eddie Geary Martin Firth Paul Dalby Barney Ross Ben Kinsey Richard Wakefield Dave Holgate Dave Plant Keith Workman Brendan Leighton Tony Stiles Colin Berry

Knutsford Singles
Thursday 10th Jan
10.10am Colin Roberts x4
10.20am Dave Sully x4
10.30am Paul Fell x4
10.40am John Hunt x4
10.50am Jim Clarke x4
11.00am Neil Edwards x4
11.10am Steve Woods x4
11.20am Koos Alders x4
11.30am Ashley Elliott x4
11.40am Roy Ainsworth x4
11.50am Brian Hopkins x4

Friday 11th Jan

10.10am Simon Hemsley x4
10.20am Brian Greenbank x4
10.30am Pete Maher x4
10.40am Nigel Hallows x4
10.50am Roger Percival x4
11.00am Mick Mahon x4
11.10amPhil Vokes x4
11.20am Mick Fenton x4
11.30am Les Russon x4
11.40am Dave Blood x4

Despite a gloomy forecast a beautifully mild and dry day greeted Maxitours golfers at Stockport Golf Club today. The course has stood up incredibly well to heavy rain yesterday and this was down to recent excellent drainage work at this elite Cheshire Club.

Premiership referee Mike Dean did a quick pitch inspection before he teed off ‘It is very, very dry out there.’ he declared.
Mike Wainwright was amazed by the condition of the course ‘I wasn’t too sure how wet it would be but it was amazingly good’ he beamed. ‘Those greens were firm and very true.’
Six handicapper Barney Ross described the course as ‘Simply Superb.’

Thanks to caterers Paul and Tina for their tremendous bacon butties. For some strange reason I have called Tina by the wrong name for the last ten years and today she informed me that her name wasn’t Sue. She is such a nice person it doesn’t seem to bother her.

Chocolate loving Pete Knowles loves Christmas but his day got off to a bad start when his wife nicked his chocolate from his Cadbury Advent calendar this morning. He also hit a Selection of bad shots on the course and ended up in the Roses.

There were some large forces in play on the course today as Big Alex Harmon was proudly wearing his new Nike Compression golf top which threatened to cut off the blood supply to his brain. The compression top did come in very handy however when he had to squeeze his way into the tight revolving door as he attempted to make his way out of the Clubhouse.

John Hilditch claimed his balls for making a two in a recent event. ‘You owe me eight balls and there is no need to check your records, you have my word as an estate agent.’ Said the famous Hale property man. I tried to gazump him by throwing in one of my old used ones.

Scoring was incredibly tight in today’s event with just four shots separating the top thirteen teams. Taking 3rd place was the likeable Mick Mahon(23) team from Blackburn. Steady Richard Palmer(10), solid John Farnsworth(23) and erratic Frank Hindle(15) all contributed well.

Bramall Captain Mike Spencer(12) led his team into 2nd place when they picked up an excellent 45 points on the back nine. Ian King(8), Gareth Bradley(+1) and Simon Hemsley(10) all did their bit.

Taking first place was Rob Kenyon’s(16) team also from Bramall. They dedicated their win to team Captain and terrific bloke Les Russon who is recovering well after a recent illness. Simon Burgess(18), Steve Merricks(5) and John Stockdale (17) all came in at least nine times. Well played chaps great win.

Thanks to everyone for your integrity you know that even if the forecast is poor the sun always shines on my Maxitours players.
Yours in Golf, Tim

Nearest the Pin 11th hole Gareth Bradley Doz Srixon AD333
Nearest the Pin 18th hole Paul Dalby Doz Srixon AD333
2’s £127 .50 19 srixon AD333 or 9 pro v1s per 2 Ed Wilkinson Iain Bartholomew Nathan Pugh Ged Keary

Warrington start sheet
Wednesday 12th Dec 11am shotgun start

1a Colin Roberts x4
1b Roy Ainsworth x4
2a Dave Blood x4
2b Phil Vokes x4
3 Sam Leach x4
4 Pete Maher x4.
5 Paul Rudkin x4.
6 Dave Sully x4
7Paul Fell x4
8a Mick Mahon x4
8bLewis Marland x4
9 John Hilditch x4
10a Rob Weston x4.
10b David Kelly x4
11a Roger Percival x4
11b Les Russon x4
12 Nigel Hallows x4
13 Brian Hopkins x4
14a Jim Clarke x4.
14b Richard Blackwell x4
15ab Neil Edwards x4
16 Ashley Elliot x4
17a Jim Caldwell x4
17b Ian Hellens x4
18aSimon Hemsley x4
18b Bev Crute x4