Maxitours at Mottram Hall

It is always great to visit my old course Mottram Hall. I have many happy memories from working here for over fifteen years and the members were brilliant and really supportive towards their fresh faced eager assistant pro during that time.

The putting surfaces are perhaps the best on any inland course in Cheshire at the moment as green keepers Scott Newton and Alastair Cuthbert are really raising the bar.
Thanks to Malcolm Lacey and all his team for looking after us so well today.

I love this time of year with the prospect of warmer weather, The Masters and a new golf season to look forward to. You know Spring is nearly here when Nigel Ashtons backswing starts getting tangled up in daffodils as he plays his second shot out of the deep rough.

A small light aircraft circled the hotel and golf course about five times this afternoon trailing a huge impressive banner with ‘Good luck Ella! Thanks for everything’ clearly visible. Someone was having a leaving function in the five star hotel.
Jim Clarke texted me – thanks for sorting the banner Tim– does it say well done Jim and team for your win in Portugal?
No.

In todays’ event Lymm gentleman Sam Leach is that fed up of the poor golf played by his team he is seriously thinking of joining everyone else in the country and going on strike. They finished last today with 67 points.

At the other end of the leader board Richard Blackwell made the most of home course knowledge as his team finished in 4th place with 82 points.

Sandiways Gary Neiles was 3rd after a solid 84 which was matched by Jim Caldwell’s Wilmslow team who scored a superb 44 points on the tough back nine. Lee Charnleys birdie on the 17th was the highlight of their round- most people would snatch your hand off if you offered them a par on one of the toughest holes in Cheshire.

Winning today was the likeable Saddleworth team of Dave Sarsfield, Dave Rhodes, Nathan Mills and James Mooney. Sarsfield was on fire birdieing both tough par threes on the back nine. Even James Moody played well. Great golf -congratulations.

Thanks to everyone for your 100% attendance.
Tim

Nearest the pin 7th Dave Blood Dozen Srixon AD333
Nearest the pin 11th Mick Jones Dozen AD333

2’s £167.50 16 srixon AD333 7 pro v1
Adam Christie Chris Burnett Steve Blakeway Paul Robinson Dave Sarsfield x2 Josh Brand

North Wales start times
Thursday 9th Feb
8.56 am Simon Hemsley x4
9.04am Jim Caldwell x4
9.12 Colin Roberts x4
9.20 Ed Pysden x4
9.29 Dave Blood x4
9.38 Dave Goodwin x4
9.47 Paul Fell x4
9.55 Martin Humphries x4
10.04 Jim Clarke x4
10.13 Bob Bolton x4
10.22 Mick Mahon x4
10.30 Dave Sully x4
10.39 Paul Browne x4
10.48 Neale Laurent x4
10.57 Paul Salt x4
11.06 Dave Monk x4
11.15 Geoff Bickerton
11.24 Roger Percival x4
11.33 John Kelsall x4
11.42 Dave Griffiths x4
11.50 Roy Ainsworth x4
11.59 Steve Aspinall x4
12.08 Kav Hart x4
12.16 Steve Hall x4
12.25 Gary Neiles x4
12.34 Jim Rymer x4
12.43 John Hunt x4
12.52 Dave Hughes x4

Mottram Hall Thursday 2nd Feb now two tee start – check your times below ROOM FOR 2 TEAMS –the greens are class

Maxitours at fabulous Fairhaven

Maxitours players enjoyed a glorious day at Fairhaven Golf Club.
There was not a breath of wind and the players made the most of the firm, fast running fairways and immaculate greens.
The weather was mild and it was lovely to load my car up this morning in daylight- Spring and longer warmer golfing days are not too far away now.

Here is the link to photos from our long weekend in the Algarve, including the presentation dinner in the five star Bovino steak restaurant.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vUrHWvLcQskV6b528
Sixteen of this years team have already rebooked. Thanks so much to everyone who contacted me since the trip:

‘A top class few days in the Portugal Sunshine with a great group of Maxitour players. Professionally run by Tim and Julie . Thanks you and roll on next year!’
Chris Adams Captain Elect Prestbury GC

‘Thanks Tim for a great week. Amazing golf courses, superb organisation from you, Julie & the team. Presentation dinner at one of Portugal’s finest restaurants topped off a great few days for our mixed team.’ Steve Heywood Hopwood GC Captain

‘A great trip from start to finish, well organized even down to having bottled water for the teams.
We travel and play in many events and the atmosphere between the teams was second to none and easy to see why people come back year after year.’ Steve Moores Stamford GC

‘The Maxitours Portugal golf trip is a brilliantly organised event

It is attended by a fantastic group of like minded people – who are all there to enjoy themselves- we definitely enjoyed ourselves

We have already reserved a place on next years trip!’
Giles Terry Mere GC Ex- Captain

‘Hi Tim

We are relaxing at the Magnolia Hotel today reflecting on a brilliant 4 day Maxitours event .

Peter, Mike and Phil join me in thanking you and your team for the wonderful time we had.

The arrangements were superb as were the 3 golf courses we played. We met so many delightful and interesting ‘Maxitourists’ during our stay.

These events take a great deal of planning and we all appreciated the immense work of you, Julie and Claire to make it such an enjoyable trip for us.

The Gala Dinner last night at the Bovino was a memorable experience with great food and atmosphere.

Thank you for all the fantastic work you put in to make it so special for us.’

Best wishes

Jim Rymer, Heswall GC

‘What a great week, well as much as I remember!!
Brilliantly organised, great company and superb courses. All overlooked with aplomb and a smile.
Get us down for next year!’
Mick Mahon Myton Fold GC

In todays event Dave Rhodes was choking on his beer in the Clubhouse after he missed a 10 inch putt at the last. His team finished in 3rd place.
The Ashton in Makerfield team took 2nd with a solid 88 points but it was the veteran Birchwood team of Graham Wilkinson(6), John Fitzsimmons(7), Ken Booth(10) and Alan Simpson (12)who took first place with a cracking 90 point haul. Well played chaps. First win for quite a while for this popular quartet.

Thanks to everyone for your support, Tim

Nearest the Pin Darren Wilkinson Doz AD333
Nearest the Pin Steve Rawlinson Doz AD333

2’s £160 3 Pro V1s or 7 srixon AD333
John Fitzsimmons Phil Gow x2 Ben Davies Jon Beesley Mark Jordan Gav Sutcliffe James Caffrey Simon Wells John Flaherty Darren Wilkinson Paul Fell Colin Bryan Paul Harrison

Mottram Start sheet
Thursday 2nd Feb 2023

1st tee
9.30 Simon Hemsley x4
9.39 Dave Blood x4
9.48
9.57 Gary Dowdle x4
10.06 Peter McElkerney x4
10.15 Simon Ashton x4
10.24 Nathan Mills x4
10.33 Paul Brown x4
10.42 Simon Poucher
10.51 Sam Leach x4
11.00 Jim Clarke x4
11.09 Dave Goodwin x4
11.18
11.27 Richard Blackwell x4

1st tee
9.30 Colin Roberts
9.39 Jim Caldwell x4
9.48 Mick Mahon x4
9.57 Paul Fell x4
10.06 Martin Humphries x4
10.15 Kev Hart x4
10.24 Gary Neiles x4
10.33 Neale Laurent x4
10.42 Paul Salt x4
10.51
11.00 Dave Monk x4
11.09 John Hilditch x4
11.18 Lee Tilley x4
11.27 Roger Percival x4

Results from The Algarvian Masters sponsored by Galvin Green

Wall to wall sunshine again greeted the 84 players at Europe’s number one golf resort this morning.

Quinta South is a special place and has hosted the Portuguese Open several times. Today it was graced with the Maxitours final round.

Steve Heywoods mixed team made the major move early in the day moving up 10 spots into mid table.

Dean McFaddens team moved into the top three after a solid 79 which was matched by Kevin Harts team who took 2nd. Jim Clarkes team had a solid closing nine holes after a shaky start and they won the tournament by an impressive five shots. They are a great group of lads and prepared really well flying out for practice rounds to give them the best chance possible.

It has been a terrific week with a brilliant group of golfers at the Magnolia hotel. The atmosphere and camaraderie was first class.
I have really enjoyed hosting the event and had nothing but positives from everyone throughout the week. Thank you for being so great to look after. It is a real pleasure to work for you.

Finally, thanks to Holidays4Golfers who have taken care of all travel arrangements. Julie Franklin is the best in the business and I can’t recommend her highly enough.

Yours in Golf,

Tim

Winners Day 1 Laranjal – not in the top 3 Alan Baxter, Gary Corbett, Giles Terry, Dave Mulligan.
Galvin Shirt each
Winners Day 2 North – not in the top 3 Mick Mahon, Dave Westwood, Andy Faulkner, Munro Donald
Galvin Green shirt each
Winners day 3 South -not in the top 3 Paul Traynor, Steve Moores, Martin Dwyer, Richard Margrave.
Galvin Green shirt each

Maxitours second day at Quinta North

Glorious sunshine and shorts were the order of the day once again as Maxitours visited the incredible Quinta North Course for the penultimate round in the Algarvian Classic.

The front nine played into the sea breeze and scoring was tough but the back nine was there for the taking.

The big question of the day was whether the Mere Millionaires could keep up their great golf. The answer was NO as they slumped to a 73 to drop down to 3rd place overall. It didn’t stop Alan Baxter from smiling though – I love that man.

Incredibly Mick Mahon, Munro Donald, Andy Faulkner and Dave Westwood -four of the nicest guys you will ever meet who were dead last yesterday with a 67 – today scored an impressive 85 points to win the day and make a massive move up the leaderboard. Well played.

In the overall team score it is all to play for with over half the field still in with a chance of victory tomorrow.

Kev Harts team are lying in 2nd place. Kev said that they would have had an even better score but Paul Yearsley was hopeless.

Taking the lead are Pete Ledger and his team of Jim Clarke, James Joyce and Graham Jackson. They followed a solid 80 points with 83 today to take a two shot lead on to the South course tomorrow. Anything can happen…..

Another great day today.

Good luck tomorrow everyone.

Tim.

*next years event is open to 24 teams and will fill quickly*

Maxitours in sunny Portugal

Prestbury’s Chris Adams got the Algarvian Classic under way in fine style when he discarded any first tee nerves and smashed his opening drive high into the azure blue sky on the first hole. He was delighted to see it bound down the carpet like fairway.

Eighty-four players had a great day on this beautiful golf course.

Peter McCullough is a lovely bloke from Stockport Golf Club and it takes a lot for him to miss a game of golf. At Manchester airport he required a wheelchair to get in the plane. The stewardess asked him where he was going and looked surprised when he told her he was on a golf holiday. He is walking around the hotel on crutches as he waits for a hip operation. The funny thing is he was the best player on his team today as they returned 68 points..

Nigel Muirheads’ group are playing snakes – you have to put a euro in the kitty for each three-putt. His team had more snakes than the reptile house at Chester Zoo as the fast greens and alcohol induced shaking hands took their toll.

In today’s event the wealthy Mere team took a big lead. These guys have been out in December preparing for the event and after an average front nine they came home in 48 points after rattling in more than their fair share of putts. Alan Baxter(10) owns a stable full of race horses and he certainly had a team of thoroughbreds playing today. Dave Mulligan(9), Gary Corbett(8) and Giles Terry(10) completed the team.

Second place went to the much less wealthy Paul Yearsley Davyhulme team with 84 points. Paul reported ‘We would have been even better but Kev Hart let the team down.’

20% of Sweep money for the next two days will be allocated to best team score for teams in positions 11-21 not in the money to keep things interesting for all.

Quinta North tomorrow – another astounding golf course.
Get to bed.

Tim