Room for 1 team at the best nine hole course in the North next Thursday!

Maxitours at marvelous Mottram Hall

A stunning day with a great golf course to match was the reward for the Maxitours players who travelled to the famous Cheshire resort of Mottram Hall today.

The course is set to hold the European Tour school in October and has already played host to the European Senior and European ladies tours. The back nine is one of the toughest in the country and certainly one of the best in North West.
Thanks to Golf Manager Jason Davies for accommodating us at this terrific venue at the very last minute.

Dave Madely is a great bloke and he used to sponsor me when I worked at Mottram Hall in the 90’s and he was a member. I will always be grateful to him. Not only did he sponsor me but I used to make a few quid repairing his putter every couple of months after it was regularly hurled from a green towards the general direction of the next tee after a three putt. I now send repairs to Lymm Golf Club who service lots of clubs in the area. I bumped into Fizz the assistant pro there last year and he told me that he was repairing two putters for a bloke that knew me.
‘Is it a big bloke called Dave Madely?’ I asked.
‘Yes that’s the fella!! How did on earth did you know that?’

Retired Keith Shale finished 3rd in the world Jive championships recently. I saw him tee off the 1st today but watching his lack of hip movement it is hard to believe that his nickname on the dance floor is snake hips. Keith waltzed into 25th place today. On the first hole with his lack of rotation he hit a few loose shots and did well to score ‘SEVEN!’

High Quality actor Martin Oldfield teed off at 12.30pm today and did me some great impersonations for me as he checked in. Martin gets paid to act and also earns plenty with his voice overs. He is on a nice little number doing the voice of the character ‘Drufus’ in a worldwide internet game called ‘Warfare’. He is fascinating to talk to. He needs to do a bit of work on his impersonation of a golfer however and his team finished in 27th place.

Third place went to Nigel Ashton, Mike Lowe, Ian Fearns and Paul Ralph. They had a solid 82 points on the testing Mottram course.

Jim Clarke has just about recovered from the sight of his money going up in smoke after the spectacular firework diplsy at his son’s wedding last Saturday. He was back to his best and helped his team of Pete Booth, Pete Ledger and John Stanworth into 2nd place with 83 points.

Regulars Simon Helmsley, Ian King , Joe Kirwan and Marcus Green are four lovely guys from Bramall. Despite playing each week and previously being competitive they have really struggled this year. I got a bit of repetitive strain injury scrolling down my order of merit before finding them languishing in 111th position. All came good today with the first win of the year even though 84 points was a surprisingly low score.

Well played chaps I am delighted for you!
Thanks to all my players for your integrity each week, whilst other open events are being won by crazy scores your class and sportsmanship are second to none.
Yours in golf and friendship.
Tim

Nearest the pin 7th Dan Moss Doz AD333
Nearest the pin 11th Dave Goodwin Doz AD333
2’s sweep £187.50 7 pro v1s or 15 srixon AD333
Alex Jerman David Madely Martin Quinn David Wilkinson Tim Tighe Richard Moss Graham Davenport

Knutsford start times
Thursday 4th Aug

8.30 Simon Hemsley x4
8.38 Colin Roberts x4
8.47 Jim Caldwell x4
8.56 Dave Buckley x4
9.05 Dave Goodwin x4
9.14 Paul Gilbert x4
9.23 Paul Fell x4
9.32 Neil Laurent x4
9.41 Lewis Marland x4
9.50 Mike George x4
9.59 Mick Mahon x4
10.08 Dave Monk x4
10.17 Gary Phillips x4
10.26
1.00 John Hunt x4
1.09 Roy Ainsworth x4
1.18 Kev Hart x4
1.27 Richard Blackwell x4
1.36 Sam Leach x4
1.45 Roger Percival x4
1.54 Ian Hellens x4
2.03 Lee Tilley x4
2.12Ian Reece x4
2.21 Phil Ashcroft x4
2.30 Andy Buckley x4
2.39 Nathan Mills x4 tbc
2.48 Martin Williams x4
2.57 Barry Jackson x4

*Important!! Next week is at Mottram Hall rather than Lymm as there are issues with their irrigation system* PLEASE INFORM YOUR TEAM

Mottram is in excellent condition

Maxitours at Helsby

Helsby is now a firm favourite with Maxitours players, I don’t think I have ever held an event where so many players reported that they had really enjoyed themselves and many players spoke very highly about this lovely Cheshire course after their round.

Barman Rob and caterer Julie have been serving us brilliantly for years and they continued their excellent work today.

The day got off to a great start when Helsby Captain Martin Edmunds showed his class and wished us all the best first thing this morning. Thanks very much. It is Helsby’s Captains Day on Saturday so the course was in terrific condition, there was barely a blemish on the greens and even slightly brown areas on the fairway were sprayed green. Great work from the Helsby green keeping staff.

‘They are the best greens we have played all year’ Announced Dave Rhodes and many others.

Scoring was good with the fast running fairways and pure greens.

Recently retired Doctor James Shipstone has a look of Rory McIlroy with his wiry build and dark curly hair. Unfortunately, he doesn’t strike the ball quite like the talented Irishman but he does share similar putting statistics. ‘I missed ten putts inside 6 feet today’ he complained.

He did contribute on a few other holes however as his team were delighted to finish 6th.

Carden Parks Paul Fell led his team of Mike Lowe, Colin Bryan and Nigel Ashton into 2nd place as they beat the charismatic Heyrose quartet of Duncan Cameron, Tony Lee Neil Pemberton and Pete Smith into 3rd.

Winning today was the Lymm team of Martin Williams, Martin Bray, John Tomlinson and Mike Kulik. They all played terrific golf to earn a first ever win after countless average performances. Great golf lads- very popular winners indeed.

From my VIP seat in the clubhouse I was able to watch Sam Leach hit a ‘Quasimodo’ shot into the tough par three 18th (I don’t want that back). The likeable Lymm man won nearest the pin.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support, Tim.

Nearest the pin 11th Dozen AD333 James Shipstone

Nearest the pin 18th Dozen AD333 Sam Leach

2’s sweep £232.50 6 pro v1 or 14 srixon AD333.

Tony Lee James Shipstone Richard Palmer John Farnsworth Dave Monk Dave Tate Martin Bray Tony Howard Andy Murphy Pete Norbury

Maxitours at Mottram Hall

Tuesday 21st July

9.18 John Atkin x4

9.25 Simon Hemsley x4

9.32 Colin Roberts x4

9.40Jim Caldwell x4

11.40Bob Pickthall x4

11.49 Paul Fell x4

11.58 Dave Goodwin x4

12.06 Martin Bramwell x4

12.14 Roy Ainsworth x4

12.22John Hunt x4

12.30 John Johnston x4

12.38 Jon Hudson x4

12.47 Martin Humphries x4

12.55 Paul Gilbert x4

1.03 Neil Laurent x4

1.11 Jim Clarke x4

1.18 Steve Aspinall x4

1.26 Mick Mahon x4

1.35 Dave Monk x4

1.44 Gary Phillips x4

1.53 Richard Blackwell x4

2.01 Tom McGoona x4

2.20 Kev Hart x4

2.29 Mike George x4

2.38 Martin Williams x4

2.47 Steve Hall x4

2.56 Dave Sully x4

3.04 Jim Rymer x4

3.12 Paul Browne x4

3.21 Ian Hellens x4

3.30 Ian Hazlewood x4

3.39 Phil Ashcroft x4

3.48 Gary Neiles x4

3.57 Lee Tilley x4 l

4.06 Rob Harris x4

4.16Simon Ashton x4

Room for 1 team at Helsby next week- tee times below

Maxitours from marvellous Manchester !!!
A big thank you again to my PGA friend Matt Turnock for running today’s event, this time he managed to get to the correct venue on time unlike his adventures last week when he drove thirty miles past Lancaster Golf Club and only realised his mistake when he neared Carlisle! He will forever receive some stick.

I had to visit my lad in hospital who is thank fully now home and on the mend after an infected wound on his foot. – thanks for all the good wishes.

As The 150th kicked off at St. Andrews today’s Maxitours players were treated to the excellent Manchester Hopwood course which was in magnificent condition with lots of comments about the quality of greens the overall condition of the course.

The weather was cold and blustery for the early starters but soon improved into a very pleasant afternoon for the later players. Many golfers took advantage of the excellent food offerings prior to tee off with the catering team headed by Steve and his clubhouse staff.
Scoring was very tight at the top but taking 2nd place on a card count back was the team of Nathan Evans, Richard Bamforth, Dave Greenwood and Gary Smith with an excellent 89 points beating Heyrose’s Phil McCurry, Paul Robinson, Neil Pemberton and Phil Harris into 3rd place.

Winning were the Saddleworth four. These lads teed off at 2.59pm which was also Tigers exact tee time at St Andrews. Unlike the talented superstar these four got off to a great start and recorded a first ever win. Tom Williams, Stuart Muller’ John Barnes and Nathan Mills made the most of the glorious afternoon weather and were very popular winners. Brilliant.

Today’s results were as follows:
NP 13th – Jim Hodges – 1 Doz Srixon AD333
NP 16th – Steve Merricks – 1 Doz Srixon AD333
2’s £232.50 = 6 x ProV1’s or x 14 Srixon AD333’s per 2
Chris Brown, Paul Fell, Paul Butler, John Berry, John Farnsworth, Jim Hodges, Lee Tilley, Phil Ashcroft and Nathan Mills
RESULTS

Room for 1 team at Manchesters finest – Hopwood next week.

Maxitours from lovely Lancaster !!!
As always a big thank you to my PGA friend Matt Turnock for running today’s event, his day didn’t get off to the best of starts as he said his sausage fingers when punching in the Sat Nav code meant he ended up over 50 miles away before he realised his mistake – The signs saying “Welcome to Scotland” were a bit of giveaway !!!!!

Lancaster was in superb condition and the greens proved to be very tricky to those who’s first time it was to this historic course.
The weather was pleasant and there were many compliments with regards the course condition so a big thank you to the green keeping staff for their efforts along with Niall in the clubhouse and his catering staff along with the Pro-Shop guys Will and Arron.
Today’s results were as follows:
NP 13th – Steve Blakeway – 1 Doz Srixon
NP 18th – Nick Ford – 1 Doz Srixon
2’s £225.00 = 4 x ProV1’s or 9 x Srixon AD333’s per 2
Pete Stewart, Matt Sayers (x2), Steve Owen (x2), Gary Clough, Mark Clare, Steve Lawrence, Jeff Mitchell, Chris Chidley, Martin Lang, Martin Gleave, Paul Swanick, Joe Stanley and Richard Booth
RESULTS

Hopwood start times
Next Thgursday 14th July

10.00 Simon Hemsley x4
10.10 Adam Carolan
10.20Colin Roberts x4
10.30 Ed Pysden x4
10.40 Martin Bramwell x4
10.30 Dave Buckley x4
10.50 Bob Eastwood x4
11.00 Rob Platt x4
11.10 Paul Fell x4
11.20 Paul Gilbert x4
11.30 Martin Humphries x4
11.40 Neil Laurent x4
11.50 Lewis Marland x4
12.00
12.10 Steve Aspinall x4
12.20 Mick Mahon x4
12.30 Dave Grenwood x4
12.40 Gary Phillips x4
12.50 Sam Leach x4
1.00 John Hunt x4
1.10 Andrew Cox x4
1.20 Mike George x4
1.30 John Hilditch x4
1.40 Kev Hart x4
1.50 Dave Sully x4
2.00 Mark Hagarty x4
2.10 Ian Hellens x4
2.20 Les Russon x4
2.30 Richard Blackwell x4
2.40 Lee Tilley x4
2.50 Phil Ashcroft x4
2.59 Nathan Mills x4

*Room for 1 team at probably Lancashires finest inland course – Lancaster next Friday!!

Maxitours at five star Vale Royal

Vale Royal was in magnificent condition for todays Maxitours event. What a venue!

I first played here in 1998 when it first opened and you could see it was always going to be a very fine golf course, there were saplings everywhere. When I put the nearest the Pin flags out this morning I was shocked and delighted to see how well the course has matured. The tree lined holes are now looking really top class and is now well up there with the best in Cheshire.

Modest Martin Humphries always enjoys playing at Vale Royal ‘Can we play here every week, it an amazing course – I always play brilliantly around here – my team were rubbish.’

Ian Embury runs a tight ship and the hospitality throughout the day was also first class.
The report is shorter than usual as I have been invited to tea with my Lady Captain at Knutsford this afternoon. I am trying hard to control my excitement.
A player in Dave Coopers team was a little late arriving this morning. I went to the car park to find him to ask his handicap and asked Dave what he looked like.
‘About 60 and going bald.’
He narrowed it down to 90% of my players.

Thanks to my lovely wife Suzy for running the event late in the day. You are the best and I have no idea how she puts up with me.
I told a few groups to wind her up by reporting sightings of some rare animals on the course, she fully fell for it when Anton Johnson’s group reported a kangaroo on the 2nd green but a panther in the rough on the 7th was a wild animal too far.

Scoring was as excellent as could be expected with fast running fairways and receptive greens.
Dave Cooper(16) and his welsh army of Terry Dunne (16), Neil Tanner (12)and Alan Fox(11) took 3rd with 87 points.

Gary Owens(7) Denton team comprising Allistair Holloway(13), Anthony Kenny(3) and Steve Yeadon(11) were 2nd with 88.

It was senior golfer and black belt in five martial arts Phil Robinson(8) , brothers Dave(16) and Ian Snape(11) and Paul Price(12) who were victorious. They were on fire with 47 points on the front nine and kept ticking over on the closing holes to score 90 points. Very popular winners indeed.

Thanks to everyone for your 100% attendance.

Nearest the pin 10th Dozen AD333 Anton Johnson
Nearest the pin 16th Dozen AD333 Phil Dickens
2’s sweep £212.50 8 pro v1s 18 srixon AD333 per two
Jerry Salmon Richard White David Hunt Paul Yearsley Dave Sully x2 twos! George Kerr

Lancaster start sheet
Friday 8th July
10.00 Simon Hemsley x4
10.09 Colin Roberts x4
10.18 Jim Caldwell x4
10.27 Dave Buckley x4
10.36 Jim Clarke x4
10.45Dave Goodwin x4
10.54 Paul Fell x4
11.03 Martin Humphries x4
11.12 Neil Laurent x4
11.21 Lewis Marland x4
11.30 Steve Marsh x4
11.35
11.39 Mick Mahon x4
11.48 Dave Monk x4
11.57 Gary Phillips x4
12.06 Mike George x4
12.15 Ian Reece x4
12.24 Kev Hart x4
12.33 Dave Sully x4
12.42 Paul Browne x4
12.51 Nigel Uttley x4
1.00 Roger Percival x4
1.09 Ian Hellens x4
1.18 Darren Booth x4
1.27 Richard Blackwell x4
1.36 Gary Neiles x4
1.45 Lee Tilley x4
1.54 Russell Sollitt x4
2.03 Simon Poucher x4
2.12 Dave Griffiths x4
2.21 Jimmy McEwan x4
2.30 Jimmy McEwan x4
2.39
2.48Adam Carolan x4
2.57 Simon Ashton x4
res