Maxitours at Classy Clitheroe

Clitheroe is a stunning golf course set in the beautiful Ribble Valley and at least five of today’s players declared it as their favourite venue of the year. The course was incredibly lush and the USGA greens were excellent considering we had more than half an inch of rain overnight. Thanks to everyone at this friendly club for making us feel so welcome.

Mike Gauden offered to drive his team this morning. When he picked up his good pal Dave Stanhope apparently he nearly got mauled to death by Dave’s ‘very friendly’ new golden retriever puppy. Mike got his own back on the tricky golf course which well and truly chewed Dave up and spat him out.

The Winter tour should be released tomorrow -I am just waiting for 1 Club to confirm. As a few of our wealthy players are in their twilight years and could perhaps do with a make-over a botox company is thinking of sponsoring an event. That should raise a few eyebrows.

Stuburt Order of merit leader Paul Fell finished further down the field than usual with an average 40 points today. His excuse was that he got accidentally hit on the kneecap by his playing partner Mike ‘scruffy’ Lowe. To add insult to injury Lowe removed and signed his seven year old Dunlop golf glove as an apology. Paul put it in the nearest bin.

In todays event the scores were better in the morning before the breeze picked up a little in the afternoon.

The course is not long but it is a terrific layout and you have to have great course management and drive it straight. This ruled out 90% of today’s field.

Intelligent Jon Hudson(9) and Jim Jones(21) took 4th place with 43 points.

They were pipped into 3rd spot by the wise silver fox Jack Coleman(17) and Steve Mattinson(6). I am not sure what age Jack is but unless he had a tough paper round when he was a boy he must be at least 75 years old. Jack still has a lovely relaxed swing and a very cool even temperament so we can all learn a lot from him. His very slightly younger partner Steve kept thing’s steady on the tough back nine and the Dunham men were delighted to finally get on the Maxitours podium.

Jimmy McEwan(7) and Steve Woods(23) were in the 2nd match out and they both played great golf and they narrowly took the runners up spot with 44 points.

Winning today was the Ashton-in-Makerfield pairing of Dave Lee(20) and Mark Holland(7). They scored an impressive 46 points in a real team effort –Mark birdied a couple of his shot holes and Dave made the most of his many shots! Well played chaps great score.

Two lovely guys won nearest the pin. Ian King was first out and he drilled it within two feet of the pin on the 5th and stylish Ed Wilkinson nearly holed his spin loaded approach on the superb 17th hole.

Thanks for your support. Once again Maxitours players showed your true class as there was not a single no show- thank you very much indeed for your unrivalled integrity. Tim

Nearest the Pin 5th Ed Wilkinson Dozen AD333s
Nearest the Pin 17th Ian King Dozen AD333s
2’s £187.50 6 pro v1s or 16 srixons Steve Starr Dave Stone Ed Wilkinson Roger Percival Andy Corner Andy Dunster x2 Charlie Nicholson Nick Edwards

Maxitours at Hopwood
Thursday 21st September
10.00David Kelly x4
10.09 Ian Waddington x4
10.18Simon Hemsley x4
10.27 Jim Caldwell x4
10.36 Mick Mahon x4
10.45 Jack Coleman x4
10.54 Bev Crute x4
11.03 Lewis Marland x4
11.12 Les Penson x4
11.21 Matt Cheffins x4
11.29 Chris Chidley x4
11.38John Hilditch x4
11.47 Barrie Simpson x4
11.56 Paul Fell x4
12.05 Roger Percival x4
12.13 Steve Heywood x4
12.22 Les Russon x4
12.31 Graham Littler x4
12.40 Chris Adams x4
12.49 Ron Slaone x4
12.58 Ashley Elliot x4
1.07 John Hunt x4
1.16 Nigel Oakes x4
1.25 Ian Hellens x4
1.34 Peter Veitch x4
1.45 Steve Lamont x4
1.54 Steve Lamont x4
2.03 John Newton x4
2.12 Richard Blackwell x4
2.21 Simon Ashton x4
2.30 Brian Hopkins x4
2.39 Lee Tilley x4
2.48 Nathan Evans x4
2.57 Nigel hallows x 4
res Rob Kenyon x4

Maxitours Galvin Green Classic at majestic Mere

A sultry day greeted Maxitours competitors at Mere Golf Club this morning. This famous Cheshire course is getting back to its very best and was enjoyed by today’s players. The closing four holes are perhaps the most spectacular in Cheshire- brilliant.

Thanks to Max all the staff at this resort for their five star hospitality.

Many stars and footballers have lived in the houses which surround this golf course. Rick Astley and even the late George Michael owned a property on the Mere triangle for a short period of time. Today Mark Roberts had a quick chat with Ex Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater as he was looking for his golf ball in the premiership winners prize laurel bush thirty yards to the right of the 13th fairway.

It was great to be back running my events after a family holiday in Corfu. We spent most of the week snorkelling and swimming in the warm Med. We saw a few nice fish and the kids even caught an octopus. We tried to cook it in the evening on the barbeque but it kept turning off the gas.

Anton Ellis is one of the nicest men I have ever met. He has been a member at Knutsford Golf Club for over 60 years and he plays in one Maxitours event each year to show his support for me. Unfortunately, his team are so old they always struggle to remember their handicaps. This year things hit a new low when two of his team struggled to remember their names. Anton redeemed himself with a great shot into the 8th which he coolly converted. He even looked like winning nearest the pin before Alan Jones narrowly pipped him.

Andy Wilde told me that he heard that there is a bunker for every day of the year on the Mere course. His ball went into about 6 month’s worth today as his team could only manage 74 points.

Top milkman Don Milligan turned up with a cream top on. He kept semi skimming his ball across the greens and failed to deliver any birdies.

Scoring was good in today’s event.

Taking 5th place with 84 points was Jim Caldwell(11), Peter Griggs(15), Lee Charnley(6) and Doug Bardon(12). Last week Doug Bardon played like he had two wooden legs but he was excellent today.

Dave Sully(6), Steve Heywood(5) Ian Appleton(16) and Graham Davenport(9) have not been in the prizes at all this year but they were delighted to take 4th place also with 84 points.

Hale Golf Clubs well spoken team of Martin Bramwell(11), brothers Andy Veitch(18), Peter Veitch (11)and the not quite so well spoken Chris Brown(6) took third place with 85 points. Martins lovely wife was also playing today but unfortunately her attractive team finished in last place. Martin was very compassionate: ‘Never mind Gweneth-Did you hear about my birdie at the last?’

Two teams had ‘big day outs’ at the top of the leaderboard.

Graham Jackson(5) from Heyrose helped his on form team of Jim Clarke(9), Richard Taylor Carr(13) and Mark Haggerty(13) score 90 points which looked like a victorious score for the likeable quartet.

Late in the day Leigh golf Clubs Mark Pasquil(12) James Curran(2) Dave Tonge(9) and John Wallis(18) took the honours with a fantastic 92 points Two handicapper James Curran recently graduated from University where he studied Ergonomics. Despite just finishing his useless degree he had a very handy eagle on the first hole to get his team off to a dream start. After 48 points on the front nine they had a solid back nine for a first win in 2018.- Congratulations chaps.

Richard Booth had two 2’s today his most impressive was a holed wedge on the par four 11th hole. If anyone is remotely interested Richard tells me that it was from 105 yards.

Thanks to Mere legend John Gallagher from Galvin Green for his terrific Sponsorship. He is a great bloke and the new Galvin Green Winter/Spring range is the best in the business!

www.galvingreen.com

Thanks to all players for your terrific support, Tim.

2’s £255 Mike Sallebank Mark Hagerty x2 Graham Jackson Graham Davenport Simon Wilkinson Gary Hepstead Robyn Cotton Chris Wrighton Richard Booth x2 Neil Powell Barry Jackson

Nearest the Pin 8th Alan Jones Galvin Green Cap

Nearest the pin 14th Chris Wrighton Galvin Green Cap

Clitheroe start sheet

Tuesday 11th September

10.00Colin Roberts x4

10.08Simon Hemsley x4

10.16 Jack Coleman x4

10.24

10.32 Paul Fell x4

10.40 Neil Edwards x4

10.48 Lewis Marland x4

10.57 Mick Mahon x4

11.06 Brian Greenbank x4

11.15 Roger Percival x4

11.24 John Hilditch x4

11.33 Barry Wellings tbc x2 kev hart x2

11.42 Sam Leach x4

11.51 Simon Taylor x4

12.00 Dave Woods x4

12.08 Jim Clarke x4

12.16 Les Russon x4

12.25 Nigel Hallows x4

12.34 Simon Poucher x4

12.43 Ashley Elliott x4

12.52 Nigel Oakes x4

1.01 Peter Maher x4

1.10

1.19 John Dickenson x4

1.27 Bob Mottershead x4

1.36 Andy Strickley x4

1.45 John Hudson x4

1.52 Dave Whelan x4

2.03Richard Blackwell x4

2.12 Chris Adams x4

2.21 Andy Dunster x4

2.30 Pete Cotton x2 Des Kelly x2

2.39Mick Fenton x4

2.48 Dave Goodwin x4

2.57Brian Hopkins x4