A stunning Autumn day greeted Maxitours competitors at Hazel Grove. The links is a cracker with great views as it nestles between the Penine foothills and the Cheshire plain.
The course was playing exceptionally well considering we are less than two weeks away from the start of November- thanks to all the excellent Hazel Grove greens staff.

The Club is very forward thinking with and has the best young pro in the North in James Rowlands and they even have their own on site Golf specific Physio George Bresnahan whom I can highly recommend. The food presented by Martin Swindells is also top notch- are these the best toasties in Cheshire?

The new bypass had opened on Monday and everyone was delighted at the speed of the journey. A 40 minute trek for locals to Manchester Airport has now been reduced to a leisurely 15 minute drive which is good news for those travelling to future events in Stockport.

Mark Greening got a frosty reception when he got home late last night after his boys trip to Portugal and told his long suffering wife that he was playing golf today. He also got a cold reception at Hazel Grove this morning as freezing overnight temperatures led to the first frost of the year.

Richard Palmer has just bought a new ram for £1800 and he is hoping it will do the business with his Leicester blue-face flock of sheep this Spring. He nearly spent that much on a new set of Callaways last year but they have been firing blanks for the past twelve months. They failed to perform today and Richards impotent team scored a very limp 70 points.

Roy Ainsworth finally dropped Brian ‘Scrape the bottom of the barrell’ Ankers for todays event. He drafted in Pete Atherton from high flying Maxitours regular Roger Percivals team . When I asked Roy if the new signing played well Roy rolled his eyes. ‘He didn’t perform to our expected level. You have to take your chances at this level and Peter just hasn’t taken his. My team doesn’t settle for second best.’ Roy had to accept mid-table mediocrity once again.

Mike Wainwright told me that he was having a Seve Ballesteros day. ‘Did you have a magical short game?’
‘No I didn’t have a clue where my driver was going.’ Replied the likeable Hale man.

Robbie Williams from Stoke on Trent played today. It wasn’t the Take That legend but a much older less charismatic version. Unfortunately, this Robbie’s Greatest hits saw his ball slicing deep into the Cheshire woods.

Jan, Barbara, Margaret and Martin and all the volunteers in the Half way house did a great job looking after our guys today and raising a little for the Lady Captains charity. Thank you.

The best scores in todays event came in the last two hours of play. Alan Drew(6) and Alan Simpson(14) from Birchwood were teamed up with Heyrose duo Chris Chidley(13) and Duncan Cameron(14). The two Alans were on fire and Simpson recorded his first eagle for over 10 years to finish in 4th with 86 points.

Mellor and Townscliffe husband and wife team Simon(9) and Kaye(31) Conway took third place alongside Irishman Pat O’Dowd(18) and John Hitchenor(18). Hitchenor was hopeless on the front nine before spectacularly arriving on the scene when he holed his nine iron approach on the 12th. Simon played great as he was just one over par on his front nine.

It’s been a very long time since anyone asked for Don Campbell’s(2) phone number but Mike George’s(10) attractive wife Caroline(20) did today after the low handicap Scotsman joined them at late notice and had the round of his life. He helped the Sale team into second place after he made a birdie and a gross eagle on his two shot holes to pick up 9 shots. Chris Kelly(20) completed the quartet.

Winning today on a card play-off for their second win of the season was Mottram Hall’s Richard Blackwell(12), Tony Jennison(5) John Hilton(12) and Chris Marshall(12). Richard played with a friend of mine in an event at Helsby yesterday and he couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo but today he couldn’t miss. Funny old game.
Well played guys great golf.

Once again there was a 100% Maxitours attendance at this quality Cheshire venue- thank you very much for your reliability.
Yours in Golf,
Tim

Nearest the pin 2nd Tony Jennison Dozen AD333
Nearest the Pin15th Dean Jagger Dozen AD333

2’s £245 4 pro V1 or 10 srixon per 2
Gary Youall Steve Leavitt Dave Cooper Charlie Cunningham Jim McEwan Graham Davenport Mick Wain x2 John Hilditch Simon Poucher Bob Newcombe Steve Pullman Don Campbell Mike George Paul Woodbine Denis O’Neill Tony Jennison John Hitchenor

Dunham Forest start sheet
Thursday 25th October
8.00 Simon Hemsley x4
8.09 Jim Caldwell x4
8.18 Colin Roberts x4
8.27 Ray Jones x4
8.36 Neil Drummond x4
8.45 Brian Greenbank x4
8.54 Ashley Elliott x4
9.03 Chris Adams x4
9.12 Martin Bramwell x4
9.21 Gweneth Bramwell x4
9.30 Peter Maher x4
9.39 Barry Jackson x4 later
9.48 Bev Crute x4
9.57 Mike Stuart x4
10.06 John Hilditch x4
10.15 Paul Fell x4
10.24 Lewis Marland x4
10.33 Mick Mahon x4
10.42 Paul Evans x4
10.51 Roy Ainsworth x4
11.00 Richard Blackwell x4
11.09 Roger Percival x4
11.18 Graham Littler x4
11.27 Jim Clarke x4
11.36 John Hunt x4
11.45 Sam Leach x4
11.54 Richard Williamson x4
12.03 Les Russon x4
12.12 Dave Sully x4
12.21 Dave Blease x4
12.30 Simon Ashton x4
12.39Brian Hopkins x4
12.48 John Wallisx4
12.57 Gav Dixon x4
res

Nic Hercules x2
Mike George x4
Tom Butler x4 1
James Mooney x4
Neil Edwards x4

Hopwood Golf Club just keeps getting better and better.
Thanks to Geraldine Connor for being so helpful in rescheduling this event at this five star Club.

Steve Flett is the House manager and one of the best I deal with -he really knows how to look after his customers- the hospitality here is absolutely brilliant.

I put the nearest the Pin markers out first thing this morning and the golf course looked terrific- the newly planted heather behind the bunkers looked great and the attention to detail from tee to green was superb.

Mike ‘Elvis’ Priestley was playing his first Maxitours event. I asked him if he enjoyed his day but he told me that he struggled in the bunkers:
‘‘I was caught in a trap
I can’t get out- Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh’’

There is never a dull moment in Andy Hale’s golf career. Today the ten handicap Wigan man turned up hobbling with a heavily bandaged shin. After a poor chip shot at the weekend he had swung his Pitching wedge in frustration and took a shallow divot out of his shin. ‘It could have been worse- my other wedge has less bounce!’

Nigel Ashton was brought up near Oldham. He looks like a Northerner, talks like a Northerner and eats like a Northerner. He was delighted to see them selling Black pudding flavour crisps behind the Hopwood bar and quickly ordered a bag with his pint. He enjoyed his refreshments so much he decided to have another pint :
‘It’s a long shot but have you got any pigs feet flavour crisps?’
‘No’ replied the bar maid.

Incredibly every team in today’s event scored more points on the front nine than the tough Hopwood back nine.

Third place went to the first mother and son combination to play Maxitours. Sarah(18) and Rob(4)Ormrod, John Delaney(5), and Dave Greenwood(12) all had a great day on the links and scored 86 points.

Top Manchester Solicitor Martin Keates(2) from Withington Golf Club and his less able team of Steve Marsh(6) John Owen(11) and Gary Smith(7) took 2nd with 86 points. Things must be quiet at work for Martin as he had an incredible 8 birdies on the stunning Hopwood course. The rest of his team were far more average.

Simon Hemsley(9), Ian King(7) Joe Kirwan(5) and Gareth Bradley(+1) have played in nearly every Maxitours event since its inception 14 years ago when I had flowing brown hair. They had their best ever score today with 90 points to win by four shots. Gareth Bradley had two eagles and even Ian King played well. Joe and Simon scored heavily on their shot holes. Well played chaps great golf!
The Bramall nice guys also won the overall two day event.- Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who played today, it was slightly moist at times but I still had lots of happy customers! Tim

Nearest the Pin 13th Ian King Doz AD333s
Nearest the Pin 16th Frank Hindle Doz AD333s

2’s sweep £90 13 PROV1s or 32 Srixons each
Martin Keates Danny Ritchie

Llangollen start times Friday 12th October
9.30Colin Roberts x4
9.38 Simon Hemsley x4
9.46 Jim Caldwell x4
9.55 Paul Robinson x4
10.04 Brian Hopkins x4
10.12 Barry Simpson x4
10.21 Neil Edwards x4
10.30 Paul Evans x4
10.39 Lewis Marland x4
10.47 Nigel Hallows x4
10.56 Simon Poucher x4
11.04 Ashley Elliott x4
11.13 Ed Pysden x4
11.21 Stuart Taylor x4
11.30 Steve Heywood x4
11.39 Les Russon x4
11.48 Steve Johnson x4
11.57 John Hunt x4
12.06 John Dickenson x4
12.15 Bob Mottershead x4
12.20 Denis Whelan x4
12.24 Paul Fell x4
12.33 Mike Sallabank x4
12.42 John Hudson x4
12.51David Smith x2Denis Whelan x2tbc
1.00David Smith x4
1.09Steve Parle x4
1.18Bernard Wood x4
1.27Chris Ernill x4
1.36 Gordon Warke x4
1.45 Simon Ashton x4
1.54 Dave Griffiths x4
2.03 Tom Baker x4

Prestbury Golf Club was presented in its usual tremendous condition. Mark Crossley is recognised as the best greenkeeper in the North West and his team didn’t disappoint our players today- brilliant.

Last weeks’ greens at Helsby were heaven sent but Prestbury’s were also rolling fast and beautifully true at eleven on the stimp meter. Intelligent Martin Bramwell thought they were the best he had played on all year. Thanks to everyone at this great Club for a wonderful day.

Paul Evans is a great lad and has played Maxitours for the past five years. He has always had exactly the same 22 handicap as his seventy year old Dad over this period. When he checked in today he told me his Dad was still playing off 22 but he had crept up to 23. ‘I am so ashamed.’ Was all he could mutter.

Twenty years ago I played my one and only European Tour event and I was lucky enough to play a practice round with the legend that is Bernard Langer. In his pocket the perfectionist had a detailed aerial map of the course and a compass so he could work out the exact wind direction on the tree lined Slaley course. Before he went out Norman Rolt asked if there was a map on the scorecard. I was very impressed and asked if he was using it to work out the general wind direction. ‘No I want to know where the toilets are.’ He replied.

Team Manager Roy Ainsworth can sympathise with Jose Mourinho as he has lost total respect for his players. ‘They are all overpaid prima donna’s.’ He said of his team as they could only manage 73 points. ‘It took Brian Ankers nineteen holes to get the speed of the greens’.

In today’s event despite extremely pleasant temperatures and immaculate greens the scoring was the worst in Maxitours history. There were lots of reports of four and five putting from close range.
There was a card playoff for 4th place won by housewife favourite Colin Roberts(19) Geoff Andrews (20)and father and son Geoff (5)and Dave Marchant(16) who scored 77 points. Roberts had a new hip eight and a half weeks ago and is playing some miraculous golf in addition to his miraculous recovery.

Dave Greenwoods team took 6th and Martin Bramwells men took 5th place with both teams also on 77 points. Andy Veitch was in Martins’ Hale team and he told me that he left ten shots on the golf course- bad luck Andy…

Third place went to big hitting Charles Herbert(19) Ross Birch(9) Barney Ross(6) and Paul Dalby(5) The quality quartet only scored 2 points on the tough 18th when 4 would have been enough for victory.

The Romiley pair of Phil Roberts(5)and Steve Harrison(13) won the Clubs foursomes knockout at the weekend and they continued their purple patch by recorded a gross birdie and an eagle on the 1st hole for seven points. They then battled their way to 80 points to earn a Maxitours podium finish. Stockports Rick Davies(7) and Les Ross(13) completed the happy quartet.

Neil Edwards’ Ashton in Makerfield team took 1st place also with 80 points. They also had a great front nine recording 43 points but were hanging on by the skin of their teeth on the tougher closing holes to record a first ever Maxitours win. Adrian Price(15) Jimmy Shirley(12) and Jimmy McEwan(7) completed the delighted four ball. Well played chaps.

Thanks to all who played, I am sure you had a great day.
Yours in Golf, Tim

Nearest the pin 7th Simon Hemsley Dozen AD333s
Nearest the pin 17th Rick Davies Dozen AD333

2’s £175 4 prov1s or 10 Srixon AD333
Martin Bramwell Mike Baker John Lodge Richard Wakefield Ron Sloane Tim Spencer Tom Butler Brian Yardley Craig Rea x2 Tim Potter Jason Atherton Geoff Ratcliffe

Vale of Llangollen start times
Friday 12th October

9.30Colin Roberts x4
9.38 Simon Hemsley x4
9.46 Jim Caldwell x4
9.55 Paul Robinson x4
10.04 Brian Hopkins x4
10.12 Barry Simpson x4
10.21 Neil Edwards x4
10.30 Paul Evans x4
10.39 Lewis Marland x4
10.47 Nigel Hallows x4
10.56 Simon Poucher x4
11.04 Ashley Elliott x4
11.13 Ed Pysden x4
11.21 Stuart Taylor x4
11.30 Steve Heywood x4
11.39 Les Russon x4
11.48 Steve Johnson x4
11.57 John Hunt x4
12.06 John Dickenson x4
12.15 Bob Mottershead x4
12.24 Paul Fell x4
12.33 Mike Sallabank x4
12.42 John Hudson x4
12.51David Smith x2Denis Whelan x2tbc
1.00David Smith x4
1.09Steve Parle x4
1.18Bernard Wood x4
1.27Chris Ernill x4
1.36 Gordon Warke x4
1.45 Simon Ashton x4
1.54 Dave griffiths x4
2.03 Tom Baker x4