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

Yet another ideal day for a competitive game of golf with nice friends greeted Maxitours players at Stockport Golf Club.

This is possibly the best layout of all the great Cheshire courses and it is always a privilege to play here. I love this place and so did our players after some excellent post match compliments. Tina and Paul Hill the caterers are recognised as the best in the land and they were on form once again. If you ever visit Stockport Golf Club you must have a steak pie (and chips).

Four old farmers from Heyrose golf Club played today. (In fact after questioning only George Johnson is a farmer but his two brothers John and Brian and team mate David Fryer all look like farmers.) They are all real gents. It could be argued that they are better at milking cows than playing golf as they finished in last place with 67 points. Farmer George is not yet fully computer literate:
‘Can I have your email address to send you the results?’ I asked.
‘Sorry, I’ve not brought it with me today.’ Replied George.

The two main strengths of old Cliff Greenalgh’s(24) golf game is the fact that he is fantastic at raking bunkers and he also produces the most immaculate scorecard that I have ever seen.
Cliff hates to throw anything away and he even struggles to identify his well-used golf ball as the logo has been worn off. In his four Maxitour starts Cliff has nearly missed his tee time three times mainly because he uses a favourite 1997 AA roadmap rather than buy a modern satnav. Unfortunately the M60 doesn’t appear on Cliffs map so he was once again late today..

Roy Ainsworth was short of a 4th player – even Brian ‘Barrel scraper’ Ankers was unavailable for selection- he had to resort to Steve Collier. The David Hassellhoff lookalike was in the sand more than the Baywatch legend himself and eventually retired to the bar after 16 holes. ‘Come back Brian!’ declared Roy.

In todays event the scoring was incredibly tight at the top!
Tytherington’s James Davison(9), Jason Waite(12) and brothers Howard(17) and Brian Baker(10) took 5th place with 86 points. The Baker boys played some fabulous golf.

Nathan Evans(19) from Fixby and his Cosmopolitan team took 4th also on 86 points.

Saddleworths Pete Norbury(17), Dave Sarsfield(18), Andy Wilde(15) and Dave Rhodes(16) came down from the hills and nearly ran away with the spoils. They were hopeless last week but scored 46 points on the tough Stockport front nine this morning. There homeward 41 points just saw these lovely lads lose out on a card play off.

Despite his surname Dave ‘Bentleys’(12) golf swing can hardly be compared to a Rolls Royce. But today the charismatic Knutsford man was firing on all cylinders as he helped his team into a second place finish. Keith Edminson(14) Nigel Uttley(19) and Peter Lawn(13) were his talented team mates.
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First place went to Precision Engineer Tony Jennison(5) from New Mills who hit some precision putts on the back nine to help his team to a first victory of the year. Chris Marshall(13) John Hilton(14) and Richard Blackwell(12) all contributed in a real team effort. Well played chaps!

Four handicapper Graham Jackson gets easily excited and he was chatting away when he knocked his approach to within two feet on the short 16th . Four putts later and things went quiet.

Thanks to all who played today, Your support is appreciated, Tim

Nearest the pin 16th Adam Princep Doz AD333
Nearest the pin 18th John Longworth Doz AD333

2’s £255 3 pro v1s or 8 srixon AD333 per 2. Mike Sallabank x2 Mark Hoyland Chris Clarke Graham Jackson Steve Heywood Martin Higgins Dave Rhodes Dan Thompson Sam Hinchcliffe Paul Allen Mark Green Harvey Mattinson Steve Mattison Steve Gowery Richard Palmer Matt Smith Adam Princep x2 Chris Marshall

Ringway start sheet Thursday 30th August
9.00 Simon Hemsley x4
9.09Jim Caldwell x4
9.18 Chris McKellor x4
9.27 Neil Drummond x4
9.36Dave Whelan x4
9.45Rob Platt x4
9.54 Paul Fell x4
10.03 David Bentley x4
10.11John Hilditch x4
10.19 Nigel Hallows x4
10.27 Barrie Simpson x2 Terry Hines x2
10.36 Mick Mahon x4
10.45 Lewis Marland x4
10.54 Simon Poucher x4
11.03 Roy Ainsworth x4
11.12 Jim Lindsay x4
11.21 Roger Percival x4
11.30 Dave Sully x4
11.39 Simon Taylor x4
11.48 Paul Evans x4
11.57 Graham Pike x4
12.06 Sam Leach x4
12.15 Ray Jones x4
12.24 Les Russon x4
12.33 Graham Littler x4
12.42
12.51 Neil Edwards x4
1.00 John Hunt x4
12.09 Peter Maher x4
1.09 James Wilson x4
1.18 Steve Parle x2 pete cotton x2
1.27 Bernard Wood x4
1.36 Chris Ernill x4
1.45 David Smith x4
1.54 David Smith x4
2.03 Gordon Warke x4
2.12 david smith x4
2.21 Joe Yates x4
2.30 Richard Williamson x4
2.39 Simon Ashton x4
2.48 Andy Wilde x4
2.57 Brian Hopkins x4

Res Pat O’Dowd x1

*Friday 31st Aug Vale royal pro am- my friend PGA Pro Ben Derbyshire is running this event please contact him if you would like to play £240 01606 301291

Maxitours at wonderful Worsley

It was a real pleasure to be greeted by the sight of Worsleys lime green velvety fairways this morning. A little overnight rain had also softened the excellent putting surfaces so a great day was in store.

‘It looks like Vilamoura out there!’ Declared the well-travelled Paul Fell.

The course is a fantastic layout and everyone from bubbly Shannon behind the bar to my friend Andy Cory the highly respected Worsley Pro are really great to work with. Thank you. Steve Parle played here last year with Maxitours and enjoyed it so much he decided to join this lovely Club !

Regular player Simon Hemsley has had a few golf-free weeks due to his summer holidays with his health-conscious missus. He was back playing today. ‘It’s the bacon butties I missed most’ Said the likeable Bramall man as he skipped into the Clubhouse first thing this morning.

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It’s a long time since Trevor Nicholson got on a birdie trail. Nowadays he prefers to go on the ‘Ale trail’ . He went on one around his native Yorkshire last night with some pals and this was his excuse for a disappointing 29th place finish at Worsley.

Every time we play at Worsley Golf Club at least one of my less intelligent players will ring me from the Marriott Worsley course which is 10 minutes around the corner asking where everybody is.

Mark Haggerty can beat that.

Not only did he go to the wrong course he went on the wrong day. He phoned me up yesterday to ask where everyone was. When I saw him today the wealthy High Legh man had a chuckle ‘I am having a bad week- I lost a £500 Ted Baker jacket at the weekend and then even lost my wife’s Tesla car keys on Monday!’ My heart bleeds for you Mark.

In today’s event Ben Hallum(+3) had a Maxitours record 8! birdies in his round and he didn’t even score on the 1st two holes which are eminently birdieable par fives. Luckily for Maxitours players he is continuing his American scholarship and flies back to the States soon. His less talented team of Sean O’Connor(18), Matt Cheffins(9) and Eddie Sterling(8) finished 4th.

Turtons Sarah Ormrod(18) was the only lady playing today but this didn’t stop her contributing well as her team finished 3rd . After a few months out of the prizes this quartet has just found some form recently, even Nigel Hallows(7) contributed and he was the only player in the field to birdie the excellent 14th hole.

It was great to see two senior teams took the two top spots today.

Lymm’s Brian ‘barrell scraper’ Ankers(17) was once again called in at the last minute and his three net birdies helped the Roy Ainsworth(25) team sneak into 2nd place. Peter Heald(10) is 80 next week and still playing high quality golf. Mike Verdon(14) was the corner stone of the team.

Ex-school teacher Nigel Ashton(12) led his retired team to victory with a super 88 points. Nigel rolled in three putts from over 30 feet to get his team off to a good start. The real star of the team was Colin Bryan(9) who was delighted to score 4 points on three holes after playing the tough holes superbly. Paul Fell(5) and Tony Hereford(15) completed the team.

Nearest the Pin 16th Martin Bramwell Doz AD333s
Nearest the pin 18th James Shipstone Doz AD333s

2’s £225 6 pro v1s each Richard Palmer John Farnsworth Mike Hill Jim Caldwell Dave Tonge James Shipstone x2 Richard Blackwell Tony Jennison Christian James Simon Moorhouse Steve Halliwell Dave Beavis Matt Mortimer

Stockport start sheet
Mon 20th August

9.00David Kelly x4
9.09 Jim Clarke x4
9.18 Simon Hemsley x4
9.27 Mike Sallabank x4
9.36 Chris Chidley x4
9.45 Jack Coleman x4
9.54 Chris McKellor x4
10.02 Chris Adams x4
10.10 Mick Mahon x4
10.19 Paul Fell x4
10.27 Dave Sarsfield x4
10.36 Nathan Evans x4
10.45 Lewis Marland x4
10.54 Darren Jones x4
11.03 Darren Whittaker x4
11.12 Dave Woods x4
11.21 Les Penson x4
11.30 John Hilditch x4
11.39 Graham Littler x4
11.48 Roy Ainsworth x4
11.57 Sam Leach x4
12.06 Steve Heywood x4
12.15 Les Russon x4
12.24 Ian Lilley x4
12.33 Howard Baker x4
12.42 Barry Wellings x2 Geoff Andrews x2
12.51 Ian Hellens x4
1.00 Peter Maher x4
1.09 Simon Wilkinson x4
1.18 John Hudson x4
1.27 Bob Mottershead x4
1.36 Nigel Hallows x4
1.45 Ray Jones x4?
1.54 Dave Bentley x4
2.03 Andy Leather x4
2.12 Richard Blackwell x4
2.21 Joe Yates x4
2.30 James Mooney x4
2.39
2.48 Brian Johnson x4
2.57

The old Lancastrian mill town of Blackburn is famous for its cotton production but it is also blessed with one of the best golf courses in the North, always presented in immaculate condition.

Pleasington sits in 142 acres of stunning countryside in the beautiful Ribble Valley sitting in the foothills of the West Pennines and this great course was enjoyed by all Maxitours players today. Brian behind the bar is the definition of excellent Lancastrian hospitality and he can’t do enough to help.

The food is great at Pleasington and I enjoyed my mid afternoon cheese pie and chips. Unfortunately Koos Alders nicked one of my chips as I was checking his teams scorecard after their round. I think it was about the only thing Koos sunk today as his team finished with just 74 points.

Congratulations to Georgia Hall winning the Ladies British Open, it would be great if Tommy Fleetwood could win the USPGA this week to make it an English double. That’s my tip for the week.

Nigel Dibble likes playing In the Ribble but under pressure on the 18th green he made the ball dribble.
I told him that he rushed his shot but he replied:
‘I like playing without a quibble and I wanted to get back in the Clubhouse for a nibble.’

Dave Francis found the £1,000,000 newly developed footbridge over the railway very handy as he could retrieve his wild slice without having to negotiate the 12.40 express to Clitheroe as in previous visits he made to Pleasington.

In todays event the scoring was close with all but 2 teams teams scoring much better on the easier front nine.

Paul Fell(5) was shanking for the first 4 holes but the likeable Welshman regrouped and helped his team take 3rd place. The never say die ex soldier ensured his team had the best back nine of the day by a long way as they came home in 44 points to take 3rd place on the card play off. Mike Lowe(8) Dave Cooper(14) and Colin Bryan(9) completed the Welsh quartet.

Nigel Hallows(8) team scored heavily on the tough Pleasington par three holes as they finished in 2nd place. Sarah Ormrod(19), John Delaney(5) and Dave Greenwood(13) all recorded 2’s as the team scored 86 points.

Grange Parks Barry Wellings (6) took first place today with 87 points. When he gets hold of a tee shot he can hit it into a different Time zone . He drove the 6th green today and rolled in his eagle put and then incredibly eagled the par five next helping his team to pick up 14 points on those two holes. ‘The Warwickshire’s’ Keith Evans(10) and Alsager members Dave Mason(12) and Geoff Andrews(20) were his happy team mates. Well played chaps great golf.

Thanks to all players for your continued support. It was great to be back working hard today after my recent holiday- yeah right. Tim

Nearest the Pin 16th Allan Entwistle Dozen AD333
Nearest the pin in 2 on 18th Roy Sinclair Dozen AD333
2’s £240 3 pro v1s or 8 srixon Ad333s per 2 Geoff Bloom Dave Wardle-Kelly James Shipstone Barry Wellings Josh Garner Brian Yardley Steve Heywood Miles Chilton Nigel Dibble Sarah Ormrod John Delaney Dave Greenwood Paul Fell Dave Cooper Joe Kirwan Andy Dunster Steve Lamont Barry Jackson Paul Milner Mark Pasquall Bri Hopkins