Great upcoming Maxitours events

11th Jan Vale Royal AM AM -full
12th -16th Jan Maxitours trip to Vilasol- full
19th Jan Caldy AM AM -full
24th Jan Fairhaven pairs full
2nd Feb Ringway AM AM-spaces

Maxitours at the Mere

A stunning Winters morning greeted Maxitours competitors at the very impressive Mere Golf and Leisure resort . Thanks to Joe Gates and all the staff for your five star service throughout the day – really excellent.

Everyone was looking forward to playing tournament golf after the festive period but unfortunately there were a few guys squeezing into their golfing outfits after an indulgent Christmas.
Gareth Winston won a large Maxitours sweater in late November but he returned it first thing this morning -he has had to ‘supersize’ to an extra large after a couple of weeks on the mince pies. Tom Froome is even thinking about flattening the lie on his clubs. He now has to stand further from the ball now after a few too many quality streets.

In recent weeks I have had two gentlemen by the name of Pete Atherton play at different times in my Maxitours events which has caused some confusion amongst their friends and work colleagues. For the first time both of them actually played today. To clarify things for everybody: the tall, good looking, dark haired strong featured Peter Atherton from Prestbury Golf Club scored 43 points but he was beaten by ‘tubby Pete’ from Lymm who scored 45 points.

Gentle swinging Ben Grayson usually hits his three wood 150 yards. Once when he had a downhill lie with a stiff breeze behind and some adrenaline pumping he has been known to squeeze out 160 yards. Today he hit the longest shot of his career by far. He was dismayed when his fairway approach shot into the 18th green flew off the toe of his club and scuttled across the ice covered Mere towards one of the many lakeside mansions.
‘That has gone at least 350 yards!’ declared playing partner Bob Moore. ‘That’s further than Stenson hits it!’
‘Effortless power’ replied Ben.

In today’s event it was the more intelligent mid to higher handicappers who scored best in the frosty conditions and shortened course.

Likeable Sam Leach(11) and Jonny Barton(18) were delighted to score 48 points to record their highest finish in years as they came in 4th.

Senior players Andy(17) and Peter Veitch(10) are two nice brothers from Hale golf Club. They look absolutely nothing like each other. ‘Luckily we don’t play like each other.’ Added more talented Peter . It was a real team effort today though as both players came in nine times.

Lymm seniors Bob Mather(11) and Alan Forber (14) took second spot with 49 points. Bob is a retired plain clothed police officer who still wears very plain clothes even though he has been retired for 15 years. Alan is warming up for the Portugal trip next week. ‘I think I have peaked too soon!’ he declared.

Stuart Milner(11) and Bill Willocks (13)came down from the hills to take first prize. The Chapel en le Frith members were out in 29 points but this was helped by Milner’s impressive eagle on the tough par 4 sixth hole which earned 5 points. A solid back nine saw a first ever Maxitours win for the Derbyshire duo. Well played chaps!

Gareth Winston recorded a hole in one to win the nearest the pin on the 8th hole. Congratulations.
Many thanks to all players for your support, you were terrific to deal with this morning and despite the winter conditions I hope you enjoyed your day.

2’s £120 4 pro v1s or 10 AD333s Stuart Millner x2 Bill Willocks Paul Dalbyx2 Jim Clarke Steve Foxcroft Barney Ross x2
Nearest the pin 8th Gareth Winston hole in one – Dozen PRO v1s!!
Nearest the pin 14th hole Paul Dalby – Dozen AD333’s

Maxitours AM AM at Vale Royal
WEDNESDAY 11th Jan

1a Lewis Marland x4
1b Jim Caldwell x4
2a Ian King x4
2b Simon Poucher x4
3 Gary Neiles x4
4 Frank Stapleton x4
4b Phil Dermott x4
5 Pete Holmes x4
5b Munro Donald x4
6 Anton Johnson x4
7 Kenny Chinn x2
7b Mark Jones x4
8 Jim Rymer x4
9a Eddie Jordan x4
9b John Stubbs x4
10 Colin Roberts x4
11a Tom Griffiths x4
11b Phil Vokes x4
12a Trevor Foster x4
12b Dale Beaghan x4
13 Dave Goodwin x4
13b Craig Dyson x4
14 Paul Salt x4
15a Bev Crute x4 good
15b Roger Percival x4
16 Alan Vaughan x4
17 Les Russon x4
17b John Aikenhead x4
18a Brian Hopkins x4
18b Dave Blood x4

Dear player I am very sorry but we are on all temporary greens today.

I understand if you do not wish to travel

The shotgun will remain at 11am and the cost will reduce to £20

Sorry for any inconvenience, Tim

Great Upcoming events

Mere 5th Jan -AM AM last 5 spaces
Vale Royal 11th Jan AM AM- nearly full
Caldy 19th Jan – AM AM nearly full
Vilasol Portugal trip -48 players- full
Fairhaven 24th Jan -Pairs nearly full
Ringway 3rd Feb -AM AM last few spaces
Sandiway 7th Feb -Pairs nearly full

Maxitours at five star Vale Royal

Vale Royal was the latest high quality venue on the Maxitours winter tour and the course was in absolutely superb condition. This is an amazing venue and a firm favourite with our Maxitours players. Thanks to skilled head greens keeper John the course is now right up there with the best in Cheshire and is a pleasure to play throughout the year .
Thanks to Manager Ian Embury and all the hardworking staff for their excellent hospitality.

Wealthy Mark Groves is very close to his family and this might explain why he played with one of the oldest and scruffiest looking golf balls I have seen for many years. ‘It was his father’s, father’s , fathers favourite ball.’ explained his team mate Dave Stone with a tongue in his cheek.

Guy Hall turned up with a huge white bandage on his big finger. ‘I nearly chopped it off by mistake yesterday when I was making a large fish pie for my family.’ He informed anyone who was listening. Despite his injury I was surprised to see him hit a ‘brill’ shot as he ‘smoked’ it down the first hole. He then started playing his usual golf and was ‘floundering’ all over the ‘plaice’. As he disappeared behind some trees I heard him yelling ‘Oh Cod, I’m playing like a pollock!’ as he headed once more towards the deep rough.
By the end of the day he’d haddock enough.

John Berry(11) is a heating engineer and he has only taken up golf quite recently but he had one of the best rounds of his life amassing an impressive 5 birdies. Before he took up golf he was busy amassing 7 children, there was clearly nothing wrong with his plumbing . Well played John.
Clear blue skies, forward tees and true putting surfaces meant scoring was always going to be excellent – even Dale Beaghan’s team managed to get over eighty points.

Les Penson’s team continued their good form and finished 4th with 87 points. The Heyrose and Knutsford members all drink together in the same pub. I called it the Station pub in my report last week but they were keen to tell me that it was actually called the Railway Inn. Whatever.
Mick Mahon(25) was on fire as he picked up 7 shots for his Mytton Fold team. Mick who plays every week owns a couple of race horses and his team nearly galloped away with first place. Over the years Mick has kindly given me plenty of tips. None of them has ever come in though. Today playing with Frank Hindle(12), Richard Palmer (11)and John Farnworth(21) they defied the odds to finish in 3rd place.

Fireman and FA referee Phil Dermott(6) from Wigan Golf Club is a top man and he knows how to pick a team. Today he played with ex-Cheshire Captain Dave Peel(+1), Lancashire player Reece Cranfield (+2)and Andy Peet (13). The team collected 13 gross birdies in an exhibition of quality golf, very impressive.

Les Russon’s(11) Bramall Golf Club team are also really nice guys who aren’t afraid to win. Nearly one hundred years ago Walter Hagen said ‘give me a man with big hands , big feet and no brains and I will make a golfer out of him.’ Steve Merricks (6)and Simon Burgess(15) both wear size 11 shoes and extra large gloves and they are excellent golfers… Fourth member of the team Rob Kenyon(14) did most of the damage however as he played the final five holes on the back nine in three under par. Great golf guys- well played

Congratulations to Paul Salt who hit a pure 6 iron 152 yards into the hole on the tough ninth- great shot Paul!

I hope you all had a great day on the links- as wise old John Royle said as he left the Vale Royal grounds after a couple of pints ‘Thanks Tim, always enjoyable and it’s not winning that counts. That’s a very good job for our team.’

Thanks to cameraman Liam Harrison here is some additional footage from last weeks event at Stockport- highlights of todays event will be ready to view in next weeks report.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk92_85-mEM

Thank you for your terrific support and 100% attendance again , yours in golf, Tim
2’s £155 4 vpro v1s or 10 srixon AD333s per two Paul Salt Richard Palmer frank Hindle Brian Kelly Gary Bailley Graham Jackson Rob Kenyon Trevor Foster Steve Riley John Berry Chris Adams

Nearest the Pin 10th Jim Cox Dozen Ad333s each
Nearest the Pin 16th Graham Jackson Dozen Ad333s each

Ringway Thursday 22nd Dec

11am Shotgun

1a Mick Mahon x4
1b Phil Vokes x4
2a Trevor Foster x4
2b Roger Percival x4
3 Gary Neiles x4
4 Chih Hu x4
4b Hugh Mullen x4
5 Scott Mason x4
5b Mark Richardson x4
6 Mark Jones x4
7a Chris Adams x4
7b Simon Poucher x4
8 Dale Beaghan x4
9a Barry Wilson x4
9b Barry Wilson x4
10 Frank Stapleton x4
10 Colin Roberts x4
11 Ian King x4
12 Barry Jackson x4
12b Les Penson x4
13 Brian Hopkins x4
14a Andy Wilde x4
14b Lee Tilley x4
15 Les Russon x4
16a Lewis Marland x4
16b John Hilditch x4
17a John Stubbs x4
17b Dave Blood x4
18 Jim Caldwell x4

Maxitours trip to Portugal – Monday is the last day for entries!!
Vale Royal 14th Dec- full
Ringway 22nd Dec-full
Mere 5th Jan -spaces
Vale Royal 11th Jan- spaces

Maxitours at sizzling Stockport
Incredibly mild and slightly drizzly weather greeted today’s Maxitours competitors at Stockport Golf Club . Thanks to Liam Harrison for videoing the event- please click on this link to watch some high quality golf!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk92_85-mEM

As you can see this class golf course is in really terrific condition for the time of year and Stockport is definitely back to its very best. Adam the new greens keeper has a growing reputation and is earning plenty of respect from members and visitors alike. There has been extensive drainage work on the course and this has paid off allowing us to play when most other local courses were closed due to the large volume of rain that fell last night.

Thanks to everyone at Stockport for making me feel so welcome. Throughout the day various club dignitaries always pop in for a chat and it is noticeable how friendly everyone is. There is a great atmosphere in the clubhouse and pro Gary Norcott is also top man.

Les Russon handed over his team entry fee before play and told me that team mate Rob Kenyon who rarely goes in the 2’s entered as last night he had a dream that he would make two twos. Unfortunately he must have been slightly delirious as it took him at least two shots before he got close to the green on any of them.

Stoke on Trent’s Terry Rathbone was in for a shock when I teamed him up with Neale Laurent and Craig Moylan.
‘What the hell are you doing putting us with two undercover coppers?’ Said the excitable Staffordshire man. He finally calmed down when I told him it was their day off.

Roy Hargreaves from Shrigley Hall teamed up with Alan Pengelly, Alan Smith and Alan Frazer. In an amazing twist of fate Roy’s all time favourite song is Paul Simon’s ‘You can call me Al.’ Which is what he was doing to his team mates all day. Interestingly when he hit his ball out of bounds on the 4th all he could hear was the ‘sound of silence’ and when he hit the pond on the 6th he could be seen looking for a’ bridge over the troubled water.’

In today’s event Les Russon’s cosmopolitan Bramall team were on form again to pick up 5th place with 84 points. Team mate Steve Merricks was talking about himself in the bar again after play. ‘Did you notice I had three birdies today Tim?’
‘No.’

This score was matched and bettered on the last three hole card play off by Knutsford’s Les Penson(15) and his pals from Heyrose golf Club-Graham Jackson(11), Mike Hazeldine(19) and Steve Blakeway(3). These four are drinking buddies in the Station pub at Mobberley and that was where they were headed to celebrate after a successful day on the links.

Craig Dyson(8) is known as ‘the jigsaw’ because his game often falls to pieces. Today it all came together with some great shot making. The missing piece of the puzzle was new team mate Russ Lees(7) who picked up six shots during his round. John Kilner(5) and Dave Smith(12) completed the talented quartet.

Eddie Jordan(14) from Chorley is a lovely man and he had his best finish for nearly eight years as his team scored an impressive 87 points to take 2nd place. Five handicapper Dean Hibbert recorded four gross birdies as the whole team contributed well. Brian Carroll(11) and Dave Ashton(11) also played very well.

When a fresh faced emotional Greg Norman won the Australian Masters in 1981 he said ‘ I would like to thank my parents for all they have done, especially my mum and dad.’ Hugh Mullen(9) was also overcome with emotion and talking gibberish in the bar after his first victory of the year. Team mates Barney Ross (4), Paul Dalby(5) and Phil Vokes(4) were delighted to be back in the prizes after a barren spell. Well played chaps, great scoring.
‘The green keeper deserves a big pat on the back- those greens were firm and true all day’ said a delighted Vokes.

Thanks to all who played today, once again there was a 100% attendance- brilliant.

Yours in Golf, Tim
Nearest the Pin 16th Ian Berresford Dozen AD333s
Nearest the pin in two 18th Martin Routley Dozen AD333s
2’s £170 3 pro v1s or 8 srixon AD333s per two
Phil Vokes Geoff Bloom Andy Corner Brendon Leighton Terry Rathbone Keith Tunstall Ian Berresford Dave Harris x2 Steve Blakeway Frank Stapleton Richard Blackwell Jim Caldwell Mike Masser Nigel Warley

Vale Royal Weds 14th December 2016
1a Jim Caldwell x4
1b John Stubbs x4
2a Dave Blood x4
2b Brian Hopkins x4
3 Paul Salt x4
4 Simon Taylor x4
4b Dale Beaghan x4
5 Eddie Jordan x4
5b Les Penson x4
6 Phil Dermott x4
7 John Berry x4
7 Rob Little x4
8 Frank Stapleton x4
8b Les Russon x4
9a Ian King x4
10 Mick Mahon x4
11a Lewis Marland x4
11b Trevor Foster x4
12a Richard Blackwell x4
12b Phil Vokes x4
13 Dan Huffman x4
14 Dave Moore x4
14b Dan Huffman x4
15a Rob Weston x4
15b Dave Goodwin x4
16 Pete Tinkler x4
17 Paul Smith x4
18a Bev Crute x4
18b Chris Adams x4
res Si Hemsley x4
Gary Neiles x4

Maxitours trip to Portugal – Monday is the last day for entries!!
Vale Royal 14th Dec- full
Ringway 22nd Dec-full
Mere 5th Jan -spaces
Vale Royal 11th Jan- spaces

Maxitours at sizzling Stockport
Incredibly mild and slightly drizzly weather greeted today’s Maxitours competitors at Stockport Golf Club . Thanks to Liam Harrison for videoing the event- please click on this link to watch some high quality golf!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk92_85-mEM

As you can see this class golf course is in really terrific condition for the time of year and Stockport is definitely back to its very best. Adam the new greens keeper has a growing reputation and is earning plenty of respect from members and visitors alike. There has been extensive drainage work on the course and this has paid off allowing us to play when most other local courses were closed due to the large volume of rain that fell last night.

Thanks to everyone at Stockport for making me feel so welcome. Throughout the day various club dignitaries always pop in for a chat and it is noticeable how friendly everyone is. There is a great atmosphere in the clubhouse and pro Gary Norcott is also top man.

Les Russon handed over his team entry fee before play and told me that team mate Rob Kenyon who rarely goes in the 2’s entered as last night he had a dream that he would make two twos. Unfortunately he must have been slightly delirious as it took him at least two shots before he got close to the green on any of them.

Stoke on Trent’s Terry Rathbone was in for a shock when I teamed him up with Neale Laurent and Craig Moylan.
‘What the hell are you doing putting us with two undercover coppers?’ Said the excitable Staffordshire man. He finally calmed down when I told him it was their day off.

Roy Hargreaves from Shrigley Hall teamed up with Alan Pengelly, Alan Smith and Alan Frazer. In an amazing twist of fate Roy’s all time favourite song is Paul Simon’s ‘You can call me Al.’ Which is what he was doing to his team mates all day. Interestingly when he hit his ball out of bounds on the 4th all he could hear was the ‘sound of silence’ and when he hit the pond on the 6th he could be seen looking for a’ bridge over the troubled water.’

In today’s event Les Russon’s cosmopolitan Bramall team were on form again to pick up 5th place with 84 points. Team mate Steve Merricks was talking about himself in the bar again after play. ‘Did you notice I had three birdies today Tim?’
‘No.’

This score was matched and bettered on the last three hole card play off by Knutsford’s Les Penson(15) and his pals from Heyrose golf Club-Graham Jackson(11), Mike Hazeldine(19) and Steve Blakeway(3). These four are drinking buddies in the Station pub at Mobberley and that was where they were headed to celebrate after a successful day on the links.

Craig Dyson(8) is known as ‘the jigsaw’ because his game often falls to pieces. Today it all came together with some great shot making. The missing piece of the puzzle was new team mate Russ Lees(7) who picked up six shots during his round. John Kilner(5) and Dave Smith(12) completed the talented quartet.

Eddie Jordan(14) from Chorley is a lovely man and he had his best finish for nearly eight years as his team scored an impressive 87 points to take 2nd place. Five handicapper Dean Hibbert recorded four gross birdies as the whole team contributed well. Brian Carroll(11) and Dave Ashton(11) also played very well.

When a fresh faced emotional Greg Norman won the Australian Masters in 1981 he said ‘ I would like to thank my parents for all they have done, especially my mum and dad.’ Hugh Mullen(9) was also overcome with emotion and talking gibberish in the bar after his first victory of the year. Team mates Barney Ross (4), Paul Dalby(5) and Phil Vokes(4) were delighted to be back in the prizes after a barren spell. Well played chaps, great scoring.
‘The green keeper deserves a big pat on the back- those greens were firm and true all day’ said a delighted Vokes.

Thanks to all who played today, once again there was a 100% attendance- brilliant.

Yours in Golf, Tim
Nearest the Pin 16th Ian Berresford Dozen AD333s
Nearest the pin in two 18th Martin Routley Dozen AD333s
2’s £170 3 pro v1s or 8 srixon AD333s per two
Phil Vokes Geoff Bloom Andy Corner Brendon Leighton Terry Rathbone Keith Tunstall Ian Berresford Dave Harris x2 Steve Blakeway Frank Stapleton Richard Blackwell Jim Caldwell Mike Masser Nigel Warley

Vale Royal Weds 14th December 2016
1a Jim Caldwell x4
1b John Stubbs x4
2a Dave Blood x4
2b Brian Hopkins x4
3 Paul Salt x4
4 Simon Taylor x4
4b Dale Beaghan x4
5 Eddie Jordan x4
5b Les Penson x4
6 Phil Dermott x4
7 John Berry x4
7 Rob Little x4
8 Frank Stapleton x4
8b Les Russon x4
9a Ian King x4
10 Mick Mahon x4
11a Lewis Marland x4
11b Trevor Foster x4
12a Richard Blackwell x4
12b Phil Vokes x4
13 Dan Huffman x4
14 Dave Moore x4
14b Dan Huffman x4
15a Rob Weston x4
15b Dave Goodwin x4
16 Pete Tinkler x4
17 Paul Smith x4
18a Bev Crute x4
18b Chris Adams x4
res Si Hemsley x4
Gary Neiles x4