*Don’t forget Maxitours handicaps are always reduced by 1 for a win and 1/2 shot after a 2nd place until the end of the season*

Stockport 8th Dec – full
Vale Royal 14th Dec- full
Ringway 22nd Dec – spaces
Mere 5th Jan – spaces
Vale Royal 11th Jan- spaces
Caldy 19th Jan -1 space

Maxitours at sublime Sandiway

Sandiway Golf Club hosted the latest Maxitours event of the Winter tour. This terrific venue was once again in fantastic condition. Many thanks to head green keeper Brian and all his staff for their efforts.

General Manager Anthony Roberts always employs great staff in the Clubhouse and the guys working behind the bar did a great job today- many thanks.

The frosted fairways and crystal clear blue skies led to some spectacular views on what many believe is Cheshire’s finest golf course. Big Dave Wilson loves Sandiway. He loves the rolling fairways , the tall pines, lovely lakes and more importantly for Dave the hot meat and potato pies behind the bar are a particular favourite of his. He had one before play and two in the bar after his round to set a new Maxitours record.

The 18th was playing tough all day and I couldn’t believe that the closest to the pin was 25 feet away. With the very last shot of the day I looked out of the window to see a ball nestle up to within 2 inches. A delighted Trevor Foster tapped in the birdie. Incredibly Ian Handy won nearest the pin on the 8th when his last shot of the day also won him the prize.

The course gradually thawed throughout the day but there were a few tricky bounces to contend with and course management was at a premium.
Unlucky Darren Whittaker was at it again. After another dodgy bounce into a bunker he declared to his team that it is incredible but he is jinxed whenever he plays on a Thursday. His team were delighted to point out that today was Tuesday.

The scoring was incredibly close and after some high scores in recent weeks just FORTY points was good enough to win against a high quality field at Sandiway today!!!!!

Manchester United have plenty of talent and everyone knows they play the best football in the premiership but they are struggling to get on a winning streak this season. The same could be said for two of their legends Frank Stapleton(13) and Stuart Pearson(7). Stuart was one of the best finishers in the game but he three putted the last from close range and they had to settle for 5th place with 39 points.

John Rigby(14) and John McConinck(13) from Alsager finished 4th after excellent back nine. John Rigby was ranked 898th on the Maxitours order of merit which by an incredible coincidence is the same as Tiger Woods’ current world ranking. Rigby was on fire over the closing holes and the silver fox was delighted with his best finish for years.

There were three teams tied on forty points and a card play-off was also required to split the talented trio. Bramall nice guys Steve Merricks(6) and Simon Burgess(15) had a best of the day 24 points on the front nine but after failing to pick up a single point between then on the 15th they had to settle for 3rd place. That didn’t stop them from getting drunk in the bar afterwards.

Denton’s Dave Blood (8)and Jim Cox(5) were pipping after finishing in 2nd place. These two play plenty of Maxitours golf and they used all their experience to also score 40 points. Cox birdied the index 1 fifth hole towards the end of their round to give them a timely boost.

Taking the honours were the pairing of Accountant Phil ‘Duffer’ Davis(6) as he is fondly known and motor industry specialist Steve Lambert(4). Davies loves cold and frosty conditions and proudly informed me that he once appeared on ski Sunday- as a yodeller! He could be heard yodelling down the A556 as he sung his way back to Lymm Golf Club. They were both delighted with the biggest wins of their careers. Steve declared ‘That was brilliant, we really enjoyed it!’

Congratulations chaps , great golf.
Thanks to everyone for your 100% attendance again- superb.
Yours in golf, Tim.

8th Ian Handy Dozen AD333 s
18th Trevor Foster Dozen AD333s
2’s sweep £170 12 srixons or 5 pro v1s
Richard Johnson Trevor Foster Nigel Milroy Terry Rathbone Dave Wilson Stuart Pearson Dale Beaghan Geoff Mitchell Peter Veitch Ian Berrisford

Stockport 11am shotgun Thursday 8th December
1a Frank Stapleton x4
1b Ian Ainsworth x4
2 Brian Hopkins x4
3a Richard Blackwell x4
3b Ray Jones x4
4a Martin Bramwell x4
4b Paul Salt x4
5 Jon Hudson x4
6a Simon Ashton x4
7 Craig Dyson x4
7b Simon Hemsley x4
8 Terry Rathbone x2 2 players required
9a Bev Crute x4
9 Les Russon x4
10a David Kelly x4
10b Jim Caldwell x4
11 Simon Poucher x4
12a Mike Dean x4
12b Dale Beaghan x4
13a Colin Roberts x4
13b Ian King x4
14a Mick Mahon x4
15a Phil Vokes x4
15 Trevor Foster x4
16 Les Penson x4
17a Lewis Marland x2 John Hilditch x2
17b Eddie Jordan x4
18 Dave Blood x4
res
Pete Cotton x4
Nigel Clowes x4
Barry Simpson x4
Richard Williamson x4

Dear Maxitours players
Sandiway is open for play and all greens are in use
Thanks Tim

Dear Maxitours Golfer,

Many thanks for your support of this trip which should be fabulous.
We have forty really nice guys already signed up and looking forward to breaking up their Winter by getting some warm Mediterranean sun this January. There is now room for just 4 more teams.

All this INCLUDING FLIGHT + CLUB CARRIAGE for £599!!

Itinerary

12th Jan depart Manchester 14.35pm arrive 17.35pm

15 minute Airport transfer to hotel

Welcome drinks reception.7.30-8pm in the lovely 5* Vilasol bar

8-8.30pm Teams depart at leisure for evening meal in Vilamoura or Almancil

13th Jan Tournament round 1 +50 Free range balls + free bar 5.30-6.30pm

14th Jan Tournament round 2 +50 free range balls +free bar 5.30-6.30pm

15th Jan tournament round 3 + 50 free range balls + free bar 5.30-6.30pm

teams to tee off in reverse order on final day.

7.30pm Presentation dinner, prize giving and free wine/beer.

16th dep Faro 11.00am arrive 14.10pm

Here are the teams so far signed up so you can check the form guide of the forty Maxitours players over the next few weeks!

Yours in holiday mood,
Tim

Maxitours at Perfect Prestbury

Maxitours players were greeted with firm fairways and hand cut greens as Head Green Keeper Mark Crossley continues to impress. The free draining Prestbury course looked stunning as the late Autumn sunshine picked out the colours of the bronzing trees.

‘It’s like playing in Summer out there’ said Marriott’s Dave Wilson. ‘Those greens were brilliant’

Thanks to General Manager David Holmes and his very professional team for all their excellent help today – brilliant.

Les Russon really looks after his team. He makes the bookings each week and tells the guys where to be and at what time. Today he even provided his team with pork pies half way around and then handed out some home-made parkin over the closing holes to give them an energy boost. Unfortunately the only thing he didn’t provide was any points for his team as partner Steve Merrick did the business.

John Hilditch turned up without his usual low handicap and talented partner Iain Bartholomew. ‘His back has finally packed up after carrying me around for the last couple of years. ‘ Admitted the likeable but sad estate agent.
Paul Clay is the Maxitours one-liner king and he always has a few for me when he picks his card up each week. He apologised to me at check in and said he was sorry that he hadn’t played recently but he had just setting up a successful business building small yachts in his bedroom. Apparently ‘ The Sails have gone through the roof. ‘

Before that he told me that he was a bus driver but he had to pack it in because he thought people were talking behind his back.

It was great to see the Alsager veterans Dave Marchant(15) and Bob Sinclair(15) back in the prizes after an excellent 42 points saw them finish 6th.

Jim Hodges(6) regularly pops up on dodgy freeview channels as he is a specialist in renovating old motorbikes. There was no signs of any rustiness on the course as he took 5th place on 43 points alongside Chris Burrows(12) .

YThe Knutsford maestros David Kelly (11)and John Atkin(20) are becoming a force to be reckoned with as the smooth swinging duo finished 4th also on 43 points.

Great blokes Dave Bowers(10) and Hugh Mullen from Didsbury had their first podium of the winter with a better back nine to seal 3rd place on the card play off.

Vale Royal member Mark Patten(10) has played regularly and never won a prize except for single victory at Prestbury last time we came here. He nearly repeated the feat today with an excellent 44 points. ‘I love it here!’ said the driving instructor. Damien Bateson(14) was his partner.

As the last cards were handed in on a tough scoring day Sale Golf Club’s Simon Poucher(13) and Macclesfield Golf Clubs Brendan Leighton looked slightly bashful. ‘We had a day out today!’ Simon admitted. Sixteen handicapper Leighton had 4 gross birdies as they scored a cool 48 points to beat a high quality field by four shots. The best of these was a three wood to four feet into the wind on the 18th. Well played chaps – great score.

Thanks to everyone for playing, I hope you had a magical day out there!
Yours in golf, Tim
Nearest the Pin 7th Simon Walton Doz AD333
Nearest the Pin 17th Brian Greenbank Doz AD333
2’s sweep
£150 2 pro v1s or 6 srixons per 2
Steve Foxcroft Rob Weston Stuart Blake Roger Percival Frank Hindle Paul Clay Jason Henderson Mark Birtwistle Bob Kwan Chris Burrows Ryan Bancroft John Bancroft Jim Hodges Hugh Mullen Simon Woof Simon Walton x2 John Bent Alan Smith Andy Wallace Roger Percival Brendan Leighton Tom Griffiths Dave Wainwright Brian Greenbank

Sandiway start sheet
Tuesday 29th November 11am shotgun

1a Mick Mahon x4
1bTrevor Foster x4
2a Ian Ainsworth x4
2b Roger Percival x4
3 Frank Stapleton x4
4a Simon Poucher x2 Terry Rathbone x2
4b Bob Picthall x4
5a Jim Caldwell x2 Lewis Marland x2
5b Martin Bramwell x4
6 Gary Neiles x4
7a Phil Vokes x4
7b Jason Henderson x2 Pete Cleaver x2
8 John Hilditch x2 Paul Smith x2
9a Colin Roberts x4
9b Ian King x4
10a Simon Hemsley x4
10b Dave Blood x4
11 Steve Aspinall x4
12 Mark Williams x4
12b Gary Hunt x2 Phil Cross x2
13a Simon Ashton x4
14a Eddie Jordan x2 Simon Wilkinson x2
14b Steve Lambert x4
15 Paul Rudkin x4
15 Eddie Jordan x2 Steve Johnson x2
16 Ray Jones x4
17a David Kelly x4
17bBrian Hopkins x4
18 Les Russon x4
res Richard Johnson x4
Dale Beaghan x4
Garry Dowdle x2/4
Chis Unsworth x4

Maxitours at Fabulous Fairhaven

Maxitours golfers enjoyed perhaps the best day out of the year at Fairhaven. It was almost sunbathing weather for our players as the November temperature was touching 20 degrees. The Fairhaven Golf Course is a superb layout which has improved tremendously over the last five years or so and our players were raving about the quality of the venue.

‘What a terrific day!’ Said Rob Little
‘That was outstanding- a day in a million and what a course!’ praised Dave Beard.

Thanks to Lindzi Stone and her hard working team for looking after us so well throughout the day.

After the cards were handed out and I had sampled a Fairhaven bacon butty I took advantage of the glorious sunshine and was practising my wedge shots on the practice ground beside the 10th tee. I have heard many interesting excuses over the years for bad golf shots and have even been known to use a few of them myself. Today there was a new one for me.
I couldn’t see who actually hit the shot but I heard a whoosh followed by some gentle swearing then I heard a golf ball scuttle deep into the undergrowth. ‘That ladybird put me off!’ came the complaint.

Staffordshire nice guy Richard Williamson turned up just in time for the 11am shotgun start. He was delayed after an articulated lorry crashed across the M6 near Knutsford spilling its load and blocking all Northbound traffic . The radio reported that ‘cold syrup’ had been spattered onto the carriage way. ‘What’s cold syrup ?’ I asked ‘ Its a bit like hot syrup but not as warm ‘ Craig Wilson kindly informed me.

On the golf course Richard and his team got into a few more sticky situations as they finished last with 70 points.

In today’s event the still conditions, reachable par fives and superb greens led to excellent scoring opportunities.
Postman Martin France(3) and his Lymm Golf Club team delivered the goods and they finished in 5th place with 85 points.

Les Russon(11) and his Bramall team finished in 4th with 87 points this was despite having Rob Kenyon(14) in the team.

Third place went to Mottram Hall’s ‘well spoken’ wine expert Richard Blackwell(13), and his red nosed team of Steve Austin(14), John Hilton(13) and Mark Jones(15). They played some vintage golf to score 89 points.

The ‘not quite as well spoken’ but far more talented Duckenfield quartet of Gareth Winston(10), Mark Phillips(12), Gareth Kershaw(13) and Josh Ainscough(3) thought they had done enough to win scoring 91 points. Mark was on fire and he made the most of the perfect conditions to pick up nine shots for the likeable team. Josh works in the Pro Shop at Duckinfield and he is obviously not selling enough Mars bars as he recorded five gross birdies in an impressive display of golf.

First place went to the Clitheroe trio of Munro Donald(14), Nigel Clowes(6), Phil Hanson(8) and Pleasington’s Nigel Comsty(11). Munro is a highly respected GP who worked in the Burnley area. He is enjoying his retirement and uses his hefty pension to play plenty of golf. Reading his scorecard was very hard but I think the scribbles added up to an impressive 92 points! Well played Doc- great score.

Thanks to all who travelled to this great course today, I am sure you enjoyed this class venue, yours in golf, Tim

Nearest the Pin 10th Alan Vaughan Dozen AD333s
Nearest the pin 17th Trevor Foster Dozen AD333s
£120 2’s sweep 12 srixons each
Barry Jackson x2 Andy Hale Trevor Foster Dave Beard Munro Donald Mick Jones

Prestbury start sheet 24th
November 11am shotgun
1a Colin Roberts x4
1b Mick Mahon x4
2b Phil Vokes x4
3 Dave Bowers x4
4 John Bancroft x2 Wayne Colclough x2
5 John Stubbs x4
5b Ian Nielson x4
6a Gary Hunt x2 Eddie Jordan x2
6b Roger Percival x4
7 John Hilditch x2 Jp X2
8a Rob Weston x4
8b Dave Blood x4
9a Brian Hopkins x4
9b Jason Henderson x2 Lewis Marland x2
10 David Kelly x4
11 Mark Williams x4
12a Jim Caldwell x2 Eddie Jordan x2
12b John Berry x4
14a Sam Leach x4
14b Simon Poucher x2 Gary Neiles x2
15a Steve Aspinall x4
15b Les Russon x4
16 Craig Dyson x4
16 Mike Fenton x4
17Dave Goodwin x4
18a Trevor Foster x4
reserves
Dave Wainwright x4
Dale Beaghan x4