Many thanks to PGA Professional Matthew Turnock for running my golf day today whilst I am working hard in Portugal – see you on Tuesday at Sandiway.
Regards Tim

Matt’s report
It was not looking good first thing when I arrived at the club to be greeted by some squally showers but the grey clouds were quickly blown away by the 19 mph+ winds.

Nobody was put off with all 28 teams turning out on this testing day with some wrapped up in that many layers they could have featured in a Michelin tyres advert.

Lee (Ringway’s top caterer) and his friendly staff did brisk trade in bacon and sausage baps plus gallons of teas and coffees before play and just as good post round as many stayed for a drink and a bite to eat afterwards.

The weather improved as the day went on and the course played quite long with little run especially on the holes into the wind.

The greens were tricky due to maintenance work done a few weeks ago so a few balls deflected off line but all in all the comments were very complementary about the course and everyone had a good time.

It almost turned out to be a very expensive day for Mark Jones who came within a whisker of a hole in one on the 3rd but a tap in from an inch for a 2 was some consolation as of those who entered the 2’s sweep only six players got one.

Thank you to all the staff at Ringway from James the Pro in the shop to Pete the Assistant Secretary to all the bar staff who looked after the Maxitours players.

Nearest Pin 13th – Brian Carroll – Dozen Srixons
Nearest Pin 16th – Barry Wilson – Dozen Srixons

£182.50 9 ProV1 24 Srixon AD333
Mark Jones, Neil Fenner (collected 24 Srixon already), Barry Wilson, Greg Brown, Stephen White & Richard Williamson

RESULTS

Next week is the fabulous Sandiway G.C on Tuesday 7th February

Sandiway Tues 7th Feb 11am Pairs £25

1 Mick Mahon x4
1b Brian Hopkins x4
2 Phil Vokes x4
2b Jim Caldwell x4
3 Ian King x4
4 Mark Jones x2 Lewis Marland x2
4bDave Blood x4
5b Ian Ainsworthx4
6 Andy Strickley x2 John Hunt x2
7a Sam Leach x4
7b Steve Johnson x4
8 Dale Beaghan x4
9 Eddie Jordan x4
9b Colin Roberts x4
10 Chris Adams x4
11 Les Russon x4
11b Dan Huffman x4
12 Dan Huffman x4
12 Dave Thomas x4
13 John Berry x4
14 Steve Murray x4
14 Brian Greenbank x4
15 Phil Scott x2 Jason Henderson x2
15b George Buchan x4
16 Roger Fielding x4
17 Roger Percival x4
17b John Hilditch x2 Simon Walton x2
18 John Stubbs x4
Stapleton x4
Mike George x2
Bob Mottershead x4
Martin Cox x2

Great Upcoming Maxitours events
Ringway Thurs 2nd February- room for 2 teams slots
Sandiway Tues 7th Feb -full
Ormskirk Thurs 16th Feb – full
Wilmslow 20th Feb -full
Prestbury 2nd March- last few spaces
Dunham Forest 9th March -spaces
Caldy 16th March -spaces- this is now a timed start
Maxitours at fabulous Fairhaven
A fresh January morning greeted Maxitours competitors at Fairhaven Golf Club. Regularly ranked in the top 100 courses in the British Isles this course is a real cracker to play in the Winter months.
‘I ve been sloshing around all week on my home course, but those fairways were terrific out there!’ said one Manchester man.
The greens were also in tremendous condition and they were hand cut and Ironed this morning in preparation for today’s event.
Thanks to all at Fairhaven for looking after us so well. Mandy in the half way house also did a top job and she really enjoyed working today. Apparently Maxitours players are really lovely to serve.
There was an old fable that Fairhaven Golf Club has 365 bunkers – one for every day of the year. After speaking to the green keeper who has to maintain them all I can confirm it does have just 118 of them, most of which were been visited by Rob Kenyon on his way to joint 45th place.
There were over 100 men in the field and only one lady golfer but it was six handicapper Anne Greenough the attractive Knutsford Golf Club stewardess who put the men to shame. Stunning Anne easily won the nearest the pin on the 10th. Well done Anne. (Those compliments should be well worth a few extra chips with my toastie at lunchtime in the coming weeks)
The immaculate greens and shortened course meant scoring was always going to be excellent- especially with five reachable par 5 holes and players receiving plenty of shots. The Professional Course record of 64 was set by Justin Leonard in 1996 and this was in danger of being bettered by some of today’s players!
Four pairs shared 4th place with 47 points. Prestbury’s Chris Adams(12) and Richard Johnson(16) played well enough to take 5th but it was mechanic Jim Cox(4) and ex copper Dave Blood(8) who had an excellent back nine to narrowly win the card play -off.
Third place went to Wychwood nice guys Richard Williamson(12) and Phil Robinson(10) with 49 points. They scored heavily on the 5 short par fives where they picked up seven of their shots.
Mark Jones(14) from Clitheroe and Mike Parkin(11) from Preston scored 50 points despite both being docked a shot last week. Their consistently good performances see them both lose another 4 shots each off their handicaps for the foreseeable future to slow them down a little and give them slightly more realistic starting points.
Every dog has his day and winning today were Tony Stiles(14) from Sale and Dave Chambers(11) from Mellor. These two top lads have played in many events over the past ten years with little or no success and they were quite rightly delighted with their first ever win. ‘They didn’t miss a putt’ said card marking Mick Fenton ‘They played incredibly well as they are normally hopeless!’ he added.
Emotional Chambers looked in a state of shock in the clubhouse after play and had to fight back the tears when he discovered they had won.
Congratulations chaps that was a truly great score!
Thanks to all who played today your support is much appreciated. Yours in Golf, Tim
Nearest the Pin 10th Anne Greenough Doz AD333
Nearest the Pin 17th Roger Fielding Doz AD333s
£170 3 pro v1s or 9 srixons each
Colin Berry Steve Aspinall x2 Pete Walton Anne Greenough Steve Hall Dave Tongue Paul Dalby x2 Mark Jones Phil Mayers Mick Hardman Richard Palmer Brian Rogerson Gary Garner

Maxitours at ringway Thursday 2nd February
11am shotgun
1a Colin Roberts x4
1b Ian King x4
2a Chris Adams x4
2b John Stubbs x4
3 Gary Neilles x4
4 Dave Thomas x4
4b Mark Jones x4
5 Dave Beard x4
6 Ged Elton x4
6b
7a Dave Blood x4
7b Barry Wilson x4
8 Marc Beresford x4
9a Simon Poucher x4
9b Frank Stapleton x4
10a Lewis Marland x4
10 Bev Crute x4
11 Simon Ashton x4
11b Jim Caldwell x4
12 Terry Chaplin x4
13 Les Russon x4
14 Dave Moore x4
15
16a Mick Mahon x4
16b Phil Vokes x4
17a Trevor Foster x4
17b Dale Beaghan x4
18 Roger Percival x4

*Maxitours Summer Schedule 2017 released tomorrow!*
Still Room for 1 team at Fairhaven next week
Maxitours at Cracking Caldy

What a day to come to the coast!

There was not a breath of wind, the stunning Caldy course was dry and firm and the warm Atlantic gulf stream kept our players feeling warm – tremendous.

Many thanks to golf course manager Carl Crocher for preparing this top links course to such a very high standard.

Maxitours player Chris Adams was looking bronzed after our recent trip to Portugal. His golf ball seemed to want to go back to the sun and he couldn’t stop hooking it in the general direction of the Algarve.

Graham Dean always tells me a couple of crackers when he checks in. Today he said he was struggling for a team as his regular partner was run over by a train yesterday. ‘He is a real enthusiast who absolutely loves steam trains and wanted to get as close as possible to a moving one- but just got too close’ when I asked him if his pal was alright he told me that ‘yes, he was chuffed to bits.’

Retired Ex- England footballers Matt Jansen(10) and Mickey Gray(7) have discovered that hitting a little dimpled ball is a bit trickier than kicking a big one. They have played in plenty of events but without much success. Something clicked today and ex Blackburn star Jansen had his best ever round collecting three birdies on the back nine to take 4th place. Warren Newton(9) and Pat Keenan(16) also played great golf.

My old science teacher Neil Drummond(13) from Macclesfield played today. The last time I saw him he sent me out of the classroom for setting fire to my pencil case with a bunsen burner. It was Mr Drummond who was on fire today though as he helped his team to 86 points and 3rd place. He teamed up with Andrew Stone(17), Daniel Dunn(21) and Brendan Leighton.(15)

Dave Parsons(15) and his ageing team from Sale Golf Club shocked a lot of people today as they returned a best- ever 87 points to take 2nd place. They had an incident packed round of golf. Steve Thomas(18) is a dentist and watching him play on the course is like pulling teeth. Today however he holed his second shot into the first to collect 5 points. ‘They might put a ‘plaque’ there.’ Said one of his team mates. Geoff Sherburn(16) then had a Maxitours first winning both holes in one (the odds of which are over 10,000-1) – although he did miss both putts. Dave Smith(18) completed the entertaining quartet.

Winning today were experienced players Mark Jones(14) from Clitheroe who teamed up with Mike Parkin(12) from Preston and father and son Gary (5)and Jordan Garner(6) from Haigh Hall. They collected 46 points on the front nine and 42 points on the back nine to take their first win of the year. The consistent but likeable team will be facing another handicap cut before their next outing!

Well played chaps.

Thank to everyone for your 100% attendance once again.
There are some Vilasol photos on the Holidays4golfers facebook page if you want to check them out.

Last week a Galvin Green waterproof top was kindly handed in by Peter Hamlett. Let me know if it was yours please as Pete has his eye on it.

Thanks for your support, Tim

Nearest the Pin 2nd hole Geoff Sherburn!
Nearest the pin 17th hole Geoff Sherburn!

2’s £155 5 pro V1s or a dozen AD333s per two Don Milligan Dave Fellows Matt Jansen x2 Dale Beaghan Pete Ledger Tony Stiles Dave Goodwin James Eaves Steve Aspinall

Fairhaven Start times TUESDAY 24th January
1a Colin Roberts x2 Steve Austin x2
1b Phil Vokes x4
2 Trevor Foster x4
3a Dave Goodwin x4
3b Lewis Marland x2 John Hilditch x2
4 Nigel Compsty x4
4b Mark Jones x2 Gary Garner x2
5 Eddie Jordan x4
6 Mick Fenton x4
6 John Berry x4
7 Steve Aspinall x4
8 Ian Greenough x4
9a John Stubbs x4
9b Dave Blood x4
10 Brian Hopkins x4
11a David Kelly x4
11a Chris Adams x4
12
12 Dale Beaghan x4
13 Simon Taylor x4
14 Roger Fielding x2 Greg Adams x2
14b George Buchan x4
15 Mark Pasquill x4
16 Les Russon x4
16b Steve Lamont x4
17 Ian Greenough x4
18b Mick Mahon x4

Great Upcoming Maxitours events
Ringway Thurs 2nd February- room for 2 teams slots
Sandiway Tues 7th Feb -full
Ormskirk Thurs 16th Feb – full
Wilmslow 20th Feb -full
Prestbury 2nd March- last few spaces
Dunham Forest 9th March -spaces
Caldy 16th March -spaces- this is now a timed start

Maxitours at fabulous Fairhaven

A fresh January morning greeted Maxitours competitors at Fairhaven Golf Club. Regularly ranked in the top 100 courses in the British Isles this course is a real cracker to play in the Winter months.

‘I ve been sloshing around all week on my home course, but those fairways were terrific out there!’ said one Manchester man.

The greens were also in tremendous condition and they were hand cut and Ironed this morning in preparation for today’s event.
Thanks to all at Fairhaven for looking after us so well. Mandy in the half way house also did a top job and she really enjoyed working today. Apparently Maxitours players are really lovely to serve.

There was an old fable that Fairhaven Golf Club has 365 bunkers – one for every day of the year. After speaking to the green keeper who has to maintain them all I can confirm it does have just 118 of them, most of which were been visited by Rob Kenyon on his way to joint 45th place.

There were over 100 men in the field and only one lady golfer but it was six handicapper Anne Greenough the attractive Knutsford Golf Club stewardess who put the men to shame. Stunning Anne easily won the nearest the pin on the 10th. Well done Anne. (Those compliments should be well worth a few extra chips with my toastie at lunchtime in the coming weeks)

The immaculate greens and shortened course meant scoring was always going to be excellent- especially with five reachable par 5 holes and players receiving plenty of shots. The Professional Course record of 64 was set by Justin Leonard in 1996 and this was in danger of being bettered by some of today’s players!

Four pairs shared 4th place with 47 points. Prestbury’s Chris Adams(12) and Richard Johnson(16) played well enough to take 5th but it was mechanic Jim Cox(4) and ex copper Dave Blood(8) who had an excellent back nine to narrowly win the card play -off.

Third place went to Wychwood nice guys Richard Williamson(12) and Phil Robinson(10) with 49 points. They scored heavily on the 5 short par fives where they picked up seven of their shots.

Mark Jones(14) from Clitheroe and Mike Parkin(11) from Preston scored 50 points despite both being docked a shot last week. Their consistently good performances see them both lose another 4 shots each off their handicaps for the foreseeable future to slow them down a little and give them slightly more realistic starting points.

Every dog has his day and winning today were Tony Stiles(14) from Sale and Dave Chambers(11) from Mellor. These two top lads have played in many events over the past ten years with little or no success and they were quite rightly delighted with their first ever win. ‘They didn’t miss a putt’ said card marking Mick Fenton ‘They played incredibly well as they are normally hopeless!’ he added.
Emotional Chambers looked in a state of shock in the clubhouse after play and had to fight back the tears when he discovered they had won.

Congratulations chaps that was a truly great score!
Thanks to all who played today your support is much appreciated. Yours in Golf, Tim

Nearest the Pin 10th Anne Greenough Doz AD333
Nearest the Pin 17th Roger Fielding Doz AD333s
£170 3 pro v1s or 9 srixons each
Colin Berry Steve Aspinall x2 Pete Walton Anne Greenough Steve Hall Dave Tongue Paul Dalby x2 Mark Jones Phil Mayers Mick Hardman Richard Palmer Brian Rogerson Gary Garner

Maxitours at ringway Thursday 2nd February
11am shotgun

1a Colin Roberts x4
1b Ian King x4
2a Chris Adams x4
2b John Stubbs x4
3 Gary Neilles x4
4 Dave Thomas x4
4b Mark Jones x4
5 Dave Beard x4
6 Ged Elton x4
6b
7a Dave Blood x4
7b Barry Wilson x4
8 Marc Beresford x4
9a Simon Poucher x4
9b Frank Stapleton x4
10a Lewis Marland x4
10 Bev Crute x4
11 Simon Ashton x4
11b Jim Caldwell x4
12 Terry Chaplin x4
13 Les Russon x4
14 Dave Moore x4
15
16a Mick Mahon x4
16b Phil Vokes x4
17a Trevor Foster x4
17b Dale Beaghan x4
18 Roger Percival x4

Dear Maxitours player,

I am delighted to release the new and best ever Maxitours Summer Schedule 2017. As always I continue to try to provide my players with the best value golf on the best courses in the North West.

All the top Clubs are happy to host our Maxitours events and they welcome us back each year. This is in no small part to the superb etiquette and sportsmanship shown by you all and also the support you give to the host club caterers and bar which is most appreciated.

This season sees the fantastic Lancaster Golf Club added to the schedule which is a real treat.
Finally, many thanks to all Maxitours players for your tremendous loyalty and integrity.
I hope you have a great Summer on the links

Yours in Golf,

Tim.

Please remember all players must be members of a recognised golf club to play and handicaps must be active (on how did i do) in order to win a top 3 prize.

Maxitours Summer Schedule 2017

Tues 2nd May Sandiway 9am-3pm Pairs £30
Thurs 11th May Prestbury 9am-3pm AM AM £30
Thurs 18th May Pleasington 9.30-3.15pm Pairs £25
Tues 23rd May Bramall Park 10.00-3pm AM AM £22.50

Thurs 1st June Ringway 9-2.30pm AM AM £25
Thurs 8th June Worsley 10-3pm AM AM £22.50
Thurs 15th June Fixby 10-3pm Pairs £25
Fri 23rd June Vale Royal 8.30-3pm AM AM £25
Mon 26th June Conway 10.50-4pm Pairs £30

Thurs 6th July Davenport 10-3pm Pairs £22.50
Thurs 13th July Hazel Grove 10-3pm AM AM £22.50
Fri 21st July Hopwood 10-3pm Pairs £25
Thurs 27th July Dunham Forest 8-1.00pm AM AM £25

Fri 4th Aug Vale Royal 8.30-3pm AM AM £25.00
Mon 7th Aug Mere 8.30-3pm Pairs £30
Tues 15th Aug Sandiway 9-3pm AM AM £30
Mon 21st Aug Stockport 9-3pm AM AM £27.50
Thurs 31st Aug Ringway 9-2.30pm AM AM £25

Tues 5th Sept Lancaster 11-4.30pm AMAM £25
Thurs 14th Sept Clitheroe 10.-3pm Pairs £25
Thurs 21st Sept Hopwood 10-3pm AM AM £25
Thurs 28th Sept Pleasington 9.30-3.15pm AM AM £25

Thurs 5th Oct Prestbury 9-2pm Pairs £30
Fri 13th Oct Vale of Llangollen 10-3pm AM AM £25
Thurs 19th Oct Stockport 9-2.30pm AM AM £25
Thurs 26th Oct Dunham Forest 8-1pm AM AM £25