Times free for 2 or 4 in the ETIQUS Maasters sponsored by top man Jason Waite at excellent Dunham Forest on Monday

Results from Maxitours at panoramic Llangollen!

It took less than 55 minutes for the Maxitours tour bus to reach the fabulous venue of Llangollen in the North Wales valleys. Phil Smeathers looked contented to be surrounded by so many sheep and this was reflected in his better than usual play.

The attractive secretaries Barbara and Hayley were very welcoming, the greens and fairways were superb and the bacon baps were CRISPY and HUGE.

Dave Antrobus left his usual trail of destruction behind him today. He came over the top of his second shot into the tough 8th and missed the green badly to the left. He was then informed he had unfortunately played the wrong ball by a group on an adjoining fairway. Dave trudged to the green to collect the ball and hit it back to the rightful owner. Unfortunately it was by far Dave’s best shot of the day and the rightful owner had to duck for cover as the ball whistled past his forehead.

After all players went out my knees tuned to jelly as I made the worthwhile trip to walk on the famous Thomas Telford aquaduct which stands perilously 130ft high overlooking the stunning Llangollen valley. When I returned to the course it was Dave Madely whose legs were shaking as he stood over his three foot ‘downhiller’ after a superb approach at the last which narrowly claimed nearest the pin.

Martin Firths team is comprised of 4 likeable and big hitting lads in their mid thirties. After a superb start they all suffered a ‘mid round crisis’ and it was their overactive ”tear ducts rather than historic ‘Aquaduct’ that will be their main memory from today’s event. They narrowly missed out on the prizes with 81 points. ‘We blew it’ said a bleary eyed Firth.

Jeff Barrett from Leek has played plenty of team golf and before he went out he talked about the importance of all team members backing each other up in this format. As he handed his very average card in at the end of the day he complained ‘the lads backed me up alright, the only problem is it was against a brick wall.’

Maxitour regular David Smith(8) from Ringway is a class act. He informed me before play that his brother Terry was a late stand in and his handicap was currently inactive ‘we’ve got no chance, he’s hopeless any way’ he explained. Unfortunately David, Andy Hallows(10) and Ray Royle(21) had the round of their lives and came in with a best of the day 85 points. Under Maxitours rules they are unable to claim a top 3 prize. ‘We knew that before we went out- we just had a terrific day’ said the highly respected Architect and golfing gentleman.

Mick Mahon has never played Llangollen and he has been looking forward to the trip for months. He was due to pick his daughter up from Manchester Airport at 5pm last night however the plane was rerouted to an early morning landing at Heathrow. The rest of his team and their stand in were far from sympathetic as they chuckled to themselves over their pre round coffee and fresh bacon balms. ‘He’s not been to Heathrow, he’s just stuck in a queue in the jacamo sales’ said Frank Hindle. The team of Dave Westwood, John Farnworth and Tony Wilson then played great golf to finish 3rd on 81 points.

Second place went to Derek Hollindrake(8), Jonathon Finch(6), Rob Allen(12) and Tennis player Eric Knowles(7). Knowles has won the GB lawn tennis veterans doubles for the last 5 years so he knows how to pick a good partner and today a solid team effort saw them finish in a career best podium finish.

Taking today’s honours were the Saddleworth team of Lee Tilley(10), ex Wigan rugby league Chairman Pete Norbury(19), Rob Norbury (15)and Billy Coleman(18). I have played badly alongside these nice guys in many pro ams and we have never sniffed a prize so it is great to see them do so well today. Rob Norbury appeared as a star actor for over three years in the Hollyoaks soap opera , today for a change he impersonated a good golfer and was delighted with his maiden victory.

Many thanks to Mark and Julie from Holidays4golfers for sponsoring todays event. ALL of todays players will receive an £80 credit off the price of a golf holiday for 4 if you mention Maxitours! I have run several trips with these guys and I can sincerely recommend you to talk to them if you want a stress free golf holiday! http://www.holidays4golfers.com .

Thanks for all who played today, I received many, many great comments about todays venue!
Yours in golf, Tim

Nearest the Pin 18th hole Dave Madely Dozen Srixon AD333s
Nearest the Pin 14th Hole Tom Jarvis Dozen Srixon AD333s
2’s £112.50 5 pro Vs or 10 srixons each Jonathon Finch Martin France Dave McDougall Dave Madely Bill Parkinson Eric Knowles Mick Cannon Tom Jarvis

Monday’s Dunham Forest start times(13th October)

8.10 Jim Caldwell x2 Simon Conway x2
8.20
8.28 Simon Poucher x4
8.37
8.46
8.54 Colin Baxendale x4
9.03
9.12
9.21 Brian Keen x4
9.30 Phil Vokes x4
9.39 Dave Stanhope x4
9.48 Ian Ainsworth x4
9.57 Lewis Marland x4
10.06 Richard Blackwell x4
10.15 Brian Greenbank x4
10.24 Ian Bartholomew x4
10.33 Des Kelly x4
10.42 Ian King x4
10.51 Mick Mahon x4
11.00 Pete Short x2 Carl Kennedy x2
11.09 Dave Parsons x4
11.18
11.27 John Broadhurst x4
11.36 Ben Luscombe x4
11.45
11.54
12.03 Rob Weston x4
12.12 Ian Fairbrother x4
12.20 Charles Herbert x4
12.28 Steve Johnson x2 Nigel Oakes x2
12.36 Sam Leach x4
12.44 Eddie Ellis x4
12.52 Austin McBride x2 Stan Williams x2
1.00pm John Stubbs x4

Vale Of Llangollen this FRIDAY – now spaces for 2 or 4 players on this must play course-see below!!!!

Dunham Forest Etiqus Masters next Monday-spaces

Mere Galvin Green Am Am- Thursday 23rd -full

Maxitours at Stockport Golf Club

Torrential rain and gale force winds greeted the early arrivals at Stockport today. Many thanks to Gary Norcott and the very helpful Stockport team for allowing us to make the correct decision and move to an afternoon shotgun start so this great course could be enjoyed by all.

Rob Rhodes was delighted that the event went ahead. ‘my wife thinks I’m working today, I can’t go home early, she’ll think I’m having an affair.’

John Safill travelled from Chesterfield this morning and he was astounded at the quality of the Stockport course. He was one of many players who declared ‘ those greens are absolutely beautiful ‘. ‘They are the best greens I’ ve played on all year’ said the knowledgeable 4 handicapper Barry Jackson.

Andy Hockenhull ‘s day went from bad to worse. He struggles to rotate his lower body correctly on his downswing and this caused him to narrowly miss out on the prizes after a solid 41 points. His rotation issues continued when he entered the Stockport Clubhouse and got stuck in their historic revolving door after pushing it the wrong way.

Receptive high quality greens, preferred lies and a shortened golf course saw better scoring than last week.

It was great to see Ex Ryder Cup player Ollie Wilson return to form and banish his demons to win the Dunhill Links event on Sunday, Dave Stanhope(12) also reached dizzy heights when he led the Order of Merit earlier this season before also suffering a massive loss of form.
Things were that bad he was playing most par threes as doglegs.
Today he regained his confidence and picked up some much needed points with a fifth place finish alongside John Anderton(9).

Order of Merit leader Richard Blackwell(13) increased his lead after a fourth place finish with 45 points. He partnered Peter Freeman(15) who struggled to get on the card due to his average play and his partners high quality golf.

Badly dressed Ray Massey(5) and Graham Kaye(7) from Ashton on Mersey had a great back nine as they came home in 24 points to finish 3rd.

After a quiet season by their very high standards Shrigley Hall’s nice guys Brian Hopkins(5) and Alan Pengelly(12) were delighted with a season best 2nd place. Pengelly was magical on the back nine as they also finished very strongly.

Good friends John Hilton(12) from Flixton and Mottram Hall’s Ron Jolley(17) took the honours today with a terrific 46 points. These two love their golf and are known as Cheshires own Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal due to their successful partnership. Well played chaps.

Many thanks to everyone for your brilliant cooperation today, everyone who played really enjoyed the Stockport course.

Nearest the pin Ian Waddington Dozen AD333s
Nearest the pin 18th John Anderton Dozen AD333s
85 £7 2’s
2’s Paul Whitworth John Horsley Stan Williams Barry Jackson Ray Massey Graham Kay Mike Tarrant Dave Griffith Ian Waddington x2 Phil Thomas John Bancroft

Llangollen Start times

Great food available from 9am
buggies available to book
Nearest the pin 14th 18th
10.00 Colin Roberts x4-
10.09 Dave Robinson x4
10.18 Colin Baxendale x4
10.27 Mick Mahon x4
10.36 Dave Stanhope x4
10.45 Dave Stanhope x4
10.54 Barney Ross x4
11.03 Roy Ainsworth x4
11.12
11.21 Ian Ainsworth x4
11.30 Derek Hollindrake x4
11.39 Rob Weston x4
11.48 Steve Johnson x4
11.57 Jeff Barrett x4-
12.06 Richard Blackwell x4
12.15 Jim Rymer x2
12.33 Martin Firth x2 Bethell x2
12.42 Ray Jones x4
12.51 Nigel Milroy x4
1.00 Chih hu x4
1.09 Dave Madely x4
1.18 Mick Fenton x4
1.27 David Smithx4
1.36 Jim Ernill x4
1.45 Paul Baxter x4
1.54 Bernard Wood x4
2.03 Steve Parle x4
2.12 David Smith x4
2.21

2.30

Dear Maxitours player,
The clouds have lifted and the wind has dried the greens so incredibly the course is playable now!

If you wish to play earlier please come down, check in and tee off the 1st.
Alternatively at 1.30pm there will also be a shotgun you can walk out and tee off your allocated tee on the back nine.

Many thanks Tim

today moved to 1.30pm shotgun