Maxitours at Superb Vale Royal Abbey

A beautiful winter morning greeted the competitors as they arrived at this additional Maxitours event at Vale Royal Abbey. There were clear blue skies and a crisp frost which soon disappeared to reveal fantastic greens as the sun heated up both the golf course and players alike.

The cloudless sky encouraged Colin Lynch (know as Magnum to his friends) to travel in his new latest Ferrari ‘ California ’. Nobody is quite sure what Colin does for a living and suspicions were further aroused when you took a close look at his four ball, this included a top gynocolgist, an MD of a drug powder coating business and the ex Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.

Ian King’s Bramall team set the early pace returning a very solid 81 points to earn some valuable Order of Merit points. Also recording this score was Peter Coughlin and his North Manchester team who enjoyed their first trip South into deepest, darkest Cheshire .

This score was incredibly matched again by millionaire Terry Davison and his ‘last of the summer wine’ team from Hazel Grove. Alan Clough, Ian Ainsworth and Geoff Haynes all contributed well and they took the overall lead with an excellent back nine. It looked for a long time as though thrifty Davison and his men would get the record for the tattiest ball ever to win a Maxitours event as he enjoyed playing with a Pinnacle 384 which was last produced in 1986.

Late in the day Davison was forced into second place by Cath Rawthore and her feared team from Sale Golf Club who thought their 84 point tally could scrape into the top five and were both surprised and delighted to win. Cath Rawthore who was playing off plus 1 due to a previous win now will be playing off plus two in future events- come on chaps, pull yourselves together!

Many thanks for everyone who played today, several competitors asked me to pass on their thanks to the Vale Royal manager for their excellent freindly team and also the greenkeepers who presented the course wonderfully.

next event:
Spaces at the fantastic team of 4 AM AM Vale Royal Abbey Golf Course this Monday! (30th January)

Maxitours at Delamere Forest GC

Delamere Forest was the glorious setting for todays terrific Maxitours event.
Most players normally turn up in plenty of time to settle down in the quaint clubhouse, order a bacon sandwich, smell the flowers, relax and mentally prepare for the challenge ahead on this great course. (In fact this was the venue where Cath Rawthore set a fantastic new Maxitours record a few years ago when she consumed three bacon sandwiches before play).
Everyone arrived on time except policeman Ian Hayles. When I was a boy I was always told to ask a policeman if I ever got lost, however for PC Ian Hayles of Greater Manchester Police geography was never his strongest subject. Ian could be found scratching his head and wondering where everybody was as he happily warmed up on his own 20 miles away at Dunham Forest golf course this morning.
The excellent greens and running fairways led to some great scoring.
Ex premiership footballer Neil Cox recorded 5 points as he eagled the 11th hole, partner Pete Keena supported him well as they finished in 6th place with 42 points. Pete was so delighted with his performance he set a new land speed record as he flew past me in his bright red TT on his way home to tell his wife how well he had played.
Andy Moran and Brian Craven teamed up well and they were able to match 42 points when the charismatic Moran birdied the tough 15th hole to set up a strong finish.
Big John Grint and old Frank Byatt rolled back the years today and played some exhibition golf as they scored 43 points. Byatt rifled a career three wood to set up a simple tap in birdie on the tough 5th hole, Grint however was not to be outdone and nipped in a little wedge from 70 yards which rolled into the hole and sent the watching greenkeepers into a wild uncontrolled frenzy.
Pete Atherton and Martin France from Lymm were excellent today, as were ‘under the thumb’ Graham Aspinall and Ben Davies who all scored 44 points. Aspinall struggles for permission to get out nowadays and he made the most of his freedom by notching up a rare birdie on the 13th hole.
Paul Sherlock and ‘dangerous’ Chris Cyprus from Didsbury with 46 points posted the score to beat. They athletic duo scored 4 points on the 3rd,5th, 7th and 11th holes! Five handicapper Sherlock complained ‘it could have been a lot better if only I’d had a decent partner!’
Skill full joiner Andy Taylor and top scaffolder Martin Firth from Shrigley Hall also constructed a great score of 46 points. After a wonderful opening 14 holes the pair were having the round of their lives, Taylor then suffering a late bout of the shanks, Firth was struggling to breathe under the immense pressure, however the talented pair just limped home to take first place. ‘you could see the panic in their eyes’ reported marker Liam Harrison.

Many thanks for all who played today.
There are several spaces available for the newly arranged Am Am at Vale Royal on Monday, Please let me know if you want to play at this superb venue.

Tim.

Nearest the Pin 6th Dozen AD333
Nearest the pin 12th Dozen AD333

2’s £110 4 pro v1s or 8 srixon Ad333s
Andy Moran x2 Mick Mahon Roger Percival Barry Harrison x2 Russ Johnson Trevor Golds Bobby Aston

Upcoming events
Delamere 26th January -full

**Additional team of four event on Monday 30th January at Vale Royal!**
Room for 22 Am Am teams -spaces

Stockport 9th February- full
Caldy 16th February-full
Conwy 21st February-nearly full
Ringway AM AM 1st March-spaces

Results from Maxitours at Vale Royal

Spring was definitely in the air at Vale Royal today, a few snowdrops and crocuses were spotted in the undergrowth by big hitting John Rigby and other more wayward members of the tour.
The warm mild air brought out the wildlife today which seemed to be preparing for the mating season, which will of course soon be upon us. A couple of male pheasants looked in prime condition as they strutted across the vale royal fairways, a lone fox quietly marked his territory behind the 10th green and Alan Clough was wearing the new after-shave he got for Christmas.
The Head Greenkeeper was desperate for the greens to thaw fully before play this morning, however the three inch frost left a soggy surface layer which would damage his roots and he made the tough decision to play on temporary greens. Despite the shortened course which provided plenty of birdie opportunities, everyone had a superb day at this premier Cheshire venue.
Ian Waddington and his team of Lancastrians from Pleasington were first to hand a great card in, they were delighted with an 89 point haul despite dropping two shots on the first hole.
Dave Bloods’ experienced Denton team recorded 90 points with Jim Cox doing most damage. Four handicap Jim is on fire at the moment and recently beat former European Open champion Andrew Murray in the Alliance matchplay, today he picked up 5 birdies helping his team to 3rd place.
Football legends Frank Stapleton and Stuart Pearson always play in the Vale Royal events as they love the course so much. They know the importance of teamwork and today they partnered talented Liam Kindon (1) and Dave Wilson (8) to score 90 points and they were delighted with second place.
Paul Griffiths from Wychwood rolled in a 30 yard putt on the 10th hole for birdie and he also rolled in a nice putt to birdie the stunning seventh hole as he more than played his part in his team’s wonderful victory today. Two birdies on their last hole, the par four fourteenth hole, ensured they took the honours in style today. Chris Reid, Matt Coe and Carl Elson were the other victorious team members.
Seventy-something year old Neville Dennis was back where he belongs in the prizes as he won nearest the pin on the 6th hole after a terrific shot left him two feet from the pin, a very slightly younger Terry Barnes from Wilmslow was closest on the tough 10th hole.
Many thanks to all players, your support today was absolutely fantastic and much appreciated.
Yours in golf,
Tim.

Nearest the pin 6th Neville Dennis dozen ad333s
Nearest the pin 10th Terry Barnes dozen ad333s

2’s sweep £125 4 pro V1 balls each or 8 srixon ad333
Paul Griffiths Gary Garner Moby Rawthore John Hilton Chris Cyprus John Davies Terry Barnes x2 Alan Clough

Todays event will be on temporary greens.

9.35am
After speaking to the head greenkeeper 5 minutes ago he said there was still 3 inches of frost in the ground and the top was turning to mush when walked on- ‘this is the only time real damage is done to the greens’.
He has done his best but temporary greens will be in use. The entry fee will be reduced to £15 per person accordingly.
Thankyou for your patience on this matter, Tim

Dear Golfer,
Tomorrows event at beautiful Vale Royal is DEFINATELY ON, I am talking with the greenkeeper who is a great guy and will do his ‘Utmost to keep us on the normal greens’.
****The start time will now be 11.30am to give us maximum chance of full greens.****
I will keep my website http://www.maxitoursgolf.com updated at 9.30am and 10.30am in the morning as to course conditions.

Vale Royal are currently on full greens but he can’t guarantee it 100% for tomorrow, it depends on how quickly they thaw out (apparently any damage is done when the frost is coming out).If there is more than five temporary greens the entry fee will be reduced by £5.
Play will be permitted as usual from excellent tees and fairways.

Yours in golf,
Tim

The Latest Shotsaver Order of Merit January 16th 2012.