Dear Maxitours player,

The Preston course is still open and playable so the event is going ahead

In addition to the 18 hole competition there will be prizes for scores after 9 holes

Thank you
Tim

Dear Maxitours player,

Todays event is still on.
The excellent USGA Greens ensure the course is still open for play and the greenkeeper is very positive that they can take the current rain.

I will update the website again at 10 am

Yours in Golf, Tim

*Preston on Friday- strt sheet below. Please collect cards from the driving range which will be open to warm up. There will also be a half way house available for snacks

Maxitours at marvellous Mere

Perfect golfing conditions greeted 140 Maxitours Competitors at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa.

The greens were rolling superbly and there were lots of positive comments about this phenomenal Cheshire venue.

Even before his round Sam Leach was looking forward to the Preston event on Friday rather than his game at Mere today. ‘I’m not playing with this lot at Preston- I’ve got half a chance.’
When he finished his round today I asked him how today’s team performed ‘They started badly and then crumbled.’

Graham ‘the pie man’ Jackson is a fast-food loving Maxitours legend and his eating habits are regularly mentioned in my reports. I have also been known to enjoy the odd portion of chips. Today I called in at the Cranford café on the way to Mere and surprised myself by ordering a salad box. Just as I opened the box at Lunch time Graham walked in with his team scorecard and his eyes lit up ‘Ha! Caught you eating! What is in that box! He chuckled.
‘Salad.’ I replied.
He took a quick peek to remind himself what a cucumber looked like and then made a quick exit.

In todays event ex- Club Captain Nigel Eckersley(10) led his under-rated Knutsford team into 5th place with 80 points playing alongside Jeremy Lawton(14), Dave Horsley(6) and Matt Clement(12).

Taking 4th place late in the day was Richard Blackwell(13), Garry Smith(11) Nick Moores(12) and John Hilton(13)
The Withington team of Martin Keates(3), John Owen(11), Kev Hawkins and Simon Raine(6) took a card play-off third also on 82 points.
Taking second was the Wilmslow low handicap team of Paul Dalby(6) Phil Vokes (4) Matt Birch (2) and Kevin Hamilton (scr). They had eight gross birdies between them to secure eighty six.

Winning today was the Macclesfield Golf Club Captain Chris Massey(3) and his team. I have known Chris since we played together nearly every day as Juniors. He won his fair share of mars bars off me. Rick Ward (4) Tom Hollingworth(3) and Tom Silcock(8) all played great to score a magnificent 88 points to take their first ever victory. The team had four 2’s. Brilliant.

The closed Clubhouse saved Liam Rex a fortune after he had a hole in one on the 3rd hole. Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone for another full house. Tim

Nearest the pin 12th Nigel Eckersley Doz AD333
Nearest the pin 16th Jim Clarke Doz AD333

2’s £255 3 pro v1s or 7 srixon AD333

Liam Rex x2 (hole in one)Kevin Hamilton Mark Hughes John Russell John McCaffrey Lee Charnley Josh Street Steve Aspinall Alan Simpson Craig Forsyth Graham Davenport Andrew Monk Brian Greenbank Dave Sarsfield Jim Hodges Christie Beakey Munro Donald Jim Kenyon Nigel Eckersley Dave Horsley Jim Kenyon Simon Beswick Bernie Scott Chris Burrows Rick Ward Tom Hollingworth Tom Silcock

One of our Maxitours players Bob Pickthall is a more talented singer than he is a golfer and he has forwarded this email;
Like most of you, I have had a lot of spare time during Lockdown. I decided quite early on that I wanted to do something creative and worthwhile with my time so I joined forces with my full-time musician friend, Ian Lawton, to write a couple of songs.

We wrote one of the songs with the intention of raising funds for Cancer Research UK. The song ‘When it’s Really Really Over’ is about all the things we long for after Lockdown and when we get a magical vaccine!We’ve called the project FUTURESCOPE.( for obvious reasons)

Unfortunately, a lot of Cancer Research UK’s normal sources of funding (such as the London Marathon and Race For Life etc) have been cancelled due to the pandemic. The charity is predicting a 20-25% decline in fundraising income this financial year and has already been forced to make £44m cuts to its research spend.

Whilst the pandemic will hopefully be behind us this time next year, the need for Cancer Research goes on! My wife, Jenny, and I have both recovered from Cancer due to amazing improvements in treatments over the past 20 years. We are committed to keeping these improvements moving forward to help future generations.

We hope that you can help by doing 3 things:
1. Watch and hopefully enjoy the Video to our song, ‘When it’s Really Really Over’, use the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZqyjSgks6o
For best AUDIO/VISUAL go to You Tube on a Smart TV, Search IANROB for the video.
2. Please donate if you can. To donate press this link to the Cancer Giving page https://bit.ly/3dJNy26

3. Please pass on to friends, family and colleagues (10 other or more if you can). Momentum is so vitally important to maximise the fundraising.
Your donation and sharing of the details will make a great difference and

See our other song ‘Let the World Unite’ by following the link IANROB- Unite. You’ll find both songs if you search for IANROB on YouTube on your Smart TV.

Preston start sheet
Friday 3rd July

9.50 Ian King x4.
10.00 Colin Roberts x4.
10.10 Gareth Winston x4
10.20 Steve Fairclough x4.
10.30 Jim Clarke x4
10.40 Nigel Jenkins x4.
10.50 Sam Leach x4.
11.30 Lewis Marland x4.
11.40 Neale Laurent x4.
11.50 Pete Dolan x4
12.00 Pete Dolan x4
12.10 Paul Fell x4. (£50)
12.20 Richard Blackwell x4.
12.30 Munro Donald x4. (£50)
12.40 Ian Hellens x4
12.50 Steve Aspinall x4. (£50)
1.00 Jim Rymer x4
1,10 Dave Buckley x4 (£50)
1.20 Mick Mahon x4.
1.30 Kev Hart x4.
1.40 Dave Goodwin x4.
1.50 Lee Tilley x4.
2.00 Martin France x4
2.10 Martin Cox x4. (£50)
2.20 Garry Owen x4.
2.30 Dave Sully x4.
2.40 Bri Hopkins x4
2.50 Gary Neiles x4. (£50)
3.00 Ian Hellens x4.
3.10 Dave Griffiths x4
3.20 Neil Edwards x4
3.30 Neil Edwards x4

IANROB- Unite

Maxitours at must play Cavendish

All golfers must play this great course before they die.

At just 5552 yards with fast running fairways, stunning tees and greens and just a gentle breeze to keep the players cool it looked like the course was for the taking.

No way.

The brilliant Mackenzie design outfoxed most of the teams with the average score being around the 73 mark.

Thanks to everyone at this great club for their hospitality. Rachel in the pro shop is a real favourite with our players/smoothies. Cavendish sell Mars bars,, snickers, kit kats and Rolos in the pro shop. Love struck Graham King nearly missed his tee time after he busily scoffed his chocolates in order to be able to offer Rachel his last rolo. Great service with a smile all day. Brilliant.

Mark Hagerty tells me every week that I get his name wrong. He says reading my reports is similar to the start of Fawlty towers as he never knows what name will appear in the results. He was down on the start sheet today as Mark Hagery which was a new one. After todays performance he is thinking about changing his name completely after his team could only manage 70 points.

Pete O’Neill is a top man and he was looking VERY well after the lockdown (I think it was ‘choc down’ for Pete) He said it was like being on a two month all inclusive holiday except he could stay at home. He got a nice sun tan from his fridge bulb he was in and out of there that often. The Buxton hillside was a shock to his system and the team could only manage a last place 67 points.

English teacher Gary Hornsea has also been taking it very easy at home for the last ten weeks and he is really looking forward to relaxing even more during the Summer holidays which start next month. Despite being a literature fan he couldn’t read the Cavendish greens today.
‘They absolutely baffled me.’ He admitted. ‘I’m going home for a lie down and a another relax’ Was his only solution.

In todays event:
Neale Laurents(15) Dukinfield team were surprised to take fourth place with 82 points. John Harrop(10), Gary Berrisford(10) and Paul Butler(9) were his team mates.

Cheshire senior players Andrew Hill (1)and Don Campbell (2) played with a couple of other tasty players Mike Kelsall(4)and Dave Stewardson(10) and the Hazel Grove team were happy with 3rd place. Andrew Hill is one of Cheshire finest ever putters and he enjoyed the Augusta like greens.

Alsagers’ finest -Colin Roberts- has had the golfing week of his entertaining life. After three years without a prize he followed up a surprise third place at Vale Royal yesterday with a second place today! Incredible. They had a run of four six-point holes on the back nine and they were about the only team on the course to master the tricky Cavendish greens. Their 85 points was good enough to take 2nd place.
Well played Colin(18), Andy Williamson(14), Dave Marchant(16) and Dave Mason(13). Brilliant.

Winning today were the strange talking local Matlock team of Mick Wain(8) Don Claxton(2) Tony Price(11) and Sean Heenan (24). Sean had the shots and it looked like he was the danger man but he only came on the card once. It was 2 handicapper Don Claxton who picked up four birdies- the most impressive being on the tough tenth hole where he received a shot. These guys know the course and they used their local knowledge very well. Great golf chaps.

Thank you for another full field once again. Amazing. Two long but great days. I’m off to bed.
Tim.

Nearest the Pin 15th 4ft 5inch Andy Williamson Dozen AD333
Nearest the pin 17th Jordan Brown 6 inches Dozen AD333

2’s £142.50 3 pro v1s each or 6 srixon Ad 333
Steve Blakeway x2 Anne Greenough Andy Brechin Rick Cotton Simon Ledger Tony Evans Jordan Brown Mark Gebbie Tony Price Don Claxton Don Campbell Mike Kelsall Dave Stewardson Alan Entwistle Alan Squires Mick Jones Russell Humphries

Mere AM AM
Tuesday 30th June

11.40 Ian King x4.
11.50 Colin Roberts x4.
12.00 Bob Eastwood x4 (£25)
12.10 Jim Caldwell x4.
12.20 Simon Langdon x4
12.30 Neale Laurent. x4 (£25)
Lee Tilley x4
12.40 John Owen x4.
12.50 Jim Clarke x4. (£25)
1.00 Brian Greenbank x4.
1.10 Mick Mahon x4.(25)
1.20 Chris Gregory (£25)
1.30 Mike Spencer 4.
1.40 Chris Adams x4 (£25)
1.50 Sam Leach x4
2.00 Les Russon x4 (£25)
2.10 Steve Aspinall x4. (£25)
2.20 Dave Sully x4.(£25)
2.30 Roy Ainsworth. (£25)
2,40 Ian Hellens x4,
2.50 Paul Dalby x4.
3.00 Martin Humphries x4.
3.10 Paul Fell x4.
3.20 John Cox tbc
3.30 Jim Kenyon x4.
3,40 Jim Kenyon x4.
3.50 Jim Kenyon x4.
4.00 Dave Blood x4
4.10 Allan Brown x4
4.20 Chris Lister x4
4.30 Steve Fairclough x4.
4.40 Gary Neiles x4 (£50)
4.50 Richard Blackwell x4.
5.00 James Callow x4 (£50)
5.10 Andrew Cornes x4
5.20 Andy Buckley x4.
5.30 Mark Ellam x4
5.40

*Please arrive 25 minutes before your start time tomorrow at Cavendish
*Mere and Preston start times below- there was little room for new teams as most Welsh Classic teams are now playing at these venues- Apologies to any of my disappointed clients on the reserve list.

Maxitours at Vintage Vale Royal

It was another great golfing day for well over 100 Maxitours players who travelled to Vale Royal.

There were tremendous compliments throughout the day for this fantastic venue which is maturing into a classic.
Richard Blackwell usually talks drivel but he hit the nail on the head this evening when he rated Vale Royal ‘As good as any golf course in Cheshire.’

‘That is one great golf course!’ Added Steve Marsden.
‘I love it here – it’s a really, really, enjoyable golf course to play.’ Praised Lewis Marland.

The report is slightly shorter than usual as I have been busy sorting start times out at future venues. I might have had time to write some golf related stories but I was busy wasting my life away having a nonsensical conversation with Bob Chesters’ team. They all have degrees in stating the obvious when I am trying to get some work done.
‘Its hot out there Tim’
‘Really?’

It was John Kings first day back after self-isolating. ‘It’s my first day out for a few months as I am classed as vulnerable!’ He told me proudly.
‘Your wedge play needs to go into isolation next. it looked pretty vulnerable to me!’ Remarked his playing partner Fred Tyler.

Scoring was excellent especially in the morning when there was not a breath of wind and the greens were receptive. It was great to see two legendary Maxitours teams in the top three.

Ever present Colin Roberts(19) is possibly the most ‘capped’ Maxitours player. The popular Alsager man plays every week but he is more famous for his larger than life personality rather than his golf game. He played great today however and was ably assisted by his more sensible good friend Dave Marchant(18), Dave Mason(13) and Andy Williamson(13 as they took 3rd place).

Father to be Andy Buckley(9) teamed up with his own dad Mark (9) Don Philips (12) and Pete Woodbine (14) they has a best of the day 46 points in the front nine which earned them second place

Mick Mahon(22) can’t be too far behind Colin with the most Maxitours caps and this gentle giant is one of the nicest guys in the game. He rolled in more than his fair share of putts today as his team won with a brilliant 91 points . Team mate Richard Palmer (11) has had one of his rare victories here a few years ago and it was a case of horses for courses as the farmer also played well. Andy Faulkner(18) and Dave Westwood (19) completed the likeable team .
Well played chaps a great victory under the hot sun!

Thanks to everyone for your 100% attendance. Awesome ! as they say on the PGA Tour.

Tim

Nearest the Pin 10th Craig Rea Doz AD333 4 feet
Nearest the pin 16th Les Russon Doz AD333 9inches

2’s £252.50 6 prov1s or 14 srixons per two
Richard Duerr Ray Massey x2 Jim Caldwell Lee Charnley Ste Marsh Martin France Richard Palmer Simon Wilkinson Steve Kenyon John Webb Craig Rea Adam Princep

Mere Tuesday 30th June

11.40 Ian King x4.
11.50 Colin Roberts x4.
12.00 Bob Eastwood x4 (£25)
12.10 Jim Caldwell x4.
12.20 Bob Eastwood x4.
12.30 Neale Laurent. x4 (£25)
12.40 John Owen x4.
12.50 Jim Clarke x4. (£25)
1.00 Brian Greenbank x4.
1.10 Mick Mahon x4.(25)
1.20 Chris Gregory (£25)
1.30 Mike Spencer 4.
1.40 Chris Adams x4 (£25)
1.50 Sam Leach x4
2.00 Les Russon x4 (£25)
2.10 Steve Aspinall x4. (£25)
2.20 Dave Sully x4.(£25)
2.30 Roy Ainsworth. (£25)
2,40 Ian Hellens x4,
2.50 Paul Dalby x4.
3.00 Martin Humphries x4.
3.10 Paul Fell x4.
3.20 John Cox tbc
3.30 Jim Kenyon x4.
3,40 Jim Kenyon x4.
3.50 Jim Kenyon x4.
4.00 Dave Blood x4
4.10 Pete Dolan x4 £(50)
4.20 Pete Dolan x4 (£50)
4.30 Steve Fairclough x4.
4.40 Gary Neiles x4 (£50)
4.50 Richard Blackwell x4.
5.00 James Callow x4 (£50)
5.10 Andrew Cornes x4
5.20 Andy Buckley x4.
5.30 Andrew Hill x4 tbc
5.40

Gav Sutcliffe x4
John Cox x4
Dave Stewardson x4
Dave Randles x4
Mark Tring x4
Paul Cooper x
Phil Locket x4
Paul Browne x4.
Simon Langdon x4.
Chris Lister x4.
John Wallis x4.

Preston Start sheet Friday 3rd July
Please pick up cards from me at the driving range which will be open for practice.
The clubhouse may offer facilities- more news next week.
Preston
9.50 Ian King x4.
10.00 Colin Roberts x4.
10.10 John Owen x4.
10.20 Steve Fairclough x4.
10.30 Jim Lindsay x4
10.40 Nigel Jenkins x4.
10.50 Sam Leach x4.
11.30 Lewis Marland x4.
11.40 Neale Laurent x4.
11.50 Pete Dolan x4
12.00 Pete Dolan x4
12.10 Paul Fell x4. (£50)
12.20 Richard Blackwell x4.
12.30 Munro Donald x4. (£50)
12.40 Lee Tilley x4
12.50 Steve Aspinall x4. (£50)
1.00 Steve Fairclough x4
1,10 Dave Buckley x4 (£50)
1.20 Mick Mahon x4.
1.30 Kev Hart x4.
1.40 Dave Goodwin x4.
1.50 Ian Hellens x4.
2.10 Martin Cox x4. (£50)
2.20 Garry Owen x4.
2.30 Dave Sully x4.
2.40 James Callow x4 tbc
2.50 Gary Neiles x4. (£50)
3.00 Jim Clarke x4 (£50)
3.10 Dave Griffiths x4
3.20 Martin France x4?
3.30 Neil Edwards x4

Res
Neil Edwards x4.
Gave Sutcliffe x4
Mark Tring x4
Paul Cooper x4
Ron Sloane x4
Bri Hopkins x4.
Gareth Winston x4.
Kenny Plumb x4.
James Wilson x4.
Andrew Cox x4.
Pete Dolan x8.
Dean Jagger x4.
Barrie Wilson x4.
Warren Newton x4.
Nick Ford x4.
Matt Cheffins x4.
Garry Owen x4.
John Dickenson x4