Maxitours at lovely Llangollen

Another amazing February day greeted Maxitours players at Llangollen today. The greenkeeper was up at the crack of dawn preparing his smoothly ironed greens and freshly cut fairways – many thanks.

‘Those Greens were fantastic -really, really quick and true.’ Said Colin Roberts
‘The course was in terrific nick.’ Reported Dave Mason
‘I can’t wait to come back in April, the course should be amazing by then.’ Declared Joe Kirwan.

The world’s top golfers work hard on staying positive in everything they do and this tends to transmit itself into great performances on the golf course. A few Maxitours golfers need to take note:
‘The weathers too nice for Feb – I think there will be a huge sting in the tail.’
‘It looks glorious out there but think it’s going to come back to bite us.’
‘I think we’ll have a terrible Summer.’
‘The last time it was like this in February it started to rain in March and didn’t stop until August’. Nice and positive that one.

There is a large sign in the entrance to the Clubhouse warning golfers not to enter the fast flowing river Dee under any circumstances. Mike Rowe’s Pro V1s failed to obey and his three new balls entered the river Dee with an expensive splash.

Thomas Cook pilots Mike Ferguson and Dave Keen played together in their first Maxitours event since they both retired earlier this year.
‘How did you play?’ I asked.
‘We crashed and burned’ Mike replied.

Winning the two day event was the Bramall Park team led by charismatic Steve Merricks(5). Rob Kenyon(13), Les Russon(12) and Simon Burgess(17) listened to Steve’s intelligent advice and were delighted to take first place (168pts). Mick Mahon’s(164) talented team took 2nd and Colin Roberts team(163pts) were 3rd. Congratulations eveybody.

It was nice to see the Evans family (Tony, Audrey and son Paul) enjoying the Welsh sunshine. I upset sixty two year old Tony Evans last year when I called him a seventy year old in my report. He must have had a child bride because Audrey looks great – at least 20 years younger than her husband. She is also the best golfer in the family and her par on the 15th was critical to their success. They were delighted with 4th place.

Lymm’s badly dressed Steve Lambert(3) Steph Hamilton(10) Dougie Main(11) and Russ Jones(7) were 3rd today with 85 points.

Styals Charles Herbert(18) continued his good form alongside Martin Firth(6) and Andy Bethell(12) to earn a 5 shot handicap reduction and taking 1st place was the Wychwood Park team of Tom Butler(9), Eddie Sterling(8), Seam O’Conner(18) and Saj Hashmi(14) . Tom was the main contributor with excellent birdies on the 2nd , 4th and 15th holes. Well played chaps. Great golf.

Thanks to everyone for your terrific support,

Yours in Golf, Tim

Nearest the pin 14th Les Russon Doz Ad333
Nearest the pin 18th Andy Bethell Doz AD333
£132.50
2’s 4 prov1s or 10 srixons Mike Benson Phil Howsley Carl Redikin Andy Bethell Steph Hamilton Rick Booth Pete Tomlinson Mike Masser

Overall 1st Les Russons team Callaway shirt each

Maxitours at wonderfully warm North Wales

The best day of the year greeted Maxitours golfers at North Wales this morning.

‘It’s beautiful out there- fantastic!’ Declared Russell Humphries.

‘This is better than working.’ Reported newly retired Mike Brush.

I have been known to stretch the truth occasionally in my reports but this is true:
The green keepers out there WATERING THE GREENS this morning – it is February!!!!!! That is how dry this stunning course is and it is well worth a visit if you have a free day! (No need for waterproof shoes.)

The fairways were running well and the greens were rolling consistently and true. It was a real pleasure to play this lovely links course. Thanks to highly rated Phil Beard everyone at the Club for their hospitality.

A few teams are playing tomorrow at Llangollen and have decided to stay overnight in Wales. Just a warning to anyone who lives in or has relatives living in the Llangollen area. Lock up your daughters -Colin Roberts is out and about tonight.

Sam Leach nearly missed his tee time after his team did a detour to a bakery in Frodsham ‘The pies are famous’ Informed Sam. They seemed to be doing the trick as the team turned in 46 points and Jim Hodges wasn’t even on the card. On the 10th Jim then hit a cracking approach shot to within 6 inches He was so eager to get on the card he ran onto the green and out of breath he missed it left.
‘We’ve had our pies and ended up playing with a pudding.’ Complained his team mates.

Six foot, nine inch high, gentle giant, Charles Herbert(18) is famous for his enormously wayward driving. Stu Smith from Dunham hadn’t played with him before and he used to think that a ‘wild slice’ was a vegetarian pasty they sold in Greggs. Charles has a red cross on his trolley and carries a first aid box in his golf bag to use when he hits a fellow player -usually from an adjoining fairway. He hit a few straight ones as well today and helped his team into 3rd place with 90 points. Ian Neilson(26) and Mark Birtwistle(13) completed the team.

Sandiways consistent Gary Neiles(5), Joe Yates(14) John Longworth(13) and Alan Forber(14) took 2nd place also on 90 points. Neiles made two’s on the 16th and 17th to give his team a strong finish.

Mr Steve Hall(17) took over as Captain of Prestbury last week and he celebrated with victory at North Wales today. ’We all played very well, it was a real team effort -except for Andy Oakes who was hopeless.’ Reported the diplomatic ex-banker. Chris Adams(12) and Gary Butler(14) completed the quartet.
Well played chaps.

Rob Kenyons team lead the 2 day event (88), with Mick Mahon(87) and Paul Fell (86)close behind.

Thanks to everyone for your 100% attendance- brilliant.
Yours in Golf,

Tim

Nearest the pin 16th hole Gary Neiles Dozen Ad333
Nearest the pin 17th hole Ian George Dozen Ad333

2’s £172.50 4 pro v1s or 9 srixon AD333

David Kelly Stuart Blake Dave Cooper Ian Venables Mike Verdon Hugh Mulholland Gary Neiles x2 Steve Blakeway Jason Atherton Grant Benson Dave Parry Mark Holland x2

Wilmslow start times

10.00 Colin Roberts x4
10.09 Simon Hemsley x4
10.18 Dave Blood x4
10.36 Mick Mahon x4
10.45 Lewis Marland x2 John Hilditch x2
10.54 Adrian Waring x4
11.03 Dave Sully x4
11.12 Paul Fell x4
11.21 Warren Humphries x4
11.30 Nigel Hallows x4
11.39 Jim Clarke x4
11.48 Les Russon x4

10.00 David Kelly x4.
10.09 Brendan Lieghton x2 Nic Hercules x2
10.18 Ian Hellens x4
10.27 Koos Alders x4
10.36 Peter Maher x4
10.45 Bob Mottershead x4
10.54 Chris Adams x4
11.03 Kev Hart x2 Phil Lockett x2
11.12 Brian Greenbank x4
11.21 Munro Donald x4
11.30 Richard Williamson x4
11.39 Richard Blackwell x2 Brian Hopkins x2

Maxitours at delightful Dunham Forest
Around 100 selfish Maxitours golfers left their sweethearts at home and teed off in the Valentines Day sunshine at superb Dunham Forest today. It is hard to believe that we are still in F E B R U A R Y- the birds were singing and more than a few players were wearing tee shirts as the air mass moving up from Africa kept our Cheshire golfers very warm.

The course was incredibly dry and the greens were superb for our players today. Head Greenkeeper Davis Lippiate has done a truly great job getting the summer scorched fairways back to their usual excellent condition. He is incredibly switched on and planted a new species of grass seeds in the Autumn which can grow in just 4 degrees throughout the Winter- great work David.

Mike and Leslie Saxon run a tight ship and their lovely Clubhouse looks great after recent refurbishment work. Thanks to all your super staff for their hospitality.

There were plenty of frustrated squirrels on the course today. It is a very important time for mating with Spring around the corner and the squirrels need to be left alone in their natural habitat. Unfortunately Tim Johnsons wild tee shots kept disturbing them. ‘By hell there’s a lot of squirrels on that course!’ He reported after his round.

Romantic Dave Greenwood isn’t daft and he chose Valentines day to treat his attractive girlfriend Sarah with a round of golf. They scored a dreamy 40 points together ‘We have shared a wonderful afternoon together’ He concluded. James Shipstone is not quite so romantic and needs to look out. His lovely wife Alison paid the entry fee this morning and then decided to swap partners. She teamed up with the good-looking John Hunt instead and they were in the prizes.

It was so nice out there even I dusted down a couple of clubs and hit some balls off the quality Dunham turf. Dan Moore was so impressed with my swing he decided to get a closer look and hit a vicious hook off the 11th tee which whistled past my right ear and came to rest in the middle of the practice ground.

Mark Stanger turned up again in his red Ferrari California but unfortunately he struggled to find the hole with his golf ball. His Ferrari did find a hole on the way to the course however- a pothole caused by this winters frosty mornings -and Bolton council could be facing a hefty bill for damage to his suspension.

Roger Percival has a terrific short game but can struggle with his long approach shorts. Today he hit a ‘Quasimodo shot’ into the last green (Don’t want that back) to win nearest the pin. Nigel Hall was closest on the 8th.

Mike Verdon(15) was surprised to see his partner John Morgan(23) play well and was astonished to score 46 points and 5th place.
John Moorfield(6) and Mark Pasquall(12) finished in 4th with an excellent 47 points. They had a best of the day 26 points on the front nine.
It is great to see Knutsford nice guys Dave Kelly(9) and Dave Harlow(17) in the prizes. Kelly is playing well after some winter sun in Portugal. Under the gun over the closing holes Dave Harlow birdied one of the toughest par threes in Cheshire (15th) and then they played the closing three testing holes in level par to seal a super performance.

Lymm’s Martin France(3) and Peter Atherton(11) had five birdies between them as they scored 48 points. Martin had five birdies and Pete had none.
Winning on a better back nine was the ever present Brian Hopkins(4) and Gary Bresnahan(14) from Shrigley Hall. Brian has had a quiet spell without a win for a couple of years but he was on form today. ‘The greens were tremendous’ he reported ‘We knocked some putts in today!’

Thanks to all players for your support and 100% attendance.
Yours in Golf, Tim

Nearest the Pin 8th Nigel Hall Dozen AD333
Nearest the pin in 2 on 18th Roger Percival Doz AD333
2’s sweep £160 5 Pro V1s or 11 srixons
Martin France, Steve Hall, Dave Harlow, Mick Mahon , Neil Painter, Gav Sutcliffe Simon Walton Dave Sully John Wallis Andy Oakes

North Wales start sheet Thursday 21st Feb
9.12 David Kelly x4
9.21 Colin Roberts x4
9.30 Jim Caldwell x4
9.39 Simon Hemsley x4
9.48 Dave Blood x4
9.57 Ed Pysden x4
10.06 Phil Vokes x4
10.15 Neil Drummond x4 tbc
10.24 Dave Sully x4
10.33 Paul Fell x4
10.42 John Hunt x4
10.51 Roy Ainsworth x4
11.00 Chris Adams x4
11.09 Les Russon x4
11.18 Nigel Hallows x4
11.27 Ian Hellens x4
11.36 Steve Aspinall x4
11.45 Neil Drummond x4
11.54 Dave Blease x4
12.03 Neil Edwards x4
12.12 Neil Edwards x4
12.21 Phil Maher x4
12.30 Stuart Reynolds x4
12.39 Sam Leach x4
12.48 Mick Mahon x4
12.57 Joe Yates x4
1.06 Paul Rudkin x4
1.12 Roger Percival x4
1.21 Brian Hopkins x4
1.30 Dave Goodwin x4

Vale Of Llangollen start sheet
Friday 22nd Feb

9.00Colin Roberts x4
9.09 Simon Hemsley x4
9.18 Jim Caldwell x4
9.27
9.36 Barry Simpson x4.
9.45
9.54 Tom Butler x4.
10.03 Neil Drummond x4.
10.12 Chih Hu x4.
10.21 Paul Evans x4
10.30 Mick Mahon x4.
10.48
10.57 Paul Robinson x4.
11.06 Ian Walters x4.
11.15 Stuart Taylor x4
11.24 Les Russon x4.
11.32 Simon Wilkinson x4.
11.42 Dave Griffiths x4.
11.50 John Dickenson x4.
11.59
12.08
12.17 Paul Fell x4.
12.26 Rick Booth x4.
12.35
12.43
12.51 Steve Lambert x4.