Great Upcoming events

Mere 5th Jan -AM AM last 5 spaces
Vale Royal 11th Jan AM AM- nearly full
Caldy 19th Jan – AM AM nearly full
Vilasol Portugal trip -48 players- full
Fairhaven 24th Jan -Pairs nearly full
Ringway 3rd Feb -AM AM last few spaces
Sandiway 7th Feb -Pairs nearly full

Maxitours at five star Vale Royal

Vale Royal was the latest high quality venue on the Maxitours winter tour and the course was in absolutely superb condition. This is an amazing venue and a firm favourite with our Maxitours players. Thanks to skilled head greens keeper John the course is now right up there with the best in Cheshire and is a pleasure to play throughout the year .
Thanks to Manager Ian Embury and all the hardworking staff for their excellent hospitality.

Wealthy Mark Groves is very close to his family and this might explain why he played with one of the oldest and scruffiest looking golf balls I have seen for many years. ‘It was his father’s, father’s , fathers favourite ball.’ explained his team mate Dave Stone with a tongue in his cheek.

Guy Hall turned up with a huge white bandage on his big finger. ‘I nearly chopped it off by mistake yesterday when I was making a large fish pie for my family.’ He informed anyone who was listening. Despite his injury I was surprised to see him hit a ‘brill’ shot as he ‘smoked’ it down the first hole. He then started playing his usual golf and was ‘floundering’ all over the ‘plaice’. As he disappeared behind some trees I heard him yelling ‘Oh Cod, I’m playing like a pollock!’ as he headed once more towards the deep rough.
By the end of the day he’d haddock enough.

John Berry(11) is a heating engineer and he has only taken up golf quite recently but he had one of the best rounds of his life amassing an impressive 5 birdies. Before he took up golf he was busy amassing 7 children, there was clearly nothing wrong with his plumbing . Well played John.
Clear blue skies, forward tees and true putting surfaces meant scoring was always going to be excellent – even Dale Beaghan’s team managed to get over eighty points.

Les Penson’s team continued their good form and finished 4th with 87 points. The Heyrose and Knutsford members all drink together in the same pub. I called it the Station pub in my report last week but they were keen to tell me that it was actually called the Railway Inn. Whatever.
Mick Mahon(25) was on fire as he picked up 7 shots for his Mytton Fold team. Mick who plays every week owns a couple of race horses and his team nearly galloped away with first place. Over the years Mick has kindly given me plenty of tips. None of them has ever come in though. Today playing with Frank Hindle(12), Richard Palmer (11)and John Farnworth(21) they defied the odds to finish in 3rd place.

Fireman and FA referee Phil Dermott(6) from Wigan Golf Club is a top man and he knows how to pick a team. Today he played with ex-Cheshire Captain Dave Peel(+1), Lancashire player Reece Cranfield (+2)and Andy Peet (13). The team collected 13 gross birdies in an exhibition of quality golf, very impressive.

Les Russon’s(11) Bramall Golf Club team are also really nice guys who aren’t afraid to win. Nearly one hundred years ago Walter Hagen said ‘give me a man with big hands , big feet and no brains and I will make a golfer out of him.’ Steve Merricks (6)and Simon Burgess(15) both wear size 11 shoes and extra large gloves and they are excellent golfers… Fourth member of the team Rob Kenyon(14) did most of the damage however as he played the final five holes on the back nine in three under par. Great golf guys- well played

Congratulations to Paul Salt who hit a pure 6 iron 152 yards into the hole on the tough ninth- great shot Paul!

I hope you all had a great day on the links- as wise old John Royle said as he left the Vale Royal grounds after a couple of pints ‘Thanks Tim, always enjoyable and it’s not winning that counts. That’s a very good job for our team.’

Thanks to cameraman Liam Harrison here is some additional footage from last weeks event at Stockport- highlights of todays event will be ready to view in next weeks report.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk92_85-mEM

Thank you for your terrific support and 100% attendance again , yours in golf, Tim
2’s £155 4 vpro v1s or 10 srixon AD333s per two Paul Salt Richard Palmer frank Hindle Brian Kelly Gary Bailley Graham Jackson Rob Kenyon Trevor Foster Steve Riley John Berry Chris Adams

Nearest the Pin 10th Jim Cox Dozen Ad333s each
Nearest the Pin 16th Graham Jackson Dozen Ad333s each

Ringway Thursday 22nd Dec

11am Shotgun

1a Mick Mahon x4
1b Phil Vokes x4
2a Trevor Foster x4
2b Roger Percival x4
3 Gary Neiles x4
4 Chih Hu x4
4b Hugh Mullen x4
5 Scott Mason x4
5b Mark Richardson x4
6 Mark Jones x4
7a Chris Adams x4
7b Simon Poucher x4
8 Dale Beaghan x4
9a Barry Wilson x4
9b Barry Wilson x4
10 Frank Stapleton x4
10 Colin Roberts x4
11 Ian King x4
12 Barry Jackson x4
12b Les Penson x4
13 Brian Hopkins x4
14a Andy Wilde x4
14b Lee Tilley x4
15 Les Russon x4
16a Lewis Marland x4
16b John Hilditch x4
17a John Stubbs x4
17b Dave Blood x4
18 Jim Caldwell x4

Maxitours trip to Portugal – Monday is the last day for entries!!
Vale Royal 14th Dec- full
Ringway 22nd Dec-full
Mere 5th Jan -spaces
Vale Royal 11th Jan- spaces

Maxitours at sizzling Stockport
Incredibly mild and slightly drizzly weather greeted today’s Maxitours competitors at Stockport Golf Club . Thanks to Liam Harrison for videoing the event- please click on this link to watch some high quality golf!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk92_85-mEM

As you can see this class golf course is in really terrific condition for the time of year and Stockport is definitely back to its very best. Adam the new greens keeper has a growing reputation and is earning plenty of respect from members and visitors alike. There has been extensive drainage work on the course and this has paid off allowing us to play when most other local courses were closed due to the large volume of rain that fell last night.

Thanks to everyone at Stockport for making me feel so welcome. Throughout the day various club dignitaries always pop in for a chat and it is noticeable how friendly everyone is. There is a great atmosphere in the clubhouse and pro Gary Norcott is also top man.

Les Russon handed over his team entry fee before play and told me that team mate Rob Kenyon who rarely goes in the 2’s entered as last night he had a dream that he would make two twos. Unfortunately he must have been slightly delirious as it took him at least two shots before he got close to the green on any of them.

Stoke on Trent’s Terry Rathbone was in for a shock when I teamed him up with Neale Laurent and Craig Moylan.
‘What the hell are you doing putting us with two undercover coppers?’ Said the excitable Staffordshire man. He finally calmed down when I told him it was their day off.

Roy Hargreaves from Shrigley Hall teamed up with Alan Pengelly, Alan Smith and Alan Frazer. In an amazing twist of fate Roy’s all time favourite song is Paul Simon’s ‘You can call me Al.’ Which is what he was doing to his team mates all day. Interestingly when he hit his ball out of bounds on the 4th all he could hear was the ‘sound of silence’ and when he hit the pond on the 6th he could be seen looking for a’ bridge over the troubled water.’

In today’s event Les Russon’s cosmopolitan Bramall team were on form again to pick up 5th place with 84 points. Team mate Steve Merricks was talking about himself in the bar again after play. ‘Did you notice I had three birdies today Tim?’
‘No.’

This score was matched and bettered on the last three hole card play off by Knutsford’s Les Penson(15) and his pals from Heyrose golf Club-Graham Jackson(11), Mike Hazeldine(19) and Steve Blakeway(3). These four are drinking buddies in the Station pub at Mobberley and that was where they were headed to celebrate after a successful day on the links.

Craig Dyson(8) is known as ‘the jigsaw’ because his game often falls to pieces. Today it all came together with some great shot making. The missing piece of the puzzle was new team mate Russ Lees(7) who picked up six shots during his round. John Kilner(5) and Dave Smith(12) completed the talented quartet.

Eddie Jordan(14) from Chorley is a lovely man and he had his best finish for nearly eight years as his team scored an impressive 87 points to take 2nd place. Five handicapper Dean Hibbert recorded four gross birdies as the whole team contributed well. Brian Carroll(11) and Dave Ashton(11) also played very well.

When a fresh faced emotional Greg Norman won the Australian Masters in 1981 he said ‘ I would like to thank my parents for all they have done, especially my mum and dad.’ Hugh Mullen(9) was also overcome with emotion and talking gibberish in the bar after his first victory of the year. Team mates Barney Ross (4), Paul Dalby(5) and Phil Vokes(4) were delighted to be back in the prizes after a barren spell. Well played chaps, great scoring.
‘The green keeper deserves a big pat on the back- those greens were firm and true all day’ said a delighted Vokes.

Thanks to all who played today, once again there was a 100% attendance- brilliant.

Yours in Golf, Tim
Nearest the Pin 16th Ian Berresford Dozen AD333s
Nearest the pin in two 18th Martin Routley Dozen AD333s
2’s £170 3 pro v1s or 8 srixon AD333s per two
Phil Vokes Geoff Bloom Andy Corner Brendon Leighton Terry Rathbone Keith Tunstall Ian Berresford Dave Harris x2 Steve Blakeway Frank Stapleton Richard Blackwell Jim Caldwell Mike Masser Nigel Warley

Vale Royal Weds 14th December 2016
1a Jim Caldwell x4
1b John Stubbs x4
2a Dave Blood x4
2b Brian Hopkins x4
3 Paul Salt x4
4 Simon Taylor x4
4b Dale Beaghan x4
5 Eddie Jordan x4
5b Les Penson x4
6 Phil Dermott x4
7 John Berry x4
7 Rob Little x4
8 Frank Stapleton x4
8b Les Russon x4
9a Ian King x4
10 Mick Mahon x4
11a Lewis Marland x4
11b Trevor Foster x4
12a Richard Blackwell x4
12b Phil Vokes x4
13 Dan Huffman x4
14 Dave Moore x4
14b Dan Huffman x4
15a Rob Weston x4
15b Dave Goodwin x4
16 Pete Tinkler x4
17 Paul Smith x4
18a Bev Crute x4
18b Chris Adams x4
res Si Hemsley x4
Gary Neiles x4

Maxitours trip to Portugal – Monday is the last day for entries!!
Vale Royal 14th Dec- full
Ringway 22nd Dec-full
Mere 5th Jan -spaces
Vale Royal 11th Jan- spaces

Maxitours at sizzling Stockport
Incredibly mild and slightly drizzly weather greeted today’s Maxitours competitors at Stockport Golf Club . Thanks to Liam Harrison for videoing the event- please click on this link to watch some high quality golf!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk92_85-mEM

As you can see this class golf course is in really terrific condition for the time of year and Stockport is definitely back to its very best. Adam the new greens keeper has a growing reputation and is earning plenty of respect from members and visitors alike. There has been extensive drainage work on the course and this has paid off allowing us to play when most other local courses were closed due to the large volume of rain that fell last night.

Thanks to everyone at Stockport for making me feel so welcome. Throughout the day various club dignitaries always pop in for a chat and it is noticeable how friendly everyone is. There is a great atmosphere in the clubhouse and pro Gary Norcott is also top man.

Les Russon handed over his team entry fee before play and told me that team mate Rob Kenyon who rarely goes in the 2’s entered as last night he had a dream that he would make two twos. Unfortunately he must have been slightly delirious as it took him at least two shots before he got close to the green on any of them.

Stoke on Trent’s Terry Rathbone was in for a shock when I teamed him up with Neale Laurent and Craig Moylan.
‘What the hell are you doing putting us with two undercover coppers?’ Said the excitable Staffordshire man. He finally calmed down when I told him it was their day off.

Roy Hargreaves from Shrigley Hall teamed up with Alan Pengelly, Alan Smith and Alan Frazer. In an amazing twist of fate Roy’s all time favourite song is Paul Simon’s ‘You can call me Al.’ Which is what he was doing to his team mates all day. Interestingly when he hit his ball out of bounds on the 4th all he could hear was the ‘sound of silence’ and when he hit the pond on the 6th he could be seen looking for a’ bridge over the troubled water.’

In today’s event Les Russon’s cosmopolitan Bramall team were on form again to pick up 5th place with 84 points. Team mate Steve Merricks was talking about himself in the bar again after play. ‘Did you notice I had three birdies today Tim?’
‘No.’

This score was matched and bettered on the last three hole card play off by Knutsford’s Les Penson(15) and his pals from Heyrose golf Club-Graham Jackson(11), Mike Hazeldine(19) and Steve Blakeway(3). These four are drinking buddies in the Station pub at Mobberley and that was where they were headed to celebrate after a successful day on the links.

Craig Dyson(8) is known as ‘the jigsaw’ because his game often falls to pieces. Today it all came together with some great shot making. The missing piece of the puzzle was new team mate Russ Lees(7) who picked up six shots during his round. John Kilner(5) and Dave Smith(12) completed the talented quartet.

Eddie Jordan(14) from Chorley is a lovely man and he had his best finish for nearly eight years as his team scored an impressive 87 points to take 2nd place. Five handicapper Dean Hibbert recorded four gross birdies as the whole team contributed well. Brian Carroll(11) and Dave Ashton(11) also played very well.

When a fresh faced emotional Greg Norman won the Australian Masters in 1981 he said ‘ I would like to thank my parents for all they have done, especially my mum and dad.’ Hugh Mullen(9) was also overcome with emotion and talking gibberish in the bar after his first victory of the year. Team mates Barney Ross (4), Paul Dalby(5) and Phil Vokes(4) were delighted to be back in the prizes after a barren spell. Well played chaps, great scoring.
‘The green keeper deserves a big pat on the back- those greens were firm and true all day’ said a delighted Vokes.

Thanks to all who played today, once again there was a 100% attendance- brilliant.

Yours in Golf, Tim
Nearest the Pin 16th Ian Berresford Dozen AD333s
Nearest the pin in two 18th Martin Routley Dozen AD333s
2’s £170 3 pro v1s or 8 srixon AD333s per two
Phil Vokes Geoff Bloom Andy Corner Brendon Leighton Terry Rathbone Keith Tunstall Ian Berresford Dave Harris x2 Steve Blakeway Frank Stapleton Richard Blackwell Jim Caldwell Mike Masser Nigel Warley

Vale Royal Weds 14th December 2016
1a Jim Caldwell x4
1b John Stubbs x4
2a Dave Blood x4
2b Brian Hopkins x4
3 Paul Salt x4
4 Simon Taylor x4
4b Dale Beaghan x4
5 Eddie Jordan x4
5b Les Penson x4
6 Phil Dermott x4
7 John Berry x4
7 Rob Little x4
8 Frank Stapleton x4
8b Les Russon x4
9a Ian King x4
10 Mick Mahon x4
11a Lewis Marland x4
11b Trevor Foster x4
12a Richard Blackwell x4
12b Phil Vokes x4
13 Dan Huffman x4
14 Dave Moore x4
14b Dan Huffman x4
15a Rob Weston x4
15b Dave Goodwin x4
16 Pete Tinkler x4
17 Paul Smith x4
18a Bev Crute x4
18b Chris Adams x4
res Si Hemsley x4
Gary Neiles x4

*Don’t forget Maxitours handicaps are always reduced by 1 for a win and 1/2 shot after a 2nd place until the end of the season*

Stockport 8th Dec – full
Vale Royal 14th Dec- full
Ringway 22nd Dec – spaces
Mere 5th Jan – spaces
Vale Royal 11th Jan- spaces
Caldy 19th Jan -1 space

Maxitours at sublime Sandiway

Sandiway Golf Club hosted the latest Maxitours event of the Winter tour. This terrific venue was once again in fantastic condition. Many thanks to head green keeper Brian and all his staff for their efforts.

General Manager Anthony Roberts always employs great staff in the Clubhouse and the guys working behind the bar did a great job today- many thanks.

The frosted fairways and crystal clear blue skies led to some spectacular views on what many believe is Cheshire’s finest golf course. Big Dave Wilson loves Sandiway. He loves the rolling fairways , the tall pines, lovely lakes and more importantly for Dave the hot meat and potato pies behind the bar are a particular favourite of his. He had one before play and two in the bar after his round to set a new Maxitours record.

The 18th was playing tough all day and I couldn’t believe that the closest to the pin was 25 feet away. With the very last shot of the day I looked out of the window to see a ball nestle up to within 2 inches. A delighted Trevor Foster tapped in the birdie. Incredibly Ian Handy won nearest the pin on the 8th when his last shot of the day also won him the prize.

The course gradually thawed throughout the day but there were a few tricky bounces to contend with and course management was at a premium.
Unlucky Darren Whittaker was at it again. After another dodgy bounce into a bunker he declared to his team that it is incredible but he is jinxed whenever he plays on a Thursday. His team were delighted to point out that today was Tuesday.

The scoring was incredibly close and after some high scores in recent weeks just FORTY points was good enough to win against a high quality field at Sandiway today!!!!!

Manchester United have plenty of talent and everyone knows they play the best football in the premiership but they are struggling to get on a winning streak this season. The same could be said for two of their legends Frank Stapleton(13) and Stuart Pearson(7). Stuart was one of the best finishers in the game but he three putted the last from close range and they had to settle for 5th place with 39 points.

John Rigby(14) and John McConinck(13) from Alsager finished 4th after excellent back nine. John Rigby was ranked 898th on the Maxitours order of merit which by an incredible coincidence is the same as Tiger Woods’ current world ranking. Rigby was on fire over the closing holes and the silver fox was delighted with his best finish for years.

There were three teams tied on forty points and a card play-off was also required to split the talented trio. Bramall nice guys Steve Merricks(6) and Simon Burgess(15) had a best of the day 24 points on the front nine but after failing to pick up a single point between then on the 15th they had to settle for 3rd place. That didn’t stop them from getting drunk in the bar afterwards.

Denton’s Dave Blood (8)and Jim Cox(5) were pipping after finishing in 2nd place. These two play plenty of Maxitours golf and they used all their experience to also score 40 points. Cox birdied the index 1 fifth hole towards the end of their round to give them a timely boost.

Taking the honours were the pairing of Accountant Phil ‘Duffer’ Davis(6) as he is fondly known and motor industry specialist Steve Lambert(4). Davies loves cold and frosty conditions and proudly informed me that he once appeared on ski Sunday- as a yodeller! He could be heard yodelling down the A556 as he sung his way back to Lymm Golf Club. They were both delighted with the biggest wins of their careers. Steve declared ‘That was brilliant, we really enjoyed it!’

Congratulations chaps , great golf.
Thanks to everyone for your 100% attendance again- superb.
Yours in golf, Tim.

8th Ian Handy Dozen AD333 s
18th Trevor Foster Dozen AD333s
2’s sweep £170 12 srixons or 5 pro v1s
Richard Johnson Trevor Foster Nigel Milroy Terry Rathbone Dave Wilson Stuart Pearson Dale Beaghan Geoff Mitchell Peter Veitch Ian Berrisford

Stockport 11am shotgun Thursday 8th December
1a Frank Stapleton x4
1b Ian Ainsworth x4
2 Brian Hopkins x4
3a Richard Blackwell x4
3b Ray Jones x4
4a Martin Bramwell x4
4b Paul Salt x4
5 Jon Hudson x4
6a Simon Ashton x4
7 Craig Dyson x4
7b Simon Hemsley x4
8 Terry Rathbone x2 2 players required
9a Bev Crute x4
9 Les Russon x4
10a David Kelly x4
10b Jim Caldwell x4
11 Simon Poucher x4
12a Mike Dean x4
12b Dale Beaghan x4
13a Colin Roberts x4
13b Ian King x4
14a Mick Mahon x4
15a Phil Vokes x4
15 Trevor Foster x4
16 Les Penson x4
17a Lewis Marland x2 John Hilditch x2
17b Eddie Jordan x4
18 Dave Blood x4
res
Pete Cotton x4
Nigel Clowes x4
Barry Simpson x4
Richard Williamson x4

Dear Maxitours players
Sandiway is open for play and all greens are in use
Thanks Tim