Maxitours at Vale Royal
The weather was very kind to Maxitours players as we visited Vale Royal Abbey for our first event after lockdown. It was great to see so many friends reunited and enjoying themselves on a quality golf course.
Head greenkeeper Justin did a tremendous job despite overnight rainfall and this fantastic Cheshire course was a pleasure to play.
‘It was like playing golf in April it was that dry out there.’ Raved Steve Heywood.
Thanks also to hard working Ian Embury and his team who look after us so well whenever we visit this great venue.
Simon Wilkinson played today. He has a highly trained border collie. When he goes home he talks it through his scorecard and it claps its front paws whenever he reads out a par.
‘What does it do if you have a birdie?’ I asked.
‘I have no idea as I’ve only had it for six years’ He replied.
This is the time of year to make changes to your golf swing. Simon Hemsley is a lovely lad and he strikes the ball really well but his chipping has been known to occasionally let him down. He has been practising his new improved technique at home and demonstrated it for his team in the Clubhouse before play. They have Christened him IKEA as it looks great now but in 3 months-time it could well fall apart.
Many players didn’t think I would have the intelligence to cope with the new handicapping system but against all odds things went very smoothly today. This was mainly due to team Captains being so organised- thanks guys.
Next Thursday we are at Mere and the Slope rating is exactly the same as today!– 135 from the yellow tees.
With a few more shots flying around than usual combined with the pure putting surfaces scoring was excellent.
The new handicaps certainly favoured the aging Knutsford Team of Steve Foxcroft(16), Tony Andrews(24), eighty year old Rob Weston(17) and Trevor Webb(18) they recorded a first top ten finish for 5 years. They have all gone home early to calm down and have a sleep.
There were 4 teams sharing second place on 86 points.
Most teams fared better on the easier back nine but Steve(7) and Janet Heywood(9), Richard Wakefield(18) and Chris Lee (7) had a best of the day 46 points to take 2nd place.
Bramalls Ashley Elliot(10), Mark Clewley(3), Bob Eastwood(11) and Mike Lamb(12) all played mint as they finished 3rd.
Gary Neiles team were 4th and Dave Westwood’s men were 5th .
Winning with 87 points was the Mottram Hall team of Nick Moores(13) Andy Hamlett(8) Richard Blackwell(14) and John Hilton(16)
Moores did the damage with three gross birdies but they all combined well.
Thanks for your support everyone.
It is great to be back!!
Tim
Nearest the pin 6th Dave Mason 5ft Doz AD333
Nearest the pin 16th Paul Fell 10 inch Doz AD333
2’s £147.50 4 pro v1 or 10 srixon
Paul Fell Richard Palmer Lewis Marland Peter Veitch Rob Roden Janet Heywood Paul Roberts Martin France Richard Johnson
| Vale Royal | 09-Dec-2020 | |||
| Pos | Team Players | Score | OoM | Comment |
| 1 | Andy Hamlett, Richard Blackwell, John Hilton, Nick Moores | 87 | 12 | Maxitours lined sweater each |
| 2 | Steve Heywood, Janet Heywood, Chris Lee, Richard Wakefield | 86 | 10 | Maxitours top each |
| 3 | Ashley Elliot, Bob Eastwood, Mike Lamb, Mark Clewley | 86 | 8 | Maxitours shirt each |
| 4 | Paul Yates, John Longworth, Gary Neiles, Joe Yates | 86 | 6 | Winter mitts each |
| 5 | Dave Westwood, Andy Palmer, Damien Bateson, Andy Faulkner | 86 | 4 | Maxitours towel each |
| 6 | Jim Clarke, Chris Clarke, Pete Ledger, Graham Jackson | 85 | 2 | |
| 7= | Jim Caldwell, Bryce Brooks, Russell Cash, Don Bailey | 83 | ||
| 7= | Rob Weston, Steve Foxcroft, Tony Andrews, Trevor Webb | 83 | ||
| 7= | Les Russon, Steve Merricks, Rob Kenyon, | 83 | ||
| 10 | Lewis Marland, Steve Schofield, Paul Robinson, Phil Dickens | 82 | ||
| 11 | Dave Blood, Jim Cox, Steve Jenkinson, Colin Gallimore | 81 | ||
| 12= | Simon Hemsley, Ian King, Joe Kirwan, Gareth Bradley | 80 | ||
| 12= | Chris Adams , Richard Johnson, Paul Allen, Mike Sutton | 80 | ||
| 12= | Neale Laurent, Payl Butler, John Harrop, John Hartley | 80 | ||
| 12= | Bob Pickthall, Rob Roden, Pete Sumner, Dave Thomas | 80 | ||
| 12= | Martin Bramwell, Peter Veitch, Ian Goulty, Dave Smith | 80 | ||
| 12= | Martin Humphries, David Hest, Adrian Btrown, Paul Fell | 80 | ||
| 12= | Dave Monk, Simon Wilkinson, John Linsky, Nick Steel | 80 | ||
| 19 | Roger Percival, Martin France, Ed Wilkinson, Andy Wright | 79 | ||
| 20= | Neil Worthington, Joe Stanley, Darren Whittaker, Don Campbell | 78 | ||
| 20= | Steve Lamont, Paul Roberts, Eugenio Fernandez, Terry Broadhurst | 78 | ||
| 22 | Ian Venables, Nigel Ashton, Paul Jones, Colin Bryant | 77 | ||
| 23= | Kev Hart, Andy Mansfield, Sean Bate, Paul Yearsley | 75 | ||
| 23= | Steve Aspinall, Graham Wilkinson, John Fitzsimmons, Peter Stuart | 75 | ||
| 25 | Jon Hudson, Rob Blain, Rob Hughes, Andy Corner | 74 | ||
| 26 | Nigel Davenport, Neil Gowan, Alex Walters, Mike Jackson | 72 | ||
| 27 | Colin Roberts, Dave Marchant, David Mason, Andy Williamson | 71 |
Mere start sheet Thursday 17th December
1st tee
9.00 John Atkin x4
9.08 Simon Hemsley x4
9.16 Colin Roberts x4
9.25 Dave Blood x4
9.34 Jim Clarke x4
9.42 Lewis Marland x4
9.50 Neale Laurent x4
9.59 Mick Mahon x4
10.08 Dave Goodwin x4
10.17 Lee Tilley x4
10.25 Roger Percival x4
10.34 Paul Fell x4
10.43 Martin Humphries x4
10.52 Dave Sully x4
11.00 Steve Aspinall x4
11.09 Kev Hart x4
9th tee
9.00 Jim Caldwell
9.08 Graham Pike x4
9.16 Neil Edwards x4
9.25 Dave Parry x4
9.33 Jason Atherton x4
9.41 Adam Carolan x4
9.50 John Wallis x4
9.58 Ashley Elliott x4
10.08 Sam Leach x4
10.16 Les Russon
10.24 Gary Neiles
10.33 Steve Marsh
10.42 Richard Blackwell x4
res
Ian Hellens x4
Paul Gilbert x4
Mike George x4
Anthony Egan x4
Neil Drummond x4
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