52 TIMES, JUNE 7, 2018 Find us at www.tavistock-today.co.uk and www.okehampton-today.co.uk Fairway to heaven for farming

brothersextraordinary Hermon farmers and Martin by JOHN HUTCHINS achieved, their vision and determination to [email protected] fi ght the many battles THE compelling story European circuit – the to achieve that vision.’ of how two pig and Benson and Hedges He said their story vegetable farming International Open. that can be used brothers created one Over the next to inspire people, of the fi rst golf and decade thousands of especially young country clubs in people fl ocked to the people and the Britain and persuaded little village in South message is ‘Don’t limit arguably the world’s East Cornwall to watch your dreams!’ greatest golfer, Jack superstars of the game Indeed, if the Bonds Nicklaus, to design one compete in St Mellion had their way they of its courses, is told in tournaments such as would have built a fascinating new book , Tony an airport too – the – St Mellion - The Jacklin, , Nicklaus International Bond Legacy.’ Seve Ballesteros, Airport – and also Today, the St . But a casino to bring in Mellion International the ambitious Bond tourism, but according Resort (now owned brothers were not to Paddy to their by Crown Golf) has a content with one eternal shame ‘local four star hotel and two just course and after people and petty 18-hole championship ‘pursuing’ golfi ng councillors’ never golf courses set in legend shared the Bond 450 acres of prime they persuaded him to brothers’ vision.’ ■ Hermon’s son Graham and Martin’s son Chris remember the exciting times when their fathers made a golfi ng dream come true. Cornish countryside, come to East Cornwall The brothers did, but it would never and design a second however, achieve so have happened if it course, which opened much to the sleepy was not for the vision in 1988. corner of South East and determination of Their fascinating Cornwall. They Pigs and tatties help Hermon and Martin story is told by managed to attract ■ Co-authors Michael Taylor and Paddy Flavin at the launch of their book about the Bond brothers. Bond, two remarkable Michael Taylor, a some of the biggest men who, through former journalist with names in golf to St many who could not Relentlessly they save their bacon sheer determination the Western Morning Mellion – Nick Faldo, see the enormous pursued the great man In 1975 the Bond brothers were and joy - herd of purebred Landacre and hard work, turned News and BBC Radio Seve Ballesteros, Jack benefi t that their plans and eventually ‘wore running out of money and at one pigs. Their bank manager, Trevor their dream into Cornwall and Paddy Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, had for the area in him down’ with their point even had to tell the building Furse, advised them they needed reality. Flavin, who worked and some terms of attracting persistence. contractors to stop work because to sell the pigs if they wanted the In 1973 they read a for many years with great tournaments wealth.’ Paddy said: Jack they didn’t think they would have hotel to go forward. Two sales, in local newspaper report the Bond brothers as like the Benson and He describes the Nicklaus was so enough to fi nance it. 1978, saw the Bonds sell 3,300 pigs, bewailing the lack of the director of golf and Hedges, the English book very much ‘a pestered by them that But it was the long hot summer which were sold to raise vital funds sporting facilities in leisure at St Mellion. Ladies’ Open. labour of love’ as he eventually he agreed drought of 1976 that saved them. for the hotel project; it showed their Cornwall, especially ‘The book started Paddy said the Bond was enthused by the to do it but it would The price of potatoes suddenly commitment to their dream. golf courses, which when you put two brothers story has a lot passion of the brothers take £10,000, to show rocketed and from one stage the ‘It was sad selling the pigs but we would help attract crazy Irish people of sadness along the to follow their dream they meant business commodity was selling at £60 a ton were looking forward and moving tourism to the area. together in the same way as well as some and make things which they had to send but the canny brothers kept theirs It proved an ‘eureka’ room and this is the funny bits. ‘If anything happen. telegraphically by until they sold them at £300 a ton. on and it wasn’t the worst couple moment for the sports result,’ joked Paddy. this book pays homage Paddy told a great bank transfer. Hermon They reckoned ‘every spud was a of days work we ever did,’ recall loving Hermon and ‘We didn’t want to them and their story of how when had no problem with brick in the clubhouse’. Herman. ‘I don’t often cry, but that Martin and just six another book that was legacy but they did the brothers asked the £50,000 but what Another fi nancial setback was was one of the times I did. Pigs had years later they not driving on about golf, not have an easy road. what would get the really got up his nose later avoided when they went to always made money for us, but after only build a course but scoring statistics and There were many who great golfi ng legend build the hotel a few years later that they didn’t improve much. So, was the extra £37.50 managed to secure one about tournaments. but it meant the chop for one of the long term, we were quite thankful to objected, their ideas interested in designing bank charge he had to brothers prized assets, their pride Trevor for his advice.’ of the biggest golfi ng It is more about were not universally their golf course he pay!’ tournaments on the what these two popular. There were was told ‘money’. Hermon and Martin TIMES, JUNE 7, 2018 53

‘We’re just two ordinary chaps, ordinary farmers, Fairway to heaven for farming but our aim was to bring fi rst class sport to Cornwall and the brothers Hermon and Martin Westcountry, because we were starved of it. We wanted quality golf to come here, and we achieved it. We wanted golfer Jack Nicklaus, and we got him. But we never forgot how good we were at breeding pigs and growing tattles and grass.’ – Martin and Hermon Bond

Martin and Hermon thought it might be

■ Co-authors Michael Taylor and Paddy Flavin at the launch of their book about the Bond brothers. a good idea to draw were, the authors a more ‘reasonable’ up a business plan. describe, a ‘fantastic agreement and double act’. Hermon business was done. Martin said: ‘We just had the bigger Both brothers personality and with though were concerned talked to each other his 6ft 3ins height and for their community ■ Hermon Bond (left) and his brother Martin (right) with legendary golfer farmer’s build would and especially those Jack Nicklaus, who they hired to design one of their courses. in one of the fi elds dominate a room but who worked for them. his father and uncle mind-blowing. They agricultural land away ’spin off’ of generating he also had a great Martin’s son Chris loved sport, and golf planned and built that from farming.’ much needed money one day. We looked sense of fun. Martin, said: ‘I was young at in particular, and they championship course In fact it was the into the region. though, was more quiet the time and my father liked the idea of a golf in three years from planning process ‘What they did out across the land on the surface but that loved his snooker. course and a leisure nothing – you couldn’t and dealing with the and achieved,’ added was ‘just part of the There was a snooker resort because it was do that now. local planners that Graham, ‘I fi nd and both said at act’. When it came to table in the room and something that would ‘ I was amazed especially wound the inspirational and this negotiations Hermon I remember seeing the not just appeal to those Jack Nicklaus decided brothers up as they wonderful golf and roughly the same would make an over golf club drawings playing golf but to all to agree and build a battled to persuade country resort we see the top demand with on the fl oor. I knew the family – and family course on that site the county council at St Mellion today is time: “I think this is whoever they were then this was a pivotal was very important to because it was not the that their ambitious a great tribute not only negotiating with and moment for the family them. perfect site. project would attract to my dad and uncle going to work.” That then Martin would because he loved his Hermon’s son ‘Back then the thousands of people to but also to all those swoop in to ‘talk’ to snooker!’ Graham said: ‘What planning laws also top golf tournaments people who helped his brother to come to Chris added that they achieved was made it hard to take which would have a along the way.’ was our business plan.’

‘A lot of our success was not being afraid to ask people who we thought, and we could see, were switched on. You’ve got to have good advisers and a lot of our success was due to good advice’. - Martin and Hermon Bond. Any extracts taken from the book are copyright St Mellion - The Bond Legacy by Paddy Flavin and Michael Taylor.