Third Time Lucky...

Bondhay's par 72, 6807 yard championship grade course offers a superb test of golf for players of all abilities.The course is maturing, breathing and enhancing the surrounding countryside and boasts glorious panoramic views of the Chatsworth and Dukeries estates that sprawl around it's border.Undulating fairways, strategically placed bunkers and tight green necks characterise the course, and of particular test are the cunning water hazards found on 4 holes.

Bondhay / Bondi - a shed load of sand either way with over 260 bunkers carefully placed to capture any loose shots. The third appearance on the tour and notoriously difficult yet enjoyable, which ever way you view it, and perhaps responsible for the reduced numbers, with Frame already vowing never to return after 2007's 'horribilus'!

Ranked 1 in difficulty in both 2006 and 2007 offering an meagre stroke average of 99 and 98 and 27 and 26 points respectively. Third time lucky, I say. Ladd (15) and Atkinson (15) both felt its wrath in 2006, the 'TGS Low' ominous before a strong finish. It also claimed the first TGS mid round withdrawal - Hepburn the casualty with 'weak wrists'

One man has tamed the beast and is among the riders. A.T. (39) showed complete disregard for the bunker placement and tore it apart with precision / bludgeoning drives in 2006 whilst most others worried about laying up and placement. Also getting a 'Daftesque' midweek sighter on one of his many golfing holidays. Over golfed may be a factor! Rymer (36) '06 is the only other man who has threatened as 32 points looks like a good score.

9 at present: Tuckwell Jnr, A.T, Meadows, Daft, Horsburgh Jnr, Hefter, Marriot, Radford and Hoenigmann. 3 tee slots have been booked and it would be good to edge towards 12.

See you Sunday - prophecising that this is the time to conquer Bondhay, hmmm...