THE original founder of one of South East Cornwall’s biggest success stories over the last four decades has died, aged 81. Martin Bond, who, together with his late brother Hermon, built the first St Mellion Golf Course, had been unwell for some time and died at his home at Trerule Farm, Trerulefoot, on February 16. The Bond brothers were among the first Cornish farmers to diversify, and in 1974 they together began their dream of building a championship golf course, the first in Cornwall, on their land at St Mellion, where they grew potatoes and reared pigs. In 1976 they opened their first golf course, now renamed the Kernow Course, and a year later they opened the original hotel forming the St Mellion Golf and Country Club, the forerunner to today’s St Mellion International Resort. By 1978 the brothers’ golf course had hosted the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) Cup, and a year later the European Tour made its first visit to St Mellion with the staging of the Benson and Hedges Tournament there. Action But Martin and Hermon did not rest on their laurels. After hearing that Seve Ballesteros had been critical of their course, they decided to take action. In 1982 they began talks with American golfer Jack Nicklaus – one of the greatest golfers of all time – and asked him to design a second championship course for them. A year later construction had begun on the golfer’s first signature course in the UK. Moving into the 21st century, Australian businessman Jeff Chapman invested £20m to refurbish the course and hotel, which encouraged Crown Golf to purchase it and become the new owners. At one time Martin and Hermon also owned the Looe and Lanhydrock golf courses as well as St Mellion before the former two moved into different ownerships. However, the family connection has been rekindled as Martin’s nephew Graham and his wife Clare now run Landhydrock. Martin and Hermon also owned WH Bond and Sons, the family farming business, which was founded in 1957 and of which Martin was recently chairman. The funeral service is to be held at Bake Farm, Trerulefoot, at 2.30pm on Friday, March 4. The family are inviting friends to spend an afternoon celebrating Martin’s life, beginning at 1.30pm. It is requested that there should be family flowers only and donations in lieu of floral tributes should be made to HeartSWell South West, care of Ugalde and Son, Funeral Directors.