WEATHER forecasts and yardage charts suggest Guernsey’s challenge for a medal at Aland Golf Club could be a strong one.

Bagged up and ready to go: Sean Mills (left) and Jamie Blondel stroll down the first fairway in last week’s 72-hole tournament for the Credit Suisse and UV trophies. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0792228)

Jamie Blondel, who will be playing in his second Games, feels that both the climate and the two courses – the Castle and the King’s – will be well suited to the Sarnians.

‘We are at a disadvantage to other islands because when you look at the likes of Jersey, they have something like seven courses now and are competing against each other [as clubs] so are able to get to a high level.

‘They also have a couple of long courses, particularly La Moye, and we notice that when we play them the ball striking is better and it has to be if you play those courses regularly.

‘You cannot really know what to expect of new courses before you get there, but the yardage [in Aland] seems to be very similar to L’Ancresse and hopefully that will play into our hands.’

Blondel is joined in the Guernsey men’s quartet by two debutants, his cousin Danny and Sean Mills, as well as Steve Mahy, who was with him in Rhodes two years ago.

‘I learnt a lot more about the whole Island Games experience than anything golf-wise,’ said Blondel of his debut in the Greek island.

‘The whole atmosphere is fantastic, but last time I was nervous because it was something new for me. I now know what to expect.

‘The golf course in Rhodes left a bit to be desired, to be honest, and it was so hot. On one of the days, an on-course thermometer measured it at 52.1C and it was five-and-half hours a round. Most of the top athletes in the world would feel pretty tired after that.

‘In comparison, the weather in Aland should be similar to here and for golf it looks like conditions could be ideal.’

All things considered, Blondel believes Guernsey could be in the hunt for at least a team medal.

‘Certainly, Steve’s having a solid season, Danny has had a great one so far and Millsy was excellent early on and is still playing well,’ he said.

‘Personally, I am playing all right at the moment – it’s not quite there yet, but it feels like I’m going in the right direction.

‘You have just got to try and go there playing well. Three of us are playing in the UV and that has the same set up as the Games, with four competitive rounds in four days, so I don’t think it could have been better for our preparation.’

Calling on his experiences of Rhodes and inter-insular matches, Blondel pointed to a couple of islands as definite medal contenders.

‘Bermuda are very strong. Most of their guys are playing college golf in the US.

‘Jersey are sending as good a side as they can get and if we could finish ahead of them it would probably mean us getting a medal.

‘Otherwise, at any Games the hosts obviously know the course and you can expect them to be pretty good.’NatWest Island Games 2009: Players like the yardages they see on Castle and King’s layouts

The island women’s golf squad, from left – Jan Chamberlain, Sue Wellfair, Julie Creed, Jodie Webber (caddie) and Mandy Webber. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin, 0792001)

Guernsey teams
Men: Danny Blondel, Jamie Blondel, Steve Mahy, Sean Mills.
Women: Jan Chamberlain, Julie Creed, Mandy Webber, Sue Wellfair.

Sunday 28 June
10.25–13.00 – Training Slottsbanan/Castle Course
11.00–13.00 – Training Kungsbanan/King’s Course
16.30 – Captain’s competition, Castle Course (unofficial)
Monday 29 June
09.00–10.42 – Training Slottsbanan/Castle Course
09.40–12.40 – Training Kungsbanan/King’s Course
Tuesday 30 June
08.00 – Competition day, King’s Course
Starting order: men – women
Wednesday 1 July
08.00 – Competition day, Castle Course
Starting order: women – men
Thursday 2 July
08.00 – Competition day, King’s Course
Starting order: men – women
Friday 3 July
08.00 – Competition day, Castle Course
Starting order: women – men

Medal hopes: Bobby Eggo won gold and Guernsey the team silver in Aland in 1991. That will be difficult to repeat, but form suggests that a podium spot is possible.