LET the winds blow!

So says Mid Ocean Club's course superintendent Norman Furtado who has been working hard on getting the 18 holes into top shape for next week's PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Actually getting the course into its best shape is becoming old hat for Furtado who has done about eight tournaments featuring some of the best players in the world. Before the PGA Grand Slam of Golf came to Bermuda for the first time last year, Mid Ocean had hosted the Merrill Lynch Shootout and the Gillette Tour Challenge back in the 1990s which saw the likes of John Daly, Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, the late Payne Stewart and Annika Sorenstam play the Charles Blair Macdonald designed course.

And last year over 36 holes the lowest score was only four under par.

"That pleased me," said Furtado this week.

"As far as I know the players were very happy last year with the course. Padraig Harrington had some positive comments about the course and the conditions. The players were terrified of these huge greens we have and the contours really scare them because it is not easy to putt on these greens. And it reflected in the scores last year ¿ the winner was at minus four. That is a testament to the course when the greens are fast and the rough is high."

However Furtado did want to see a bit more wind last year.

"Last year they lucked out a bit with the wind. I am hoping we will get some conditions like we have today ¿ somewhere between 10 and 15 knots. Last year we had a little breeze but not much."

For the past month Furtado and his team are been working flat out to get the course into tip top shape.

"I have already eight championship tournaments under my belt. But it doesn't get any easier. Every year it is different because there are different conditions. it is a lot of work with long hours ¿ but I am still married! The guys have been doing a super job here ¿ I have a nice crew.

"The course now is looking pretty good. We are just doing the final touches ¿ the final mowings and tidying up little areas here and there."

And like last year the 18th hole will be a par five unlike a par four like it is for the rest of the year.

With the 18th tee by the second tee box, Furtado said it made the tournament very interesting.

"It was very successful last year and a very interesting finish on the last hole where (Angel) Cabrera made a birdie to force a playoff. And of course it is used in the playoff. The crowds didn't have to move ¿ it was certainly an exciting finish."