So does course live up to hype?

PHENOMENAL is the word I’d use to describe the new Trump course and I thoroughly enjoyed being amongst the first people to play it.

My first impression was that it was like going back to Askernish, the Old Tom Morris course on South Uist. I’d say the Trump course is a fantastically well manicured version of that.

It’s a course that has its own unique identity as all the holes are contained within themselves. Each and every one of them is a fantastic challenge, but I particularly liked the par-3 sixth with its Postage Stamp-style green.

The 14th is another fabulous hole while we played off the top tee at the 18th and the view from there across the whole of the course is stunning.

One thing I really liked is that it’s not a course you can just blast your way around. You have to think about every shot and that also includes where to put the ball on the green.

The greens are soft at the moment due to all the rain we’ve had and they were probably playing as easy yesterday as you are ever likely to get them. But, once they get some heat on them and they dry out, then all the run-offs will come into play.