Scenes Of Inverness, 2012 Scottish Open

I don't think I've quite adequately captured the lovely setting that is Inverness during the Scottish Open, but I can highly recommend this as a great base for someone visiting this area to see Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Nairn, Lossiemouth, Fortrose, Rosemarkie and the many other underrated courses (some mentioned by Gil Hanse in our Q&A). And for non-golfers, you are at the hub of many great sightseeing and outdoor sporting activities as Inverness is the gateway to the Highlands.

You'll find plenty of outstanding Bed and Breakfasts (I highly recommend the centrally located Craigside Lodge), numerous fine restaurants of all varieties and one fantastic pub that was a hub for golf fans (Castle Tavern).

Included here are scenes of the Inverness Castle, Castle Stuart and city:

A Few Photos Of Trump International...

I have modern WiFi speeds, so while it lasts, a few photos of Trump International Scotland...

Video: I Have Seen Trump International Scotland...

...and the verdict is? Greatest course in the world?

Well, unfortunately that will have to wait until Golf World Monday, followed by a feature story for Golf World reviewing Martin Hawtree's design. In the meantime, enjoy this excellent Guardian compilation of Internet reaction to the course. 

One hint about my review you might pick up from the below and decidedly low quality iPhone video compilation is the repeated use of the word "extraordinary."

Update on 2012-07-13 13:55 by Geoff

**Joe Passov played on opening day and delivers a rave review, with these quibbles:

So is Trump Scotland the greatest course in the world? No. Well, not yet, anyway. It’s my job to nitpick, and I can tell you that Trump Scotland lacks the smallish, chaotic fairway contours that make many links so enticing. Also, too many green surrounds have a manufactured sameness to them, with scooped out depressions and corresponding ridges that lack the randomness I warm to on classic links.

Most significantly, I’m not sure even after two trips around that this course will be realistically playable in the stiff breezes that typically blow through this area of Aberdeenshire. Yes, the fairways are surprisingly wide—certainly friendlier than they appear at first glance—but virtually the slightest pull or push disappears into impenetrable gunch. The caddies don’t even bother searching. You just drop and play. For me, this eliminates one of the greatest aspects of golf, especially links golf, which is recoverability. Oh well, Pine Valley isn’t high on recoverability either.

Video: Fixing The UK Lost Ball Problem: Bring Back The Sheep!

With the record rain the UK has received in June the native grasses seem to be almost guaranteed to cause a long ball searches and lost balls on most courses. But while walking Muirfield, host to next year's Open Championship, I noticed this next door to the 9th hole...

"Every attribute Scots hold dear has been offended by this man – and yet attention and hostility have served only to feed his overwrought sense of self-importance."

It's great fun to ask locals about Donald Trump and the reaction I'm getting is fairly similar to that of Lesley Riddoch in this Guardian piece.

Though it's fascinating how many prefaced their disdain for Trump International by saying they supported the project but simply think The Donald has gone too far in his wind-turbine campaign.

It takes quite a lot to unite the people of this notoriously fractious little country in a collective shudder. But Trump has effortlessly managed to strike the wrong note in just about everything he's done. He sneered at locals in modest homes who wouldn't move out of his way. He bragged about his power and wealth. He designed a hotel that made Disneyland look culturally authentic. He staged, posed toe-curlingly brazen photocalls. He struck a bullying manner with staff, reporters, supporters and opponents.

He made endless reference to Hebridean roots – among root-bound Scots unaccustomed to the endless and self-conscious display of national credentials. He used pictures of rusting Hawaiian wind-turbines in misleading Scottish newspaper ads to oppose a renewables test centre supported by every political party and business organisation in the north-east.

In his bizarre appearance before Holyrood's energy committee, Trump explained his opposition to the planned European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre – a test centre that should help reduce the need for onshore wind farms – by calling it a "tourism-crushing eyesore". Asked for proof, he responded with the unforgettable line, "I am the evidence." It grabbed headlines – it also sealed the man's fate.

BBC Images From Castle Stuart

Thanks to reader Brian for this BBC image gallery of the Thursday scene at Castle Stuart and the Scottish Open. I arrive tomorrow and can't wait to see the course.

Here's Martin Dempster's Scotsman game story on Francesco Molinari's stunning opening round 62.

Today's Golf Course Brouhaha Files: At Least It Wasn't Over Slow Play

At least this one at Orange County's Casta Del Sol breaks the string of recent golf course spats/fights/assaults over slow play. 

From KABC TV, courtesy of reader Diane:

It all started with a game of golf at Casta Del Sol when Michael Payne allegedly got into a fight with four other golfers ahead of him at the 18th hole.

Nick Chambers says his 21-year-old friend was part of the foursome.

"He got approached from a guy from behind saying that he was stealing his golf balls," said Chambers.
Chambers said his friend denied the accusation, but the fight escalated.

Investigators accuse the 46-year-old Payne of punching one golfer in the face, then attacking Chambers' friend with a golf club, bashing him on the wrist as the victim tried to leave in a golf cart.

"He got in the cart to go get the marshal and go get help, and then he was chased down by the golfer with a golf club," said Chambers.