It was around 6.40am last Monday and the day after the Turkish Airlines Open.

I had briskly made my way from the Montgomerie Maxx Royal clubhouse and hoping  to be the first to tee off this very calm morning.

“Great!” I remarked to myself as I could see no-one down the first fairway.

Without even a practice swing I teed off and managed to find the fairway and something I failed to do around a month ago after a session on the range ahead of the AGW Home Internationals.

Monday Morning – Opening drive on the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course.

I was now beginning to leave the first footprints on the dew-covered fairways when I heard this German-accent voice from a woman now on the first tee saying:   “Vot is your tee time?”

I remarked ‘6.30am’ and kept walking.

Five minutes later I walked off with the first of five pars that morning, and it wasn’t till I walked off the second that the sun began to show it’s face above the line of trees and looking out over the course where American Brooks Koepka had captured the 2nd Turkish Airlines Open.

First hole – footprints lead directly to green and a first par of the morning.

I was now walking down the 4th fairway when I spotted the German four-ball behind me and just making their way onto the second tee.

At 9.10am and some two-and-a-half hours later I walked off the 18th green having again made a mess of the last but having been happy to par 16 and 17 and again enjoy the opportunity of being first out on the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course.

I had bumped into Ben Lovett, Head Greenkeeper on the 18th tee, and accompanied by his wonderful dog, Bollinger.

“It’s millionaires golf,” Ben remarked in playing the course first on the first day after a big tournament.

The sun starts to make its presence felt over the Montgomerie Maxx Royal clubhouse.

Never had Ben spoken  a truer word.

My special thanks to Sahin Cahit, General Manager of the Montgomerie Maxx Royal in so kindly allowing me to play the course.

Split the fairway at the 9th hole.

Second shot about to clear the water and walk off with a par 4 at the ninth hole.

Bernie’s Koala head cover finds a nice resting place atop of ‘washer’ bust on 16th tee.