For the second time this week we’ve had the pleasure of playing a round of golf at Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club.

The club is this celebrating its 125th anniversary as part of those celebrations a dozen members of the club played against a dozen members of the media covering this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

However this morning club secretary, Mike MacDonald kindly arranged for Steve Douglas, golf writer for Associated Press, and myself to again play the course.

We teed off just minutes before 7am and finished some two-and-three quarters later.

However it was after playing a errant drive off the 13th tee I came in contact with Scotland First Minister, Alex Salmond.

You see my tee shot was so far left that it came to rest on the third fairway and right in the path of the First Minister who was playing the Fortrose and Rosemarkie Club Captain and a member of the European Tour.

Salmond approached me with his hand out so it was a pleasue to shake the hand of the first Minister.

Some hours later I again found myself shaking hands with the First Minister at a press conference to formally announce the 2014 Scottish Open is heading to the Royal Aberdeen club.

And is speaking to the assembled media about taking golf to Scotland juniors, the First Minister could not help but having a ‘dig’ at yours truly.

He said:  “Well, we’ve got a club in the hand of just about every 9-year old in Scotland.  I played Fortrose this morning and for those of you – I know some of you were there, because I saw you hitting the ball all over the links this morning, so certain members of the press corps, I shall guard their anoymity”.

I later introduced to the First Minister and ‘thanked’ him for not mentioning my name but mentioned it would cost him a photograph.

With thanks to leading European Tour photographer, Stuart Adams is that photo.

Bernie and Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond holding the Scotitsh Open trophy. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)