Leading Scottish golfer Marc Warren was full of praise after a first round of golf on Crail’s famed Balcomie Links course.

The three-time European Tour champion visited the club on the eve of the opening day of the 2014 Ryder Cup and where Warren was heading to ‘soak in’ the atmosphere of biennial competition and on the PGA Centenary course where in 2007 Warren captured the Johnnie Walker Championship and the same year he teamed with Colin Montgomerie to deliver Scotland victory in the World Cup of Golf.

Warren was met by Crail’s Assistant Professional David Snodgrass before teeing off the Balcomie Links course just prior to noon in the company of three guests arranged by his management company.

And it was a great start for the reigning ‘Made In Denmark’ champion with Warren’s tee shot in the bright but very windy conditions finding the mound guarding the first from where he superbly chipped and putted for birdie.

However Warren then put his second shot onto the beach down the right side of the par five second hole in eventually taking a double bogey.

And while the 33-year old had never previously traveled to Crail he showed many glimpses of brilliance during the course of his round including a great chip shot from the left edge of the green at 15 to set up birdie and a great par save after having found the rough left of the 17th green.

Warren was met over the last few holes by long-time Crail Golfing Society member Robert Redpath and then after his round delighted in posing for photographs along with signing scorecards plus autographing his Callaway cap for his caddy.

Knowing Marc so well through my reporting on the European Tour for the Daily Record and The Scottish Herald I asked his thoughts on playing for a first time at golf’s seventh oldest club.

“I’ve heard so much about Crail and it was great to finally play the course,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful old fashion links course that clearly hasn’t been altered or ruined by the desire to make changes to cope with modern technology as a lot of old fashioned golf courses have been in Scotland and England.

“So I just love the feel of the course and I would go far to say there is none better I’ve played than here at Crail.

“I’d now put the Balcomie Links up there with my favourites that include Prestwick along with the traditional old style links courses that you find on the Open Championship rota such as the Old Course, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Turnberry and so on.

“The Old Course will always be my most favourite golf course in all the world to play but then I’ll go away today delighted to highly recommend Crail to anyone who is travelling to this corner of Scotland.”

Warren was also ask to single out holes on the Balcomie Links holes that really caught his eye.

“I thought the par threes are great and I just loved the difference in elevations like what you have at the third, 13th, 16th and the last,” he said.

“The fourth and fifth holes are great golf holes and very much risk-and-reward holes, and how great is it just walking around the water’s edge in playing those holes.  The views are just spectacular and good enough to easily take your mind of golf.

“But then it wasn’t easy out there today and having played a lot of golf courses in Scotland, I can imagine how much the wind can change the characteristics of the golf course.

“Also I loved the four finishing holes.  It’s great how they are laid out and they make for a nice end to a round.

“Overall, I’ve had a great time playing the course for a first time,

“I played Carnoustie yesterday as preparation for next week’s Alfred Dunhill Links so my reason for wanting to play at Crail was also with next week in mind.

“I am heading off to the Ryder Cup tomorrow to ‘soak up’ the atmosphere of my first Ryder Cup and very pleased to have got that links practice I need heading into the Dunhill.

“So thank you to everyone at Crail for making me feel so welcome.  Hopefully, it won’t be as long an absence in coming back for a second time.”