Scott Jamieson seemed to express more fear tumbling into the Black Sea or being bitten by venomous snakes than his competitors in this week’s historic Volvo World Match-Play Championship in Bulgaria.

Jamieson joins fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher among 24 players representing 15 nations taking to the stunning Thracian Cliffs course.

The Gary Player designed course is laid out along a four kilometre stretch with holes four to 10 averaging about 40 metres above the shore line below.

And the European Tour has warned of venomous Ursini Viper snakes, and common to the rocky regions of Bulgaria, with a notice in the temporary clubhouse indicating medics have anti-venom on hand should anyone get bitten.

Scotland’s Scott Jamieson looking to get the better of his rivals by not falling into the Black Sea or being bitten by snakes.

“This golf course is simply stunning it reminds me of those calendars you can buy that shows these crazy golf holes where you have this tiny rope leading up to mountain, and you hit to this small island below,” said Jamieson.

“There’s an island tee at the ninth where you hit across the water and beach to the fairway.

”But you also have to be careful walking along the edge as it’s a sheer drop to the water below.

“And bloody hell, then there’s the snakes.

“Seriously, the course is incredible and the TV pictures will be stunning.

“There’s a bit of Castle Stuart and Kingsbarns where you have holes down at water level and the holes higher up looking down on those holes along the shoreline.

“But with the great climate we’re promised this week we won’t get confused we’re in Scotland.”

Jamieson is making his debut in the prestigious event and qualified by finishing runner-up in the Volvo Champions in South Africa.  He has been drawn in the group featuring Dane Thorbjorn  Olesen and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson.

Gallacher, and who also is contesting the event for a first time, won through in clinching the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, and will play World No. 8 Graeme McDowell and England’s Chris Wood in the preliminaries.

However both Scots won’t play to Friday and with the seeded players, like McDowell and Wood, playing the first series of matches on Thursday.

If both Scots are successful in their respective group they will meet each other Sunday mornings semi-final.

Jamieson said:  “The venue is a perfect match-play course and I wouldn’t fancy playing stroke play around here.

“My game plan will be very different this week as someone could put there shot into the Black Sea and it doesn’t matter as you can move onto the next hole.

“And unlike the WGC match-play event in Arizona you get two bites of the cherry in the format this week.

“I know Thorbjorn really well so that should be a fun match but I don’t know Carl but I’m looking forward to the week.”