First impressions are important but not everything

...can probably sum up my first two rounds recently at TRC. Our fourball played the first round in the afternoon in splendid isolation with virtually no one else on the course, save a few construction workers who were busy putting up grandstands and tents for the Scottish Open.

The first three holes left me completely cold and truth be told the first smile probably came as the more dramatic landforms appeared around the turn.

Playing the second round the next morning just before a large party from one of the Scottish Open sponsors, we had to play the routing used for the Scottish Open. The odds for a different verdict were slim, given that the most visually interesting holes would come late in the round and that the course was fully booked.

Lo and behold, now knowing where (not) to hit it, I had more time to appreciate the smaller details that architect has put in and quite unexpectedly came away a real fan!

If you permit an off-course analogy with my other interest: just like I always buy at least two bottles of each wine to be sure I have at least one left to enjoy if great or to lay down if concluding that it needed more time, I should probably go back to scheduling two rounds at each new course we stop at. Maybe something to consider?