I played The Renaissance Club on a Saturday lunchtime in November, on a sunny day but with a fairly significant gusty wind. Let's be clear, having attended the Scottish Open and thoroughly enjoyed a great day watching some of the World's best, I never expected to be able to play here so the invitation itself was something very special.

The Clubhouse, locker rooms, practice facilities, and staff were all first class as you'd imagine, but I think it's also important to add that I felt at home all day, clearly among lovers of the Game. It was also my first time playing golf with a Caddie, Chris, who was simply brilliant.

I had a pretty good idea of what the course was like, having seen for myself the degree to which TV flattens the layout, and with the added strong winds was expecting something big and tough. That was very much what I got. It is indeed a big modern links golf course occupying a large area, with lots of different tees and large greens.

The opening few holes are on flatter land featuring big trees, but there is no lack of contour and interest in them, particularly the green sites and including the ones we played with the wind behind. Golf is never easy.

The next few back to the Clubhouse upped the contours and elevation changes, and the Par 3 6^th was exquisite. I was looking forward to the 8^th (played as 11^th on TV), and thought it was a great hole despite racking up a big score after an awful tee shot.

The holes from 9 to 11 are on the land acquired from Muirfield, and provide the drama and spectacle. These are awesome golf holes, and the wise words of our Caddie were invaluable. The stretch to 17 were back to the big burly character from earlier - tough into the wind with long irons, at raised and well bunkered green complexes.

Then the familiar finish from the Scottish Opens, a cracking shortish Par 3 and the Par 4 with the wall, played into the wind again, on which our Match was concluded in the dying light. For mid-November  the greens were in excellent condition, and my generally poor putting was nothing to do with that and more to do with the occasion, their size and their considerable slopes. All in all, a really great experience and a great day throughout.

I'm a huge fan of the classic 100+ year old links courses, from a time before the machinery to create something like the Renaissance Club, but in my limited experience (here, Dundonald, Macrihanish Dunes, the Castle Course) they also make really fantastic places to play golf. If you get the opportunity, seize it.