Donald Trump has officially opened his new 18-hole course in Aberdeenshire, describing it as a "masterpiece" after striking the inaugural drive in front of local dignitaries.
The US president also had time for a quick round of golf before leaving for Lossiemouth on the presidential helicopter, Marine Force, and then departing for the US on Air Force One.
He was watched by members of his family and VIPs including First Minister John Swinney, business leader Martin Gilbert and former footballers Robbie Fowler, Gianfranco Zola and Andriy Shevchenko.
Standing on the green with sons, Eric and Donald Jr, and Donald Jr’s children, Spencer and Chloe, the president acknowledged that he had not always seen eye to eye with the locals, who had staged a protest beyond the security cordons on Monday, but insisted that they “love” him now.
He said: “We started with a beautiful piece of land, but we made it much more beautiful. And the area has welcomed us. If you remember, at the beginning, it wasn’t quite a welcome, but it wasn’t bad. But with time, they’ve liked us more and more. Now they love us and we love them.”
Eric Trump said he had taken on his father’s passion project when he “went off to do larger things and save the free world”.
He said: “We had an unlimited budget and we exceeded it. This was his Mona Lisa. My father’s always said some people really appreciate the painting on the wall. And he never did, right?
“For him, creating this, these beautiful sculpting dunes, sculpting the land. That was always his painting.
“So I hope today we honour the greatest man I know. Our best friend, a person who has led this company for 30 years and now leads the most powerful nation in the world and is doing a hell of a job.”
The action at Menie continues today as the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship gets underway, followed immediately by the DP World Tour’s Nexo Championship next week.
Confirmed names in the field for the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship include eight-time European Tour order of merit winner and tournament host Colin Montgomerie, 1994 & 1999 Masters champion José María Olazábal, 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, and 2005 US Open winner Michael Campbell.
Joining them will be 2002 US PGA winner Rich Beem, 2003 US PGA champion Shaun Micheel, 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, defending champion Robert Coles, Legends Tour Order of Merit leader Scott Hend – fresh from a top-five at the ISPS Handa Senior Open – and a host of Ryder Cup players including Stephen Gallacher and Tour debutante David Howell.
Today will feature the Cardhu Celebrity Pro-Am with a series of big names taking part – including Teddy Sheringham, Brian McFadden, Judy Murray, Gianfranco Zola, Andriy Shevchenko, Kriss Akabusi, Keith Duffy, Mark Foster and Glenn Hoddle.