Doak in the dog house over flatulent pooch 

In what is perhaps the most bizarre news line to emerge from a Challenge Tour event in its 23 year history, the Scottish media’s tongues were wagging over an extraordinary statement from home favourite Chris Doak after his four under par second round of 67.

Asked about how he dealt with the rain delay which caused his tee off time to be put back by two and a half hours, he simply stated that he went back to his rented house for a “roll and sausage” before openly discussing his pet dog’s overnight flatulence.

“We’d been up all night because of the dog’s farting,” said Doak, before some boisterous laughter was followed by what we can only describe as incomprehensible Scottish banter.

“Maybe this evening I’ll give the dog some laxative and get it out for the day,” he continued to the tune of more loud laughter. “It nearly knocked the caddy out when he woke up. I’ll put the dog in his room tonight!”

The good-humoured Scottish journalists present were in their element, firing out as many puns and alliterations as possible, with “Doaky and his parping pooch” our personal favourite.

Indeed, the canine line did appear in some of the Scottish national papers the following day.

Chilean feeling chilled in the chilly Scottish weather

Coming from Chile, Mark Tullo is certainly an unlikely candidate for the Scottish weather fanclub but the two time Challenge Tour winner has been singing the praises of the rain and wind after the opening day of the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts.

“I love links golf,” said the bubbly 34 year old. “I must admit that every time I come to Scotland I play well. I enjoy the wind, you have to bounce it 20 yards short and use your imagination. You need to know how to play the ball low or high and keep it against the wind, it’s always a challenge to come over here. It’s a different sport!

“Last year I played very well in Castle Stuart and finished third so I enjoy the golf courses here in Scotland, it suits my eye. You have to sometimes shoot away from pins and you have to use your head, it’s not just bombing it everywhere.”

Indeed, when confronted at lunch time prior to his second round about how he would fare in the much-improved sunny conditions, he joked, “I’m going to be standing on the first tee looking to the skies for rain!”

With such a love for all things wet and windy, here’s thinking we should have a new name for the South American – Mark MacTullo!

Scottish Hydro bash produces laughs aplenty 

It is always the most glamourous bash of the week at the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts and this year’s Pro-Am dinner did not fail to produce, doubling up as a comedy gig as well as a prize-giving.

While BBC Scotland’s Rob MacLean presented in his usual professional and humourous style and Spey Valley’s club professional Murray Urquhart provided some impressive impressions (including an uncanny Alan Hanson), the stars of the show were Wefilmgolf.com.

The video highlights show that they provided from the day’s events had the crowds in stitches as it catalogued some of the golfing misadventures, with one or two good shots thrown in the mix for good measure, all to the tune of Craig Martin’s hilarious commentary.

After a sumptuous dinner which gave diners the choice of four countries, Britain, Italy, Thailand and the USA, two of the Team Scottish Hydro players, Jack Doherty and Callum Macaulay, were interviewed before Urquhart provided some of his golfing knowledge by giving two amateurs a brief lesson.

A great night was had by all at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel and sets us up for what is sure to be a thoroughly enjoyable week.

No luck for Enoch

There weren’t many fresher faces at the start of the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts week than that of professional debutant Rhys Enoch.

The young Welshman had just turned professional and was ready to make his debut in the paid ranks at one of the European Challenge Tour’s flagship events at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club.

But the 24 year old was befallen by a cruel piece of luck when he started to feel unwell and on consultation with the tournament’s medical team, was forced to withdraw due to glandular fever.

There will be no one more disappointed than the young man himself but hopefully that frustration can be put to positive use and drive him on in future events. We have no doubt the big time awaits this guy after an impressive amateur career both sides of the Atlantic, but as they say, good things come to those who wait.

A local guide to Aviemore

This is an area of Scotland which so is so truly stunning, we feel it would be remiss of us not to give our readers a little guide to the area:

•    The village of Aviemore began to grow as a result of it becoming a railway junction in 1898, following which the Highland Railway became a major employer, constructing housing for its staff and the Aviemore Hotel.

•    Aviemore became one of the first skiing resorts to be established in Scotland with the opening of the chairlift in 1961 and is also notable for being near the freely grazing reindeer herd at Glen More, the only one in the United Kingdom. The resort has since grown into the UK's most visited ski resort during the winter months.

•    Aviemore is set within the Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in Britain, which covers an area of 4,528 km2 (1,748 sq mi) in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Angus and Perth and Kinross Regions.