Way back in 1298, as Ye Herald reported in its all singing, all dancing wood-carved edition of the day, Edward I’s invading army of English bowmen pitched their tents on this expanse of East Lothian land that would become known as Archerfield.

For the past 14 years, another Englishman, David J Russell, has set up camp here. As the designer of the Fidra Links, the host course for this week’s Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open, and a resident of the tranquil Archerfield estate, Russell probably has its abundant nooks and crannies seared on to his retinas.

A good thing, right? “It’s a bit daunting actually because you know exactly where all the trouble is,” said the 61-year-old, who is known as DJ to all and sundry and was certainly in the groove yesterday with a two-under 70 that hoisted him into a share of the first round lead with compatriot, Gary Marks, and Australia’s Peter O’Malley.

Despite his long association with this golfing neck of the woods, Russell has never played a competitive strokeplay round here. As the man with all the local knowledge, it was probably no surprise that the popular Brummie was feeling a bit of pre-round pressure. “It was very strange playing competitively here for the first time and they were funny nerves,” added Russell, a two-time winner on the main European Tour and a double champion on the over-50s scene. “There’s also that bit of expectation as the course designer and I just didn’t want to embarrass myself on the first day ... there are two more days to do that.”

There would be no red face, though, on a testing, blustery day that asked plenty of questions. Russell harnessed the exacting conditions to good effect with a spirited round that was illuminated by a 7-iron into 12-feet on the par-5 second which led to an eagle. “That settled me down,” he noted. “I enjoyed it but it was a hell of a test. The 14th, for instance, is just over 400 yards but I couldn’t reach it in two.”

O’Malley, meanwhile, took some inspiration from golf’s latest young superstar, Jordan Spieth, and adopted the American youngster’s left-hand-low putting grip as he joined Russell at the top of the standings. “I’ve been watching Jordan hole everything this season so I thought I’d give it a go too,” said the 50-year-old after his two-under card.

O’Malley’s putting performance also features a slightly unusual technique and one used to combat a dose of the dreaded yips. “I close my eyes on the short putts, from three-feet in or so,” added O’Malley to a nodding assembly of golf writers who usually have their eyes shut at the top of the back swing and then have to wipe tears from them on a fairly regular basis. “There was a time when I couldn’t take the putter away so I now close my eyes on these little ones.”

O’Malley, who memorably covered the last five holes of the 1992 Scottish Open at Gleneagles in a shimmering seven-under to pip Colin Montgomerie to the title, also highlighted his card with an eagle on the second, his 11th hole. He smacked a drive “50 yards longer than usual” before plonking a 7-iron into 20-feet and trundling in the putt.

Marks, who went to the European Tour’s qualifying school 11 times during a career spent chipping away at a variety of coal faces, had a chance from eight feet on the last to pinch the outright lead but couldn’t convert the birdie opportunity.

“I played Challenge Tour, I tried the Asian Tour and I’ve played in remote parts of Africa,” said the intrepid Londoner on his efforts to gain a solid foothold in the perilous world of professional golf. “I suppose you could say that I’ve spent a lifetime trying to make a breakthrough and, after 30 years, I’m still trying.”

On the home front, Stephen McAllister, a two-time winner on the main European Tour 25 years ago, led the Scottish challenge with a one-under 71 and was joined on that mark by Gordon Manson, a St Andrews-born Austrian citizen who won the Swiss Senior Open last month.

Gordon Brand Jnr, the former Ryder Cup player, burst out of the blocks with three birdies in a row from the first but that early thrust was tempered by a trio of dropped shots at the 10th, 12th and 13th in a 72..

Elsewhere in the field, Mark Davis, the reigning champion, holed his 9-iron tee-shot at the par-3 13th but had to settle for a 76 while Sam Torrance, still feeling the niggling effects of a trapped nerve in his leg, struggled to a 78 that was splattered with the debris of an eight on the 11th.