As befits his role at the helm of one of the word's great hotels, Patrick Elsmie is a master of understatement, which was exactly the mode into which he slipped as he surveyed the scene behind the first tee at Gleneagles on a Friday ­morning just over three months ago.

"We have been blessed by a lack of panics," said Elsmie, who has since announced his decision to step down from the role of managing director after 20 years.

Dawn had only just broken over the ­Perthshire countryside on the opening day of the Ryder Cup.

The crowd, packed into giant ­grandstands to witness one of the most ­resonant moments in sport, were raucous but good-natured. The atmosphere was exuberant, but there was a crackle of expectation as the seconds ticked away to the start of the 40th rendition of golf's biennial transatlantic competition.

Seconds? For Elsmie, the countdown had begun 13 years earlier when Gleneagles was confirmed as host of the 2014 event. From that point on, the Ryder Cup loomed on the horizon for everyone at Gleneagles. A year ago, Elsmie told the Sunday Herald he was happy they were prepared for any and every eventuality. Now that confidence was about to be put to the test.

The lack of panics might have been a ­blessing in the build-up, but there was still scope for things to go badly wrong. In 2010, when the Ryder Cup was staged at Celtic Manor in Wales, downpours of near-biblical proportions meant spectators had to be kept away from the course and the tournament was extended - for the first time in its history - into a fourth day. At Gleneagles, the nerves of the competitors were never strained as badly as those of the organisers.

And yet the tournament was a triumph. Barely a week after the disappointment of the referendum result, then First Minister Alex Salmond opened the event with a warm, dignified and witty speech. Scotland, he said, was ready to show its charms to the world.

And how. If the competition was less than thrilling at times - largely thanks to the hopelessness of the US team - the Perthshire landscape sent spirits soaring.

The television cameras panned lovingly over its wide vistas and a global audience of billions gasped in delight. The home of golf had never looked so fine.

Fears about the weather proved unfounded. A breeze blew occasionally and it was a little cold at times, but for the most part the event unfolded in soft and warm autumn sunshine. There was a civilised tone to the whole thing, and the volunteer marshals had clearly taken their good-natured lead from the Commonwealth Games' Clyde-siders.

The American team were competitive in the Friday morning fourballs matches - they were ahead, 2½ to 1½ at the end of the session - but rarely thereafter.

Their big names failed to fire and they were demolished in the Saturday foursomes. Going into the final day, Europe, superbly captained by Paul McGinley, led 10-6. They had one hand on the trophy already.

The drama demanded a Sunday singles fightback by the USA. It never came. Europe surged on and Welsh rookie Jamie ­Donaldson clinched the 16½ to 11½ victory with a ­brilliant approach to the 15th that forced a concession from Keegan Bradley.

It all ended in rancour and infighting in the American team. Phil Mickelson, their senior player, lambasted captain Tom Watson in a dramatic press conference. But that was not Elsmie's problem. He and Gleneagles had done their jobs magnificently. They had, indeed, been blessed.