TIME has proved to be the ideal healer for those at Castle Stuart as the great and good of world golf prepare to flock to their door.
It is just 12 months since the Inverness links was left showing the scars of Mother Nature's wrath as torrential rain flooded greens and fairways with landslides ruining the picturesque outlook.
Memories still remain for those in the Highlands but as the world's top golfers prepare for this week's Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, the par-72 course has had its wounds healed.
Thursday will see Castle Stuart thrust into the spotlight and course general manager Stuart McColm is confident the pristine links will finally shine.
"It is not hard to get excited about the world's best golfers coming to play on your course," he told SportTimes.
"When you are in the trenches and the heat of the battle, as we were last year, it is difficult. It was a 24-hour course in crisis management, there is no doubt about that.
"The cool heads at the European Tour and here at the course helped us through it.
"We got play on Sunday after a huge effort from the staff. We had 125mm of rain in one swoop and most courses, if not every course, couldn't cope with that. I think we did well to rescue what could have been a pretty disastrous situation.
"I think we have learned a lot from last year and we can't wait for play to get underway this week."
When the water was finally removed and the course was patched up last July, it was Luke Donald who left Castle Stuart with the happiest memories.
The Englishman will head north to defend his crown this week but a different proposition awaits the world No.1 and a host of other big names.
McColm and his team have kept the wide open fairways but punishment will await those who are wild from the tees, with an increased rainfall allowing for thicker rough while bunkers have been strategically added to up the difficulty level a couple of notches.
The investment of time and money has been significant, with even the opening of the heavens hopefully not enough to dampen the excitement.
McColm said: "There have been a couple of changes to the course. After last year, it was important we didn't have a knee-jerk reaction.
"It was freak weather. The greens were receptive on the Sunday and when there is no wind, every links course is laid bare. A few tweaks were needed.
"We have added 150 yards over three holes – nine, 12 and 15 – and added fairway bunkers to five and 14 to tighten up the drive a bit.
"We have had around £100,000 worth of storm drainage put in.
"The work hasn't changed the course and it is almost the same test as last year apart from the extra length and some rough, we have a bit more definition out on the course. With the rain we have had, there is a bit of rough out there.
"The players wanted it a bit tighter but our ethos is wide fairways and challenging angles of attack into pins. We didn't want to change too much."
With the Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes now just a week away, it says much about the test Castle Stuart will provide that such an illustrious field will make the trip to the Highlands.
The tournament will present some of the biggest names in the sport with the chance to hone their skills ahead of a bid for the Claret Jug, with two of Scotland's top talents leading the tartan challenge.
"Phil Mickelson is a late entry and a huge boost for us," said McColm. "He had gushing praise for us last year and it is fantastic to have him back.
"The week before the Open, some people want rest, some want links, you are never going to satisfy everyone.
"Louis Oosthuizen, Francesco Molinari, Freddy Jacobsen, Miguel Angel Jimenez, they weren't here last year but have entered for this week.
"Luke Donald is coming back to defend his title, you have the home charge with the likes of Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird.
"These are big names in the world of golf. I think it is easily the second best field on the Tour."