It took me a few times to get the knack, but now I have no issues. The first item to learn was how to position the link when you start sliding the slide on; second was where to push the slide back to so the slide lock would clear the notch; and the final step in making this easy was that my guns are here to be used - carried and shot often. I don't worry about what some call the "idiot scratch." That small scratch, on the guns with it, is the least of the patina that my 1911's carry.
Much like the replies I received when I posted my Mark III photo with comment on FB, once you get used to working on the gun it is easy.