Western Gailes

Western Gailes is located on the Scotland Ayshire coast near Troon/Prestwick, 45 minutes south of Glasgow's International Airport. It's the uncelebrated course of the area, but highly regarded, and limits visitors to certain times three days a week. The course originated in 1897 and was designed by Will Park Sr and Jr, with later revisions by Fred Hawtree in 1975. It's a first rate golf club, both inside the clubhouse and on the course. The course is routed on its narrow strip of linksland between the sea and the railroad line, and plays to 6,639 yards, par 71 from the medal tees. It's a classic links course with heather and marram grass lining the fairways, rolling dunes, and gorse, but generally little elevation, other than the slightly raised tees. Burns come into play on seven holes, and there's more than 100 bunkers. The course is fair and challenging, and mostly straightforward with a few blind or partially blind shots. The terrain is undulating and rippling as a links course should be, and the turf is a springy, cushion and easy to walk. The greens are well guarded by burns, dunes, or bunkers, and lightly contoured, firm, and fast. The wind is always a factor here, which probably explains the name. A delightful course with excellent conditioning, and the more reasonably priced of its neighbors.