Western Gailes (Ayrshire)

Being only 10 minutes up the road from Royal Troon, Western Gailes could be seen as a bit of a hidden gem. I have been extremely fortunate to play this amazing course on a number of occasions thanks to the club allowing the Strathclyde Uni Golf Society to call this their home course. The historic clubhouse is painted in its iconic white coating, located at the end of a quiet road and over the railway crossing. 

Founded in 1897 to allow golfers from Glasgow to escape the polluted city air, Western Gailes is a challenging but incredibly unique and enjoyable course, characterised by its high dunes and the layout running parallel to the train tracks. The course plays at around 7000 yards off the back tees as a par 71.

The inside of the clubhouse feels quite unchanged, with its classic wooden lockers and traditional bar area, which makes it feel like you have gone back in time. One of the main differences with this course, when compared to others on this blog, is that you are required to wear a jacket and tie to enter the clubhouse, which is a very old-fashioned golf rule that I quite liked the idea of, until you finish your round, usually in typical Scottish weather, and realise you have to then change back into your suit to leave.

The course itself is always in immaculate condition all year round and has hosted several Scottish amateur championships and international championships including the Curtis Cup. My favourite hole, not only at Western Gailes but possibly that I have ever played is the 7^th hole, which is a 198-yard par 3, which requires pinpoint accuracy for your tee shot as the green is surrounded by several pot bunkers and extremely long grass.