Course: Western Gailes Golf Club – Irvine

The Western Gailes Golf Club in Irvine boasts of perhaps one of the most unusual golf tracks in Scotland. For one, the course is placed on the narrowest strips of linksland in Ayrshire between the Irvine Bay and railway tracks making it the northernmost links course on the Ayrshire coastline. Next, the clubhouse is located in what can only be described as the ‘middle’ of the course and finally there are the railway tracks - frankly, how often do you expect to find a railway track on a golf course?

In 1897, the father-son duo of Willie Park Sr. and Jr. were commissioned by four unknown Glaswegians to create a challenging course and the result was the Western Gailes Golf Club. During the mid – 70s, several holes were re-worked by Fred Hawtree when a new road construction ate into the original layout. However the essence of the course at Western Gailes is not lost at all and this 6,899 yards layout continues to enthrall the purists.

Playing for a par of 71, Western Gailes is essentially a nine out nine back course with the initial four holes face north running along the railway track with a heap of gorse and heather playing hazards. The next nine play to the sea and well kept greens are defended by fierce bunkers here. The closing five head back north towards the clubhouse and cross the railway track again.

Stiff winds can make this course difficult even for the most accomplished player as Harry Vardon found out when he won the first major tournament here in 1903. Since then Western Gailes has hosted many prominent events like the Curtis Cup, Scottish PGA Championships and the Scottish Amateur Championships.

With gently rolling fairways dissected by three burns and a ditch, lightening fast greens and several sand dunes, Western Gailes is a pleasure and a challenge.