Western Gailes Golf Club: Course Review, Green Fees, Tee Times and Key Info

Western Gailes Golf Club Key Information

For many golfers, this venerable old course overlooking Arran on the Ayrshire coast just north of Royal Troon, gets pretty close to pure links heaven.

It dates back to 1897 and plays over a classically slender links strip, often only two holes wide, between sea and railway. Just across the railway lies the 21st-century links at Dundonald.

Western Gailes heads first north then south for a long stretch, before a final five-hole northward trek back to the central clubhouse. It has long sat in the middle part of Golf Monthly's Top 100 courses in the UK and Ireland rankings. 

Sandhills and sea views abound as you tackle one glorious links hole after another. But despite its age and traditional feel, Western Gailes rarely relies on blind shots for protection.

It prefers to use the natural terrain and a number of cunningly placed bunkers to make you think. That, along with the ever-present Firth breeze and some inconveniently located burns.

Those bunkers have been changing character of late as the club works to restore them to their more natural state under the guidance of Mackenzie and Ebert. Some excellent new run-off areas have replaced certain greenside traps to add a different element to your short-game recovery options.

The sandhills may not be as towering as on certain 21st-century links. But few make as stunningly effective use of the natural routing between dune ridges as Western Gailes.

A number of holes play to isolated greens set in shallow natural amphitheatres. The 6th and excellent par-3 7th greens stand out in this regard. The latter has an amphitheatre feel for its entire length on account of the dune ridge along the beach to the right and a slightly lower one flanking the left.

There’s a real sense of awe and occasion when you play these holes, even if you’re on your own.

There are many great stretches of coastal holes around these shores. But there may just be no better run anywhere than Western Gailes’ southbound stretch from the 5th to 13th along the Firth of Clyde.

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Gordon Ross

The course presents a very fair test of golf. The fairways are generally wider than they appear from the tee and the bunkers are clearly in view. I enjoyed the way the course has been set up as it enables the golfer to plot their way around and, if done well, there are no nasty hidden surprises

Andrew Oliver

This is a brilliant natural links site and while the long run of holes in one direction can dent the variety, you can’t argue with the quality on offer. Conditioned to a high standard and full of intrigue and challenge but ultimately very fair with only the odd blind shot. Definitely not a poor relation to Troon or Prestwick and now, with characterful bunkering, more than holding its own.

Western Gailes Golf Club location

Western Gailes Golf Club Green Fees

Enquire about tee-time bookings at Western Gailes

Western Gailes Golf Club Scorecard

Best Courses Near Western Gailes

PRESTWICK
Much has changed at Prestwick since it hosted the first of its 24 Opens in 1860, but its wonderfully, rumpled terrain still provides a tangible link with the challenge those early Open competitors faced. It is both historically significant yet still hugely relevant and great fun. That is Prestwick’s charm. A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in The Open’s very earliest history.

DUNDONALD LINKS
An ever-improving links blending the best of the old and the new. This Kyle Phillips design is a modern alternative to its traditional neighbours with many memorable holes. These include the par-4 13th which hugs the railway line and where a burn awaits short of the larger-than-life, two-tiered green. With its new clubhouse and accommodation, Dundonald Links is fulfilling its original potential

Best Places To Stay Near Western Gailes

Dundonald Links, Gailes -  Book now at Booking.com
You can stay in the new accommodation at Dundonald Links just across the railway from Western Gailes. There's a fitness centre on site plus free private parking, a restaurant and a bar. Every room is equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV, a coffee machine and a private bathroom with shower and free toiletries. Some rooms also boast a kitchen fitted with a fridge.

The Gailes Hotel & Spa, Gailes - Book now at Booking.com
The four-star Gailes Hotel offers modern accommodation and a contemporary restaurant a ten-minute drive from Prestwick Airport. Leisure facilities include a fitness centre, hot tub and sauna. The en suite bathrooms include both shower and bath, as well as Scottish toiletries. The Coast Restaurant offers a wide range of dishes created with the finest locally sourced ingredients. 

Western Gailes Gallery

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WESTERN GAILES HISTORICAL TOP 100 RANKING UK&I

• 2023/24 - 46
• 2021/22 - 47
• 2019/20 - 49
• 2017/18 - 52
• 2015/16 - 54
• 2013/14 - 52
• 2011/12 - 51
• 2009/10 - 46

Frequently Asked Questions