Could Western Gailes host The Open? We think so...

Western Gailes is a course strong enough to host The Open – that is how highly we rate the Ayrshire links.

This is seaside golf at its very best and the back nine is as hard as anywhere when the wind picks up.

It usually blows from the west and makes the 17th hole one of the most difficult par fours you will ever tackle.

History

Western Gailes was founded in 1897 after a group of golfers from Glasgow wanted to create a course that would be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and playable throughout the year.

The club has hosted a number of prestigious tournaments, including the Scottish Amateur Championship, Curtis Cup, European Men’s Amateur Team Championship and qualifying for the Open.

Why it’s special

Western Gailes is a truly championship-standard links experience and is essential to include on any Ayrshire itinerary.

The course runs in two strips lying north-south along the Ayrshire coast with a railway track along one side and the Firth of Clyde down the other.

The undulating terrain requires even the best of players to produce a full range of different shots.

With the line of dunes running down the coastal stretch from the 5th to the 13th holes, the out of bounds wall from the 14th onwards, the plentiful supply of pot bunkers and meandering burns, Western Gailes presents variety and a memorable challenge.