Western Gailes is a course that I knew nothing about before today. I had not read about it, nor had I heard any rave reviews about it.  So there were no expectations as we drove into the gate across the railway lines onto the property that sits adjacent to Royal Troon, Prestwick and Glasgow Gailes. Being in such close proximity to the supreme rolling seaside land of the aforementioned courses I should have realised we were in for a real treat.
On the first tee we were welcomed by the starter, a lovely old chap called Henry. Henry shared with us a few wise words about the course and told us about its pedigree as final open qualifier course and from hosting other big tournaments such as the Curtis cup and the national amateur championships.
The first hole is a pleasant and straight forward par four (the first of 13 par fours on the course ranging in length from 309 yards to well over 470) and a chance to get into the groove, before the next holes which really press the right buttons. Â
After finding one of the well positioned pots on the third, it was the approach to the 4rd hole (below) where the first touches of real class glimmered as I looked up at the green with wedge in hand and all I could see were the two bunkers front and left with broad shoulders making the seemingly innocuous pin placement all of a sudden that much more difficult.
Standing on the 5th green both JP and I were thinking, out load to ourselves, wow this is a great track. Serious well positioned pot bunkers  laid out on a stunning piece of rolling land sitting adjacent to the water. A wee breeze blowing off the sea was also asking for just that little bit of creativity.
And then we made it to the 6th tee. After a few moments of deliberation on where to hit our tee shots we consulted the course guide Henry had kindly given us and finally took aim and fired blind over a mound. The balls swung right to left off the sea breeze and ended up there or thereabouts. Before we knew it we were knocking our 2 irons over a mound towards the blind green. A few bounces later and we were not too far short and standing amidst the dunes over pitch shots to an ingeniously located green set amidst the dunes....
The rest is history as they say â?? I knocked it up from 50 yards and left it right in the jaws rolling in from the left and the JP beat me to it rolling it right in the cup from the right - BOOM. A combined 7 shots is not bad going. And crucially 11 pounds for the first tee from each of our benefactors taking part in the Scotland Birdie / Eagle challenge.  Check out the video below!
On a high and loving the golf course nothing changed on the 7th despite the two of us ruining our pleasant looking scorecards with matching 5â??s. But nevermind the score â?? the 7th is a superb hole played along the water and to another green nestled into a creative home and flanked by bunkers.
8 and 10 are a couple of par fours played over a burn both running the same direction and both merely a 2 iron and sand wedge. Since finishing our round and talking about Western Gailes I think it is these two holes that create the bront of the criticism because of their sameness. It is almost like the course allows the golfer to take their foot off the throttle just as they are warming up.
9 (below) is the rose between the thorns, albeit a hole of the same length (or a touch shorter) and played in exactly the same direction. A strongly hit drive could find a down slope and sneak between two bunkers leaving an eagle putt. But the smart play is to lay up leaving a short wedge where you canâ??t see the base of the pin and to a two tiered green that you simply must not miss. One of those wedge shots that really gets the blood pumping.
After a couple of strong par fours, 11 and 12, and the short par three 13th (where I played merrily in the sand whilst JP continued his fine golf) played out to the southwestern corner of the golf course from where it is time to turn and follow the train tracks back towards the clubhouse. 14 is a par five, reachable in two if you can navigate around the pots (lesson learnt the hard way). Another great green complex framed by the railway line, a couple of pots and a subtly sloping green.
15 pictured below is a gorgeous par three and upon JP making another par a good round was beckoning.
But then on the 16th tee things when awry. With JP eyeing the possibility of beating his old foe named par, he was unstuck by the burn which rolls around 40 yards short of the green. Â I must admit with the strength of the finish here, and the OOB looming down the right hand side of the last few holes I was kind of glad that it was not me trying to grind out a 'round-of-the-year'.
17 is another tee shot flanked by the train tracks but then this hole, with a ledge through the middle of the fairway, kinks back towards the ocean where you must play a blind shot with only a bright red cross to aim at. Â
The 18th leaves you at peace with yourself and with Western Gailes - a more gentle finish that leaves you wanting to come back for more. And that we did, but not before JP raised another hundred dollars or so from the gentlemen inside for The First Tee. Thanks gents and the crew at Western Gailes (I believe the secretary is from down under?) for a cracker of a day at one of the most under rated courses of the year.
Postscript: Birdie tally through todayâ??s round is 27 birdies, 1 eagle totallng 37 pounds to the first tee for each of our now three contributors. We encourage you to get involved in our Scottish birdie challenge â?? weâ??d love to have even more riding on each hole!!
PPS - A MUST PLAY if you're coming to Scotland
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Chisholm Park
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