Western Gailes Golf Club
Irvine, Scotland
The dark horse best course on the legendary Ayrshire Coast
📷 westerngailes.com
📷 westerngailes.com
Unfairly, Western Gailes is one of the least well-known of the great links of Scotland. It’s never hosted a major and it hasn’t been the cause célèbre of the architecture crowd. This is a shame. Western Gailes has all the elements of a great links – undulating fairways, shaggy dunes, a constant and strong wind, frequent burns, a two hole-wide layout squeezed between the sea and a rail line. But it doesn’t just look the part – it plays it too. It’s the sort of course you want to come back to, again and again and again.
Expert Reviews
The opening few holes are quite good, but it’s the period through the middle of the front nine that really captures attention here – the final third on the par five 6th and the terrifyingly difficult short 7th are both outstanding, the 7th ones of Scotland’s most natural and attractive short par threes.
Planet GolfRankings
📷 westerngailes.com
📷 westerngailes.com
Course Photos
Course Layout
Course Flyover
What To Know
Yardage & Tees
When to Play
Western Gailes is open year around, weather permitting. The west coast of Scotland (where Western Gailes is located) is generally wetter but also slightly warmer than the east coast.
Late spring and early summer are the drier months (although only marginally so) and August and September are the wettest. Temperatures should be comfortable between April and October. Your best bet to play Western Gailes would be May-July.
Temperature
Sunshine
Rain
Greens Fees
Month |
Greens Fees |
| January | £70 weekdays |
| February |  £70 weekdays |
| March | £100 |
| April 1-14 | £100 |
| April 15-30 | £140 |
| May | £140 |
| June | £175 |
| July | £175 |
| August | £175 |
| September | £175 |
| October | £140 |
| November |  £70 weekdays |
| December |  £70 weekdays |
Greens fees last verified February 2019. View them on westerngailes.com
Visitor Tee Times
Visitors can play Western Gailes the following times:
Mondays:Â 9 a.m to noon & 2-4:30 p.m.
Tuesdays: 2-3 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9 a.m to noon & 2-4:30 p.m.
Thursdays: 2-3 p.m.
Fridays:9 a.m to noon & 2-4:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Sundays: 2:30-4 p.m.
Rentals & Caddies
Caddies are available for £45 plus gratuity and should be requested in advance.Â
Golf carts are available for £40.
Pull carts are available for £5.
Rental clubs are £35. Right and left-handed clubs are available.
Getting There
Practice Facilities
Western Gailes has two practice putting greens.
Other Things To Know
Year built: 1897
Architects: Fred Morris, with later contributions from Fred Hawtree, then Donald Steel, Tom MacKenzie and Martin Ebert.
Stay and Play: Western Gailes – along with Gailes Links and Dundonald Links – offers a package deal. Details are here.
Course guide: Check out Western Gailes online course guide here.