Now On The Tee: Western Gailes Golf Club
Geoff Ogilvy, 2006 U.S. Western Gailes Golf Club will always hold a special place in my memories of the game, as it was the first stop on our epic 2017 Scottish adventure and perhaps more significantly, my first-ever round of golf outside North America. The first nine holes were ready for play early in 1898 and the second nine was opened in May the same year. Golf Digest is of the belief that Willie Fernie, the 1883 Open Champion and golf course architect who designed the famous "Postage Stamp" hole at Royal Troon also designed Western Gailes. However, the club insists that their first greenskeeper, Fred Morris, routed and designed the golf course. The course has an "out and back" routing, something that is relatively standard with links golf but Western Gailes is very unique in comparison due to where its clubhouse is situated. The first four holes run inland away from the clubhouse to the northeast before turning around for a thrilling jaunt along the coast. 13, head southwest with the sea hard on the right side the whole way.
It's a magnificent stretch of holes but the golf remains compelling as you make the "turn" once again on the long par five 14th, heading northeast for the last five holes before hitting the centrally-located clubhouse. The fun truly begins on the second, named "Railway", as it features a very unique green set below fairway grade in a bit of a hollow. Strategy off the par four 3rd hole, named "Arran", is paramount. This is just an appetizer though, as the 6th and 7th holes, in this author's humble opinion, are world-class in every respect. The 6th, named "Lappock", is a 498 yard par five with a forced carry required off the tee to a slightly diagonal fairway. You can elect to layup short of the well-placed fairway bunker cut into a dune on the left side or hit a hybrid or metal wood and give it a go. The punchbowl shaped green is set in behind that dune and a shot that is played well out to the right can hit a large slope and funnel to the left and onto the putting surface if struck well.
The green is very long and quite narrow so despite the fact that the slopes seem to help, it's incredibly difficult to place your ball close to the hole, even with a wedge. The design and the setting is tremendous and most will walk off this green, take a look back at the incredible landscape and know they've played one of the best holes in golf. You can only shake your head in delight as you make your way to the elevated 7th tee. The first par three at Western Gailes, named "Sea", is another standout. Measuring 198 yards from the back tees, this hole plays downhill slightly but is all carry to a very well-protected green nestled in the dunes and with bunkers short right and long left. The mid-length par four 8th hole and the shorter par four 10th holes feature burns that wind directly in front of the greens, making distance control vital with your approach on both holes.
The short par three 13th hole is at the far southwest end of the property and the final hole at Western Gailes with the sea on your right. Named "Barassie", it's only 154 yards from the back tees but is almost completely surrounded by seven bunkers, while any shots that come up short will fall back down the slope and into another burn. Play for the middle of the generous green here and be happy with a two-putt par! The last five holes play inland and back toward the clubhouse, with the railway running down the right hand side the whole way. At 592 yards, the par five 14th is the longest hole at Western Gailes but the prevailing wind should help somewhat. Birdies and pars are possible but you need to hit a long and accurate drive to give yourself any chance at a good score here. The 15th hole, called "Heather", is the last of the one shotters at Western Gailes and it's another stunner both visually and from a design perspective.
A long iron or fairway metal will likely be required, as you have a long forced carry over the long rough and then two very well-placed pot bunkers about twenty yards short of the green. If you clear those particular traps, you have some room to run the ball up to a green surrounded by two bunkers left and three more to the right. Anything offline will likely result in a bogey or worse. The long par four 17th hole, named "Ridge", is yet another standout. The "Home" hole, a 407 yard par four, is reasonably straightforward but hitting into the widest portion of the fairway will leave an approach of approximately 200 yards, which isn't ideal. The approach shot is tested by a series of three bunkers that are between 30 and 50 yards short of the green on the left, ready to thwart any shot not well struck. Make no mistake about it - Western Gailes is a very demanding test of golf.
