Gailes Links Golf Course

Established in 1892, Gailes Links is part of the prestigious Glasgow Golf Club. The club has hosted 32 International competitions since 1927 and was an Open Championship Qualifying course from 2014 to 2017.

The first hole at Gailes Links is a fairly gentle but attractive hole to get your round started. A bunker at 240 yards awaits a tee shot hit down the right-hand side as the green is well guarded with bunkers, particularly on the left side where tricky pin positions can be found. The key to playing this hole well is a fairway wood or long iron from the tee and a conservative approach to the centre of the green.

The 6th hole may be the shortest on the course at 152 yards, but don't let that fool you. The green sits below you and is slightly hidden by the surrounding natural undulations. It is guarded by one pot bunker at the front, two on the left and a swale in the right awaits an errant tee shot. There are two levels to this green making a back right pin position extremely tricky.

The 14th is a long par 5 and the first hole where the coastal railway line on the right comes into play. A good tee shot on this hole will reward you with a birdie opportunity. Two fairway bunkers left and right at 240 yards will punish an errant tee shot. A large ridge runs across the fairway on this hole 80 yards short of the green, so laying up short of this to the left-hand side will leave you the perfect distance of 100 yards to the centre of the green. The green is protected by 2 deep pot bunkers front left and right, so your third shot is best played to the centre, leaving a fairly flat putt for your birdie.

All great courses should have a strong finishing hole and the 18th at Gailes doesn't disappoint. The first obstacle is to carry a ridge 190 yards into the prevailing wind from the tee. A tee shot of 240 yards down the left side of the fairway will leave 195 yards to the centre of this green. The 18th green is guarded by a swale and a bunker on the left-hand side, with 3 pot bunkers on the right awaiting any wayward attempt at the green. Our advice on 18 is to play your second shot to the front of the green and take your chances with a two putt from there. Gailes Links has hosted the Scottish Amateur Championship and has been a final qualifying course for the Open Championship, this hole proving a tough closing challenge for many a great golfer.