The newest addition to Loch Lomond Golf Club is Dundonald. Designed by Kyle Phillips, one of the game's top architects, Dundonald is recognised as one of the best new courses in the world (Robb Report 2004). Situated by the sea near the town of Troon, Dundonald's soil and climate conditions, as with the other courses in the area, make it suitable for year-round play.
"My desire was to create a championship Ayrshire-style links course that felt and played as though it was an old rediscovered course." - Kyle Phillips, course designer
“One of the world’s truly great tests of links golf” – Sandy Lyle, Open Champion 1985 and Masters Champion 1988.
Gailes Links lies on a marvellous stretch of links land between Troon and Irvine on the Ayrshire coast. With its undulating fairways, fine greens and subtle qualities, it is a classic links layout. At 6,903 yards long from the championship tees with a par of 71, Gailes is a tough test but medium tees provide a fine test for players of all abilities.
Former Open Champion Willie Park designed the course and kept his designs simple. He wasn’t a believer in creating greens with dramatic slopes, did not much favour “blind” shots, and particularly in the case of Gailes, left the glorious heather and gorse untouched. He always believed Gailes to be one of his best creations.
The course is home to the Glasgow Golf Club, founded in 1787 and the ninth oldest club in the world. It frequently plays host to Open Championship qualifying and will be the venue for the 2012 Home Internationals.
Golf Monthly rates Gailes Links in the top 100 courses in the UK.
Gailes lies in the heart of Scotland’s Ayrshire Golf coast with several celebrated courses within easy driving distance: Royal Troon - 5 miles, Prestwick GC - 8 miles and Turnberry - 35 miles.
The course at Prestwick is famous for its first hole which runs parallel to the train line, just yards from the fairway. Prestwick GC also shares its boundaries with Royal Troon and is just 20 minutes from Turnberry, with Open final qualifying courses such as Kilmarnock Barassie, Gailes Links, Western Gailes and Irvine Bogside all within just 5 minutes drive. Prestwick was the first course to hold the Open Championship.
The Old Course at Royal Troon is one of the world’s great links courses. There is the wind to contend with, and deep rough interspersed with gorse and broom, so accurate shot making is essential. There are all the classic challenges of links golf with bumps, hollows and pot bunkers.
Players should make their scores on the outward nine, as the prevailing north-westerly wind can make the back nine extremely difficult. The most famous hole is the 8th - the Postage Stamp – a short par three played to a tiny green!
Troon has played host to the Open Championship on many occasions with past winners including the great Tom Watson. There was plenty of drama in 1989 when American Mark Calcavechia triumphed over Australians Greg Norman and Wayne Grady in a play-off after Norman had fought his way back on the final day with a course record 64.
Glasgow Airport is 40 minutes away, using the A77, and Prestwick Airport 10 minutes easy driving. Drivers from Glasgow and Paisley should take the A77 or A736. From the North and East, drivers should use the A77 and A71. Traffic from England and South should take the M6, A74, A75, A76 and A77 to Troon. Once at Troon, follow signs to golf course.
Western Gailes is a quality links golf course and challenge, with deep rough and bunkering interspersed with gorse, accurate shot making is essential. Players should make their scores on the outward nine, as the prevailing north-westerly wind can make the back nine extremely difficult. Water features (burns) also await wayward approach shots.
