Western Gailes is a traditional out-and-back links carved between the railway and the sea, offering a layout as natural as it is challenging. Opened in 1897, the course is revered for its purity – no tricks, no modern gimmicks, just a seamless routing through gently rolling dunes, with fairways shaped by the land and bunkers placed with real intelligence. The opening holes play northward with the prevailing wind, offering scoring chances. The turn comes around the 7th, and the back nine returns south into the breeze – and into the teeth of the course. The par-3 7th is a beauty, with the sea lapping just yards beyond the green. The par-4 17th, a sharp dogleg with a burn cutting through the fairway, is a nervy penultimate hole. Greens are true but subtle, and course conditioning is among the best in Scotland. Western Gailes rewards thoughtful golf and precision over power. It’s peaceful, serious, and deeply satisfying for purists. A hidden gem that lingers long in the memory.