Although it's not a British Open course, Western Gailes is regarded as one of Scotland's very best and is used often as an Open qualifying site. Western Gailes is generally accepted as being a difficult course and a great test of ones patience, perseverance, and concentration.

Despite having just two par fives and three par threes, this is as fine a links course as can be found anywhere in the British Isles. The course is placed between the railroad lines and the sea, making for narrow holes that demand exact tee shots, especially on the long stretch from the fifth to the thirteenth, right down the coastland, the wind makes Western Gailes not only a trial of skill but something of an endurance test as well.

Hole	S I	Yds	Par	Yds	Par	Hole	S I	Yds	Par	Yds	Par
1	13	304	4	304	4	10	14	348	4	308	4
2	3	434	4	412	4	11	2	445	4	415	4
3	11	365	4	320	4	12	8	436	4	414	4
4	9	355	4	335	4	13	18	141	3	126	3
5	1	453	4	440	4	14	6	562	5	525	5
6	5	506	5	490	5	15	16	194	3	170	3
7	15	171	3	145	3	16	10	404	4	364	4
8	7	365	4	350	4	17	4	443	4	408	4
9	17	336	4	306	4	18	12	377	4	347	4
Yds Out		3,289		3,102		Yds In		3,350		3,077
Total Yds		6,639		6,179
Par Out		36		36
Par In		35		35
Total Par		71		71