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Top of many golfers list, as their favourite golf course in Ayrshire, Western Gailes Golf Club sits along the spectacular West Coast of Scotland. Providing a staunch test to all golfers, your arsenal of links shots will be put to the test, with diagonal running fairways and blind landing spots aplenty.

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Distance From Course: 20 miles

Gailes Links is `One of the world`s truly great tests of links golf` according to former Open and Masters Champion, Sandy Lyle.  It sits in the heart of Ayrshire`s golf coast and is the final qualifying venue for the Open Championship from 2014.

The course is owned and managed by Glasgow Golf Club, the 9th oldest in the world, and provides a stern test for better players from the Championship tees.  However, higher handicap players can still enjoy the undulating fairways and beautifully manicured greens from the kinder medium tee positions.

Almost every hole is punctuated with spectacular view of the Firth of Clyde and the mountainous Isle of Arran and the clubhouse offers players the opportuntiy to relax in two comfortable lounges with full bar and restaurant facilities.

Distance From Course: 20 miles

Located on the prime links turf of the Ayrshire coast, Dundonald Links has become a must play golf course in the area, even though it only opened in 2005. Having previously been known as Southern Gailes, Kyle Phillips (who also designed Kingsbarns) was tasked with the re-design and the final layout feels like it has been there 100 years.

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Distance From Course: 20 miles

The host of the very first Open Championship in 1860, as well as another 23 times after, Prestwick Golf Club is one of greatest golfing excursions for golf purists. Originally 3 rounds played over the 12 hole course and playing for the championship belt, it is a different scene from todays grand stands and the famous Claret Jug.

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Distance From Course: 15 miles

The par 64 Lamlash Golf Course might be relatively short at under 5000 yards but with two par 3s measuring over 220 yards, it is not to be under estimated.

Sitting in the main bar of the large clubhouse, you can watch as players take on the tricky first which climbs steeply to a small green.  once you`ve managed to successfully negotiate that, you can turn to look down on to the village, out to the dramatic Holy Isle and on a good day, over to the Ayrshire coast and the golfing heavyweights at Turnberry and Troon.

Lamlash is a great little course with some excellent holes and certainly ranks as among the best on the Island. 

Distance From Course: 20 miles

Royal Troon Golf Club is an absolute must play for every golfer who loves traditional links golf. The dunes are low and not overbearing, though this allows for the sea breeze to hit every hole on the course. A regular stop on The Open circuit, it has played host to some great championships over the years.

More about Royal Troon Old Course

Distance From Course: 17 miles

Troon Portland Golf Club lies just inland and alongside The Old Course at Royal Troon. It is considered the smaller sibling of the two and although it does not offer the championship yardage as itÂ’s next-door neighbour, it is a much friendlier day on the handicap.

Navigating your way through (and away!) from the gorse bushes and staying clear of the railway line is important to surviving the opening stretch of holes. Portland offers a pleasant combination of bonnie par 3s and strong par 5s. With many less penalty bunkers and many more birdie opportunities over the 18 holes, you will likely leave the final green with a smile on your face.

With many links courses, the defence is the weather off the coast. Sharing the same prime location along the beachfront from the small town of Troon, where beautiful views of Arran across the Firth of Clyde are plentiful.

Distance From Course: 17 miles

A regular feature on any trip to Ayrshire, “Prestwick St Nick’s” is a firm favourite of those who frequent it. The 26^th oldest golf club in the world, this traditional links set-up boasts Old Tom Morris as an honorary founding member. Appearing on the same coastline (and trainline) as Prestwick GC, Royal Troon and Dundonald Links but to name a few; the course offers the same fantastic features and challenges as the others

At 6044 yards, Prestwick St Nicholas may appear short but donÂ’t be fooled. The traditional links layout offers dog-legs, short par 3Â’s and of course is exposed to the sea breeze which can turn a 350 yard par 4 into a 450 yard hole rather quickly. The 3^rd hole offers breath-taking views over to the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig and is a driveable par 4 but with gorse on the right and out of bounds on the left then perhaps an iron off the tee is a better option. On the back 9, the tight fairways get a little tighter as the gorse lines the rough. The 18^th is not a simple finishing hole; a par 3 measuring 230 yards and usually into the wind, there are very few finishing holes that provide this sort of challenge.

The natural beauty of this course is there for all to see and the constant investment and improvement is showing; adding a new tee to the 10^th hole has proven popular with the sea right behind you as you hit your drive. Daunting but a fantastic course to play!

Distance From Course: 15 miles

The town of Troon is full of fantastic golf courses; Royal Troon and Portland are at the forefront of people’s minds but Darley has to be considered too. Defined as the toughest of the South Ayrshire municipal courses, the run of holes between 5 and 15 is where you need to hold on to your score.

Troon Darley offers up birdie chances from the get-go with a rather easy opening – we would recommend warming up before play. The whole course places a high demand on straight tee-shots with heather and gorse waiting to punish any wayward shots.

To highlight the calibre of the course – it is the 4^th toughest course in Scotland to play to your handicap. Definitely worth a visit for those who like a challenge.

Distance From Course: 17 miles

Lochgreen is a course that offers up a rarely seen par of 74. The length of the course (6800 yards) offers a challenge to players of all abilities. Not viewed as a true links course, Lochgreen appears to be more of a hybrid course with a few holes lines with trees and requiring a different variety of shots.

Whilst the course is known for its length; the Par 3’s are absolutely fantastic and still provide a tough challenge so there’s no rest-bite. The main chance for birdies has to be the par 5’s where there’s always a chance if you get a good drive away.

If you’re looking to follow in some famous footsteps, then Jack Nicklaus qualified at Lochgreen for the British Open for the first time. You can also try beating his score of 82 in Round One; he followed it with a 68 in Round Two of course.

Distance From Course: 17 miles

Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club is situated along the Ayrshire coast and has been a firm fixture on many golfer itineraries for many years. First established by members of both Gailes and Troon, Kilmarnock Barassie features 27 fantastic holes making it perfect for those who wish to play an extra 9 holes.

The calibre of Kilmarnock Barassie is there for all to see; it regularly hosts Open qualifying competitions and the British Amateur Championship. The club is also home to 4 Walker Cup players and have recently introduced the “Walker Cup Lounge” that is definitely worth a visit.

As for the layout, Kilmarnock Barassie features a traditional links layout with tight fairways and the need for strategy to plot your way around. The 6^th is a signature par 3 that requires a quality iron shot to stay on the right level. As you make your way back to the clubhouse, the 16^th is a reachable par 5 which presents a good birdie chance.

Kilmarnock Barassie is a course that cannot go unnoticed, steeped in history and with a fantastic layout that many have enjoyed over the years. The Ayrshire region is filled with great courses and Kilmarnock Barassie certainly deserves it place upon it.

Distance From Course: 19 miles

A fantastic parkland course in amongst the many great links in Ayrshire, Belleisle is a course that you just cannot stop admiring. Designed by James Braid, the course features 18 amazing holes and has previously hosted European Tour Qualifying in 1978 prior to Turnberry becoming the host.

There are very few regions in Scotland that have better public courses than South Ayrshire – namely St Andrews and Carnoustie – but the pedigree of Belleisle ensures that it is considered to be one of the best inland courses.

Set on the fine Belleisle Estate, the fairways may be forgiving but the greenside bunkering and run-offs are typical of a Braid designed course. The strength of the par 4’s is Belleisle’s defence, very few birdie chances are given up. The final stretch of holes are fantastic and provide a risk/reward option which is great in a tight match. 17 is fraught with danger with water in play if you don’t get the perfect condition. 18 is a brilliant dog leg par 5 which is reachable with 2 fantastic strikes. The opportunity to walk off with an eagle is worth the visit alone.

Distance From Course: 11 miles