Golf
Getaways
Western Gailes... A must-play on
your trip to theBritish open!
by Ed Holbrook
Haven't settled on summer travel plans?
It's still not too late to book your trip to the British Open,
scheduled for July 17 - 20 at Royal Troon on Scotland's southwest
coast.
Obviously, since the links at Troon will be
unavailable to play unless you have a PGA tour card, you'll have to
be content to find your own game on nearby courses. One of the best
of these, in my opinion, is just three miles north of Troon...Western
Gailes. Yes, it's another seaside links course, with splendid view of
the Firth of Clyde, where the wind and rain play an active part in
your game.
The fascinating thing is that each one
of these courses...Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick, Western Gailes and
all the rest...has its own personality and charm. Each one will tease
you, torment you and reward you in its own way and will never be the
same twice. Don't make the mistake of thinking that once you've
played one, you've played them all.
Western Gailes was founded in 1897, and the
atmosphere here is OLD. As with many of the older courses in
Scotland, there are restrictions on dress. While women are welcome to
play, they must wear a skirt in the clubhouse. A jacket, collar and
tie are required of gentlemen. March to October, the course is open
8 am to 9 pm. An interesting fact: at one time, a
lifetime membership at Western Gailes set you back all of 5 Scottish
pounds. Talk about bargain golf!
The waters of the Firth of Clyde and the rails of a
Scottish railroad form the boundaries of the course at Western
Gailes, which is located in the town of Irvine..over the first 11
holes, the course lays into the undulations of the natural landscape
along the firth and this is where the real character of the venue is
found. Burns cross the fairways on several of the holes, most
importantly on 8 and 10 where they guard the greens. Bunkers, the
deep get-lost-in kind, will cost you some strokes if you can't avoid
them...there are 100 on the course. The finishing holes are along the
railroad, which is out of bounds. Otherwise, they are straightforward
golf...a good chance to enjoy the walk and look at the
scenery.
Packing tips
My wife, is a professional image consultant, offers
some tips to make your packing easier and more compact.
1. You'll be doing a lot of walking. Select two pairs
of walking shoes (one might get wet) and one pair of comfortable
dress shoes. And, because Scottish golf is walking golf, you'll need
two pairs of well-broken-in golf shoes.
2. Choose comfortable clothes in wrinkle-free fabrics
that will mix and match easily and which can be layered in response
to drastic temperature changes.
3. While many people (including my wife) recommend
rolling your clothes for best results (rolling groups of shirts or
pants together to save space and keep them more wearable) I have
always folded mine and been happy with the results.
4. Place underwear, socks and belts inside shoes.
This maximizes packing space and retains the shape of the shoes
packed in your luggage. Old socks make great shoe mitts to protect
your clothing from your shoes.
5. Travel-size toiletries, anything you may need for
contact lenses or medications should be packed in a tote to carry on
the plane and to keep handy during motor travel. Of course, your
passport should never leave your possession.
If you're careful with your shopping, many souvenirs
may be packed into your golf bag for your return trip. This
eliminates the age-old problem of, "How do I get it all home?" Golf
towels, shirts, sweaters, ball markers and a host of other items can
be wrapped around club heads or stuffed into the roomy pockets of a
golf bag.
Pack your clubs and pack your smile and have a great
trip...wherever you go!
Ed Holbrook is a golf travel connoisseur in his spare time, as
well as by occupation. He is the South Florida Rep for SGH Golf Inc.,
providers of custom, worldwide golf travel packages. You can reach Ed
by calling 561-770-2222 or 800-785-7180.
edh@floridagolfing.com
