Western Gailes Historic Research Study

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A useful exercise is to analyse how the number of bunkers have changed over the years. The aerial acquired from 1952 is the best source of information regarding bunker numbers in the past as it is the earliest aerial of the entire course in its current form. As the table to the right shows, the number of bunkers appears to have stayed quite consistent and has in fact increased by one since 1952. However, simply looking at the table does not tell the full story. There are many examples of large bunkers from 1952 that have since been split up into many small bunkers, such as on the 16th (pictured below). The four big fairway bunkers in 1952 had much more of an influence on the hole than the five small bunkers that can be seen today. When looking at the numbers, it may seem as though the current hole is more heavily bunkered that it used to be, but this is not necessarily the case. Looking at the 16th example below demonstrates how things change in more detail. There was a diamond configuration of four bunkers in 1952 but gradually this changed so that two were filled in and the remaining two split into two and three. The overall number increases to five but the result is a cross hazard square to the line of play. Those long enough to carry all five play over into a vast expanse of unprotected area. Hole 1952 2018 1 2 1 2 6 6 3 5 4 4 3 7 5 8 6 6 4 1 7 5 6 8 6 6 9 6 6 10 7 7 11 3 3 12 4 3 13 5 7 14 10 12 15 5 7 16 6 8 17 6 2 18 12 12 Total 103 104
Steep face - is it revetted? Edge not revetted. Large rough-edged bunker
Page 3: When a course has a design pedigree
Page 8 and 9: Hole 1 The first hole in a sense se
Page 10: These holes are removed when Marine
Page 15 and 16: Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - Fr
Page 17: Daily Record - Tuesday 04 September
Page 21: Alligator Amphibious Tank crossing
Page 29 and 30: When going through the course hole
Page 32 and 33: One bunker each side of the approac
Page 34 and 35: Large donut bunker The fairway used
Page 37: The existing 3rd was built after 19
Page 41 and 42: The existing 5th was built after 19
Page 43 and 44: One bunker has disappeared For a sh
Page 45 and 46: A bunker introduced to the back rig
Page 47 and 48: 2 far left bunkers No left greensid
Page 49 and 50: Much more of an entrance to the gre
Page 51 and 52: Fairway bunkers used to be surround
Page 53 and 54: String of bunkers have disappeared
Page 55 and 56: The approach bunkering configuratio
Page 57 and 58: Two large fairway bunkers Two large
Page 59 and 60: Green looks to have been rebuilt an
Page 61 and 62: Rear bunkers removed, only two rema
Page 63 and 64: Short approach bunker removed Right
Page 65: Long left drive bunker Fairway bunk
Page 68 and 69: “Even sterner tests are immediate

Western Gailes Historic Research Study

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