The 153rd Open: Royal Portrush pro reveals the magic that awaits visitors

Yahoo

12-05-2025

Ballymoney's own Charlene Reid, a Senior Assistant and PGA Professional at Royal Portrush, is eagerly anticipating the return of The 153rd Open to her home course this July. Reflecting on the 2019 tournament, she described it as a 'pinch me' moment, saying: "The Open in 2019 was just phenomenal. It was honestly the best week of my life and I'msure the same could be said for everyone who works at Royal Portrush."
She went on to praise the community spirit that made the event so special, stating: "The whole week was such a success and what struck me was how everyone worked together tomake the event as special as it could be – from the volunteers to the emergency services and thetransport logistics around the town, everyone played their part brilliantly."
Looking forward, Charlene is excited about the legacy the upcoming championship will leave, both in terms of promoting golf participation and showcasing the Causeway Coast to a global audience.
READ MORE: The Open in Portrush will benefit businesses across NI – tourism chief
READ MORE: The Open Portrush transport plan announced with special trains and buses on offer
Charlene, a seasoned golfer with a rich history in the sport, is well-placed to comment on the rising participation among young people and women. Raised in a family of golf enthusiasts, she joined Gracehill Golf Club at the tender age of 15, showing early signs of her determination to make a career in the sport.
By 15, she was representing Ireland in Inter-Pro matches and eventually secured a scholarship at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina, USA when she was just 17. Balancing sports management studies with a demanding golfing schedule, Charlene participated in up to 10 tournaments annually.
In her senior year, she was runner-up at the NCAA Nationals 2009 and was recognised as an All-American for her golfing achievements. In 2019, she was inducted into her university's Hall of Fame for her dedication and commitment to golf.
Additionally, Charlene represented Ireland at the European Team Championships and Home Internationals from 2009-2011, playing amateur golf at an international level for three consecutive years.
Upon her return to Northern Ireland, she joined the team at Royal Portrush, where she managed the club's successful Cadet Programme and held the position of Retail Manager. She shared: "When I started playing golf at Gracehill we had three junior girl players and I was the only one who played all year round, the others only played during the summer months. Now at Royal Portrush we have 60 junior girls and around 200 female members which is fantastic.
"The participation levels are definitely on the rise. We have around 100 young people in our Cadet Programme aged between five and ten and they love to play golf. Part of my job also sees me outreach to local primary schools and I will visit them and provide golf lessons for the pupils. When you have huge world-class tournaments with the best players taking place on your doorstep, it really does generate excitement for the game and entice more young people to pick up a club.
"I think after this summer we will see even more people taking an interest in playing golf. For me it's not about finding the next superstar like Rory McIlroy, it's about encouraging participation at grassroots level. When I was starting out, I had parents who were incredibly supportive. My dad used to drive me around the country for tournaments and I will be forever grateful for that emotional and physical support. At Royal Portrush we want to encourage young people into the game and give them fantastic opportunities to get involved in golf."
Charlene believes that the rising popularity of golf influencers and the increased participation options in the sport are contributing to its appeal among the younger generation. She stated: "Seeing people doing tricks or just speaking about golf on platforms like YouTube and Instagram helps make it more accessible and of course we now have new technology like simulators which means you don't have to commit to walking around a course for four hours. For me anything which brings people to golf is to be encouraged and I am excited to see how many more young people start playing after this year's Open."
Having played golf across the US, she is well-placed to comment on why Northern Ireland holds such appeal for international, particularly American, golf visitors. Recent figures from Tourism NI show that the economic impact of golf tourism has more than doubled in the last decade in Northern Ireland, rising from £33.6million in 2014 to £68.2million in 2023.
She added: "It is literally a different ball game in America, you just don't get links courses like ours. For example, Royal Portrush was built in 1888 using minimal machinery, instead relying on the topography of the natural surroundings. Northern Ireland is made for golf and the whole experience of coming here to play is very special for visitors. It is not surprising that there has been such an increase in the number of people visiting from all over the world.
"As well as the great courses, our people make The experience is truly memorable. We're a warm and friendly bunch, and visitors can't get enough of our cultural experiences – they love the lively atmosphere of our bars and making new friends on their nights out!" As a destination, Northern Ireland and the Causeway Coast is perfect. If you think about how The Open tickets are sold, it's rare for spectators to be at the course every day.
"The Open in 2019 was just phenomenal. It was honestly the best week of my life and I'msure the same could be said for everyone who works at Royal Portrush."
When they're not at the course, they have amazing options such as playing a round themselves at Portstewart or visiting attractions like the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge or the world's oldest distillery at Bushmills. "As a golf destination we are world class and with new hotels such as Dunluce Lodge adding to the experience we can provide, it's a very exciting time for the Causeway Coast."
In addition to two of the top ten ranked courses internationally - at Royal County Down and Royal Portrush - Northern Ireland boasts a rich golfing history and a range of spectacular courses for visitors to choose from. For example, the Faldo Course at Lough Erne Resort in County Fermanagh was recently named sixth in Golf World's Top 100 Parkland Courses in the UK and Ireland.
With over 90 courses on offer, a perfect blend of links and parkland, golfers and visitors alike can enjoy the tremendous offering no matter where they choose to stay. For more about stay and play options in Northern Ireland, visit the website.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter.