British open schedule on saturday to be adjusted because of loyalist parade
Amid the potential for logistical issues, the R&A, which organizes the British Open, is adjusting its schedule for Saturday. 'We've worked really collaboratively with the organizers and across multiple agency groups to ensure, primarily, that both events can run as seamlessly as possible,' R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said Wednesday. 'We're making a slight tweak to tee times to try and finish – it's not dramatic. It'll be 15 minutes or so earlier.' More than 275,000 spectators are expected to attend the Open across this week.
The Belfast Telegraph reported last week the Portrush Sons of Ulster group was offered 20,000 pounds ($27,000) by the R&A to postpone the parade and that the offer was rejected. When that was put to Darbon, he said the R&A was making contributions to support the seamless operation of both events. 'We try and be good citizens in the communities in which we operate when we come to town,' he said.
Darbon said he had no extra security concerns around Saturday evening, adding the safety of spectators was always a prime consideration.
Price hikes: It's a big week for Portrush and its local businesses – and it appears some have been attempting to take full advantage. The prices of meals at some of the town's popular restaurants shot up, leading to criticism and complaints from visitors, The Guardian newspaper reported. According to the paper, the price of a burger at Ramore Wine Bar rose from 7.95 pounds ($10.65) to 17.95 pounds ($24). The Ramore Restaurant Group, which owns that bar and others including the well-known Harbour Bar, attributed the price hikes to extra staff being needed for a busy Open week but said menus have been revised and adjusted in the wake of the complaints.
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