Latest news with #153rdOpen
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish golf club 'punching above its weight' set for centenary celebrations
Bonnybridge urging members to wear tartan and even kilts for milestone tournament Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A nine-hole Scottish golf club that continues to 'punch above its weight' is celebrating its centenary this weekend. Bonnybridge Golf Club has a two-day programme of events planned to make the milestone occasion while it is also hosting a Scottish Golf tournament early next month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An evening of entertainment at the club on Friday will include the raising of a centenary flag while members are being 'encouraged' to wear tartan or even a kilt for a nine-hole scramble on Saturday. Bonnybridge Golf Club is hosting the Scottish 9-Hole Championship next month as part of its centenary celebrations | Contributed Then, on 6 June, the club will stage the Scottish 9-Hole Championship, which will see the three leading pairs qualify for The R&A 9-Hole Challenge at Royal Portrush on the eve of the 153rd Open. 'It's obviously so exciting and such a proud moment to be celebrating 100 years of golf at a nine-hole golf club that for 100 years has been run by volunteers,' said club captain Clive Cockburn. 'Given the current economic hardship surrounding all golf clubs, it's nothing short of amazing but also testament to our hard-working staff and committees over the years and, of course, our very valued members who are very passionate and hold the club close. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Who would have thought after the opening day in 1925, that 100 years on, amongst other things the club would have survived another World War, the effects of Rechem's incineration plant, a banking crisis and an outbreak of one of the worst pandemics in world history. 'Our little village club has punched above its weight, producing no fewer than seven players who turned professional, along with many great amateur golfers, several of whom have represented Stirlingshire. 'There have been many members, ladies and gents who have won notable county and Scottish open competitions over the 100 years.' To mark the centenary, an auction is being held to raise funds for the club, with lots including a fourball at Gleneagles, two fourballs at Fraserburgh and a Falkirk FC top signed by the members of this season's Scottish Championship-winning squad. Top prize in a centenary raffle, meanwhile, is a fourball at Archerfield Links. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'As we enter 2025, we have a greenkeeping facility full of modern machinery and a course in a condition to match any in the country,' added proud member Cockburn. Clive Cockburn has written a book charting the Stirlingshire club's history | Contributed 'We are working hard to qualify for the GEO accreditation for sustainable golf, giving the club a place among the world's most environmentally committed golf clubs. 'It's great that we are hosting the Scottish 9-Hole Challenge this year and in our club championship final last year we had two home-grown juniors, with 15-year-old Kyle Hamilton defeating 16-year-old Luke McNulty.'
Belfast Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
North coast B&B adds mural of Rory McIlroy overlooking famous golf course
Self-taught artist Ian Lowry added the finishing touches to the painting of the Masters champion on Wednesday. The Bangor creative got to work on the colourful depiction last Tuesday after being contacted by Number 5 in Portstewart which overlooks the famous Royal Portrush Golf Club. It comes as anticipation builds for the 153rd Open which will tee off on July 17 with McIlroy himself expected to take part. Mr Lowry has left space to add the winner of the upcoming tournament. 'I have done artwork for her whole back garden. There is a giant wall that goes right the way around,' he said. 'I have done bits and pieces in the past. I actually did one last year for the North West 200, because the house is actually overlooking the track. 'What I have recently painted is a golf theme one, it is for the Open coming up. 'So, Rory will be up there, along with six other golfers. I am going to keep an empty space for whoever wins the Open in July. 'It is maybe about three or four foot high, and the wall runs all the way down the drive. 'The background is a golf course, along with sky and clouds. Then there are the golfers on each section of the wall,' Mr Lowry, who began creating murals eight years ago, hand paints all his work and is reluctant to use sprays. More used to brightening up children's bedrooms, he didn't hesitate to accept his latest commission. 'Usually it is indoor, so it is very rare I would get to do something outdoors,' Mr Lowry said. 'Nine times out of 10 I am painting baby things and cartoon characters. But every once and a while, you get to do something quite good, in portraits.' But Ian's previous projects have included art installments for local businesses seeking to feature famous faces such as music legends Jimi Hendrix and Ozzy Osbourne, along with an NI boxing hero. 'I got one last week of Carl Frampton, that was at Integrated College Glengormley. That was actually the school he went to,' Mr Lowry said. 'That piece was in association with the Integrated Education Fund. "Tim McGarry from Give My Head Peace was down to see it was well, because he is involved with the fund.' The portrait of McIlroy, who laid claim to the iconic green jacket in April, also features other famous golfing faces such as Tiger Woods.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Accommodation prices increase by almost 900% on booking site for Portrush Open week
Excitement is building as the countdown for the 153rd Open continues to gather pace. In little under two months time the cream of world golf will be teeing off at Royal Portrush as they battle it out for the Claret Jug in front of bumper crowds. History will be made at the iconic Dunluce links with 278,000 fans expected on the north coast for the largest Championship held outside of St Andrews. READ MORE: Northern Ireland boss hails talented teen for 'seamless' transition into senior squad READ MORE: Ryanair customers outraged at airline's plans to hike prices amid falling profits Demand to secure a place at The Open went through the roof after the success of the tournament in 2019 led to unprecedented demand for tickets in the ballot last year with applications for more than one million tickets. Those who have been lucky enough to secure their ticket for the Championship have also been faced with the challenge of securing accommodation with costs spiralling into the thousands. Several properties around the north coast are priced at over £2,000 per night on the airbnb website with one apartment in Portstewart, which sleeps four, priced at just under a whopping £60,000 for the week of the tournament! Punters are running out of time to secure a suitable location with reporting 90% of its places to stay currently unavailable for Open week. Demand is certainly outstripping supply and that is reflective in the cost with properties showing a huge increase in the price per night of Open week compared to the weeks leading up to the event. One townhouse in Portrush sees its nightly costs jump from £315 in June to £3,100 per night during Open week, a rise of nearly 900%. Another stunning venue in the seaside town sees its weekly cost rise from £11,623 at the end of July to an eye-watering £79,150 for seven nights from July 13th. You might still be able to pick up a bargain though with one sea-view apartment in the heart of Portrush, which sleeps five, coming in at £840 per person for the week. Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
Belfast Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open in Portrush will benefit businesses across NI
John McGrillen, chief executive of Tourism NI, said the last time the golf major was in Co Antrim in 2019, the local economy benefited by £110 million, a figure set to be surpassed this summer. The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush is set to become the second-best attended in history, with almost 280,000 fans having snapped up tickets for the final major of the year. The event was already a complete sell-out before home favourite Rory McIlroy completed the career grand slam with his dramatic Masters victory at Augusta National in April. Mr McGrillen said it is expected that the local economy this time will benefit by at least £120 million. He said: 'More people will be coming. 'People will see the images of Northern Ireland. The Open is not just about the week, it is about how it promotes Northern Ireland both as a tourist destination and a golf destination. 'After the Open at Portrush in 2019, we saw a huge uplift in the number of people coming here to play golf. 'Golfers tend to spend about four times more than the average leisure visitor, they are very valuable for the local economy.' The tourism boss said substantially more US visitors will come to the Open when it is played in Northern Ireland, compared with Scotland. He said: 'Ireland in itself has got a very significant appeal for US visitors.' Mr McGrillen said a lot of work had been done to ensure that businesses across Northern Ireland benefit from the event. He said: 'We have worked very closely with the R&A to make sure that local businesses have the best opportunity they can get. 'We have worked to make sure all of the hospitality providers, as far as we can, are using locally sourced food, utilising local businesses to do that. 'We have had ongoing engagement with the council and with the R&A to let businesses understand how they can make the most of the Open. 'What businesses need to do is reflect on the fact that people are going to spend quite a bit of time on the course but they will be around afterwards. 'Changing opening hours for example, is a good way to make sure you are going to maximise the business opportunities. 'What we have done, which is different from last time, is people can leave the course, go into the town, come back onto the course again. 'We have sought to do what we can to maximise the impact it is going to have for local traders. 'It is not just about the week, it is what it does for future investment and future visitor numbers to the region.' Belfast restaurateur Niall McKenna said that when the Open was last in Northern Ireland in 2019, it was like a 'shot in the arm' for the hospitality industry. He said: 'It was just great. It was like having another Christmas for that week. 'Big-ticket events like this, it changes the whole dynamic of Belfast and Northern Ireland. 'With Rory winning the Masters, I think we are going to get another injection. 'The whole thing is crucial. We don't get enough big-ticket items into Northern Ireland and Belfast, which we need. 'We need to bring more tourism in, more corporate tourism in.' The golf tourism market has helped to drive a significant increase in investment in accommodation on the north coast. Five-star resort Dunluce Lodge opened this year in Portrush after a gap in the market was spotted following the 2019 Open. Sinead McNicholl, director of sales and marketing at the resort, said: 'If you look at the 2019 Open, we are a direct legacy from that event. 'There was a gap in the market for that luxury accommodation offer and that is where the initial idea came from.' She added: 'We believe the Open will leave another lasting legacy and will help with bringing Portrush as a destination to the forefront of people's minds, which will not be only supporting golf but general business activity in the region.' While the Open is played on the north coast, the positive impact is felt across Northern Ireland. Paul Vaughan is director of golf at Ardglass Golf Club in Co Down. He said: 'Having been in and around golf for the last 30 years, nothing surprised me more than the impact of the Open coming to Portrush. 'I guess we all knew we were going to be a little busier but I was definitely shocked at how big of an impact the Open actually had on visitors to Ardglass and the surrounding area. 'I remember turning so many people away in the months running up to the Open and during it because we were full. That is the first time I ever experienced that in Ardglass.' Mr Vaughan added: 'Golf in Ireland as a whole is currently flying and long may it continue.' The Open will take place at Royal Portrush from July 13-20.
RTÉ News
11-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Open at Portrush forecast to drive NI economy by up to £120m
The return of the Open Championship to Portrush will have a positive impact for businesses across Northern Ireland, the chief executive of Tourism NI has predicted. John McGrillen said the local economy benefited by £110 million the last time the golf major was in Co Antrim in 2019, a figure set to be surpassed this summer. The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush is set to become the second-best attended in history, with almost 280,000 fans having snapped up tickets for the final major of the year. The event was already a complete sell-out before home favourite Rory McIlroy completed the career grand slam with his dramatic Masters victory at Augusta National in April. Mr McGrillen said it is expected that this time the local economy will benefit by at least £120m. "People will see the images of Northern Ireland. The Open is not just about the week, it is about how it promotes Northern Ireland both as a tourist destination and a golf destination," he said. There was a "huge uplift" in the number of golfing tourists after the last time the event was held at Portrush in 2019. "Golfers tend to spend about four times more than the average leisure visitor, they are very valuable for the local economy," Mr McGrillen said. The tourism boss said substantially more US visitors will come to the Open when it is played in Northern Ireland, compared with Scotland. "Ireland in itself has got a very significant appeal for US visitors." Mr McGrillen said a lot of work had been done to ensure that businesses across Northern Ireland benefit from the event. "We have worked very closely with the R&A to make sure that local businesses have the best opportunity they can get. "We have worked to make sure all of the hospitality providers, as far as we can, are using locally sourced food, utilising local businesses to do that. "We have had ongoing engagement with the council and with the R&A to let businesses understand how they can make the most of the Open. Businesses need to reflect on the fact hat people are going to spend quite a bit of time on the golf course, but they will be around afterwards, he said. "Changing opening hours for example, is a good way to make sure you are going to maximise the business opportunities. "What we have done, which is different from last time, is people can leave the course, go into the town, come back onto the course again. "We have sought to do what we can to maximise the impact it is going to have for local traders. "It is not just about the week, it is what it does for future investment and future visitor numbers to the region." Belfast restaurateur Niall McKenna said that when the Open was last in Northern Ireland in 2019, it was like a "shot in the arm" for the hospitality industry. "It was just great. It was like having another Christmas for that week. "Big-ticket events like this, it changes the whole dynamic of Belfast and Northern Ireland. "With Rory winning the Masters, I think we are going to get another injection. "The whole thing is crucial. We don't get enough big-ticket items into Northern Ireland and Belfast, which we need. "We need to bring more tourism in, more corporate tourism in." While the Open is played on the north coast, the positive impact is felt across Northern Ireland. Paul Vaughan is director of golf at Ardglass Golf Club in Co Down. "Having been in and around golf for the last 30 years, nothing surprised me more than the impact of the Open coming to Portrush," he said "I guess we all knew we were going to be a little busier but I was definitely shocked at how big of an impact the Open actually had on visitors to Ardglass and the surrounding area. "I remember turning so many people away in the months running up to the Open and during it because we were full. That is the first time I ever experienced that in Ardglass." Mr Vaughan added: "Golf in Ireland as a whole is currently flying and long may it continue."
