Latest news with #PortrushPrimarySchool
Irish Examiner
15-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
The Open Diary: Tournament lagging behind other Majors in golf gold rush
Portrush braces for big week Hats off to the people at Portrush Primary School whose grounds have been overrun this week with a bevvy of campervans and tents as golf fans avail of any and every opportunity to catch the world's best players in action. It isn't just the town itself that has had to work around The Open. Vast stretches of the northern coastline are having to accommodate this enormous logistical operation with 40mph speed limits in operation for miles around. A no-fly zone is in place with the PSNI warning anyone thinking of launching a drone of the consequences involved and a traffic management system is in operation to funnel people in and out of the area while allowing residents and businesses to go about with minimal fuss. That's all but impossible, really. Think of the East Strand car park and its 600 spaces that have been sealed off for the purposes of the tournament and this can't be anything other than a unique week for the people in this part of the world. Saturday evening promises to be especially interesting with a planned loyalist march in the town containing more than 60 bands and a couple of thousand people, just around the time when the golf ends down the road and punters are streaming out. Watch that space. Money, money, money Golf's gold rush has been jaw-dropping in modern times, and the riches race has been supercharged since the advent of LIV into the market and eco-system. That injection is obvious on weeks like this. When Shane Lowry took home the Claret Jug from Portrush in 2019 he earned with it a record cheque worth $1.935 million (€1.65m). The Champion golfer this time will take home $3.1m (€2.65m). Some difference in such a short space of time. And yet, that €2.65m figure remains unchanged from when Xander Schauffele came out on top in Royal Troon 12 months ago, and it remains behind the other three majors in financial terms with no real bump of note since an 18% leap for St Andrews in 2022. By comparison, Rory McIlroy was paid $4.2m (3.59) for his Masters triumph at Augusta in April, Scottie Scheffler's PGA win was worth $3.4m (€2.91), and JJ Spaun got rewarded $4.3m (€3.68) for his US Open work. The total prize fund for this week's Open sits at $17m (€14.53m). Oh, and why all the dollar values? Because that's how the R&A pays out now. Sprinkling of magic for McIlroy Shane Lowry's win here at Royal Portrush was immortalised in a huge mural painted on to the gable end of a house on the Causeway Road that leads from the course into the town itself. That was last year, to mark one year before The Open's return. Now, Rory McIlroy has been honoured too. The Holywood man has been rendered in sprinkles, or hundreds of thousands if you prefer. Two-and-a-half million of them, to be precise. This mural has been rendered by the family-owned Morelli's Ice Cream shop in the town's Eglinton Street. McIlroy, famously, missed the cut when The Open visited these parts in 2019 but this artistic nod has been made on the back of his Masters win in April and the achievement in having won all four of golf's majors.
Belfast Telegraph
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
‘We'll all be cheering for Rory': Portrush pupils get behind-the-scenes glimpse of iconic venue ahead of The Open
The likes of Rory McIlroy will be among those battling for the famous Claret Jug when The Open returns to the seaside links course. Around 280,000 spectators are expected over the four days of competition and the famous old course has been undergoing a transformation since the start of April. All this week local schoolchildren have been taking a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on the spectacle and getting a chance to try their hand at the sport — all part of a special Road to the Open outreach scheme from Causeway Coast and Glens Council, the R&A, Golf Ireland and The Golf Foundation. Today was the turn of P6 pupils from nearby Portrush Primary School. After making the famous walk up the 18th and into the arena surrounded by grandstands, the man on the green waiting to talk them through the set-up for the event could hardly have been better versed in The Open. Club professional Gary McNeill stepped in to play the final two rounds in 2019 as a marker. While thousands watched these two rounds, and he still has the videos to prove it, his audience so far in 2025 has been schoolchildren. 'We managed to bring kids from a lot of local primary schools to the club to give them a little tour of what's going on — introduce them to golf,' he explained. 'Many of them might not have played before. They have maybe watched golf on the TV, but it's a fantastic opportunity for them all to come along, get to experience the venue and try their hand at golf. 'It's been very well-received. They're asking a lot of good questions and one of the highlights has been the chance to get their photographs taken with the trophy that the winner will be presented with here on the 18th green in a few weeks time. 'The build started here right at the beginning of April. It's considerably bigger than it was in 2019. There's seating around the course for around 15,000 people, 5,000 around the 18th green arena alone. 'When we brought the kids through to the 18th green area to show it to them, they were very impressed by the scale and size of it. 'I think it's really important to do this. The likes of Rory McIlroy do so much to promote golf in Northern Ireland — he attracts so many young people to the game. Just asking them all who they think might win and there's one name that comes up every time. "That's the impact he's had. But what better way to encourage the next generation of golfers than bringing them along to the venue, letting them see for themselves what the atmosphere is like and what the game is all about, maybe pick up a putter for the first time and give it a go.' "I think they were quite shocked by how fast the ball moved across the green with just the slightest touch. It's not as easy as the professionals make it look,' added Gary. 'It's been lovely and the kids have all been so appreciative of the experience, taking a great interest in what we're saying and what we've been doing.' Portrush Primary School pupils Sam and Tom both said they'd love a go around the real course next — and they will both be back to watch the professionals take it on next month. 'I'd really like to play golf now,' said Sam. 'We have tickets to come on the Saturday and Sunday of the tournament so I'm really looking forward to seeing it,' he said. 'Sadly I don't,' said his classmate Georgie. 'But now I wish I had.' And when they're asked who they most like to see lifting the trophy, which was on display alongside the first tee box for them to get a closer look, there was only one name on their minds. 'We'll all be cheering for Rory McIlroy,' said P6 pupil Martina. Teacher Parlato Taylor admitted she was also starting to catch the golfing bug. 'My brother has been at me for a while to come out and have a go,' she admitted. 'Seeing what's been going on this year has been great and the opportunity for the children to come along and walk around the course, see the work that's been going on, has been brilliant for them.' Also casting his eye over preparations was Mayor Oliver McMullan. 'I have to say, it is a good year to be Mayor when one of the biggest sporting events in the world is being hosted on our doorstep,' he said. 'There would be no sense in having something as big as this and not allowing the whole community to experience it in some way. 'I do play a little golf myself, but having seen around here, I think I'll leave this course to the professionals.'
