Premier Golf’s Guide to The Open 2025

Get ready for an unforgettable experience at The Open 2025, hosted at the iconic Royal Portrush. From travel tips and accommodation options to event details and insider advice, we’ll help you make the most of your time at this world-renowned championship. 

Prepare to immerse yourself in the rich history of Royal Portrush and witness top-tier golf on one of the most challenging and scenic courses in the world. Let Premier Golf ensure your trip to The Open 2025 is smooth, exciting, and unforgettable!

Dates: 13th–20th July 2025
Venue: Royal Portrush Golf Club, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Historical Significance: Royal Portrush has a rich history with The Open, and its connection to the championship reached a memorable peak in 2019. The club, which dates back to 1888, has long been regarded as one of the premier courses in the world, but it had not hosted The Open since 1951—until it returned in 2019. The 2019 championship marked the first time in 68 years that The Open was held at Royal Portrush, and it was a historic moment for both the course and the town of Portrush.

The Course

Royal Portrush boasts two exceptional courses: The Valley Course and The Dunlace, with The Dunlace being the championship course and ranked among the world’s finest. Voted No. 12 globally by Golf Magazine, The Dunlace is renowned for its challenging layout, with tough rough and testing greens, all set against the backdrop of unpredictable North Atlantic weather that pushes even the most seasoned golfers to their limits.

Designed by Old Tom Morris and later reworked by Harry Colt, the course fully utilizes the natural terrain to create a truly demanding experience. At 7,317 yards, it stands as one of the longest courses in the Open rota. The iconic par 3 16th, known as “Calamity Corner,” is especially famous for its difficulty and drama.

The Event Format

Monday through Wednesday are practice days, while the last four days (Thursday through Sunday) are Tournament Days. Practice days offer a great opportunity to see all potential players, as some will not make the tournament cut. Out of an initial field of around 156 players, only 73 remain after the cut on Thursday. 

The tournament follows a stroke play format over four days, with 18 holes played each day. Players compete in groups of three during the first two days, and groups of two during the final two. On the initial days, officials assign pairings, with each player having one morning and one afternoon tee time. 

Starting from the final two days, players tee off in reverse order of their accumulated scores, with the leaders going last. After 36 holes, only the top 70 players and ties continue to the third and fourth rounds. 

If there’s a tie for first place on Sunday, a 3-hole playoff determines the winner, followed by sudden death if needed.

Daily Schedule

Here are the gate opening times:

Day	Gate Opens	Hours of Play	First service from P&R to the course	Last service from the course to P&R
Sunday 13th July	9 am	Throughout the day	8 am	8 pm
Monday 14th July	7 am	Throughout the day	6:45 am	8 pm
Tuesday 15th July	7 am	Throughout the day	6:45 am	8 pm
Wednesday 16th July	7 am	Throughout the day	6:45 am	8 pm
Thursday 17th July	6 am	6:35 am – 8:30 pm estimated	5:45 am	10 pm
Friday 18th July	6 am	6:35 am – 8:30 pm estimated	5:45 am	10 pm
Saturday 19th July	7 am	8 am – 7 pm estimated	6:45 am	9 pm
Sunday 20th July	7 am	8 am – 7 pm estimated	6:45 am	9 pm

Getting to the Venue

Here’s how to get there: 

For International Visitors: 

• Dublin Airport (DUB) is around a 3-hour drive away and offers the largest selection of long-haul flights.
• George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD): Located closer to Belfast city center, about 60 minutes drive from Portrush.
• Belfast International Airport (BFS): Approximately 45 minutes drive from Portrush.
• City of Derry Airport (LDY): Approximately 40 minutes drive away, serving regional flights

There are taxis, trains, buses, coaches, etc that can take you to the venue. 

From the UK

• There are flights to Dublin and Belfast from all major airports (London, Manchester, etc.)

There’s also the option to travel by Ferry

• Liverpool to Belfast Ferry (Stena Line)
• Cairnryan to Belfast or Larne (Stena Line or P&O Ferries)

Travel by Train

• From Belfast to Portrush: Regular trains operate from Belfast’s Lanyon Place or Great Victoria Street stations to Coleraine. From Coleraine, a connecting service takes you directly to Portrush. This will take around 2 hours.

Parking and Transportation

For parking: https://www.theopen.com/tickets-and-hospitality/tickets/accessibility-guide/2025

Designated parking areas will be available near the course, while all public parking will be at The Open Park & Ride facilities. From there, dedicated buses will transport spectators to the course.

The main public car parks are grassed, and the double-decker buses used for transport are equipped with low-floor access and ramps for ease of entry. Spectators with a Blue Badge or equivalent Accessible Parking Permit will be directed to park in the area closest to the bus stop. 

Those traveling by car will be guided to The Open Park & Ride sites via Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) and event-specific black and yellow signs provided by The AA. Spectators are advised to turn off their satellite navigation systems and follow the signage provided.

For public Transport:
Shuttle buses and enhanced public transport services will be provided during the tournament. These will connect major hubs like Belfast and Coleraine to the event venue.

On-Site Amenities

Taken from https://www.theopen.com/tickets-and-hospitality/spectator-guide

• There will be thousands of public seats located around the course including grandstands around the 1st hole & 18th green. Seating will also be available at the Practice Ground for spectators to sit and enjoy the world’s best preparation for action.

• Take a break from the course and spend some time at the Spectator Village at Royal Portrush. With a number of food and beverage offers, a dedicated kids’ play area, and giant TV screens, there is no need to miss any of the golf. You can even have a free 15-minute lesson with a PGA professional at The Open Swingzone.

• Keep up-to-date with all the action through one of the many electronic leaderboards situated around the course. Or relax and watch the day unfold on the large video screens located in the Spectator Village area.

FAQs

Premier Golf offers a variety of tailored packages for The Open 2025, ensuring you have the best experience possible at Royal Portrush. 

Let us take the stress out of planning so you can focus on enjoying the championship and making unforgettable memories. With Premier Golf, your trip to The Open will be seamless, exciting, and expertly managed from start to finish.