08/07/2025
The Royal and Ancient (R&A), organisers of The Open Championship, are understood to be considering adjustments to Saturday’s tee times at Royal Portrush, as a major parade scheduled for the same evening is expected to create significant congestion in the seaside town.
On Saturday, 20 July, more than 60 marching bands and an estimated 2,000 participants are set to take part in the annual Sons of Ulster parade, which will pass through the heart of Portrush from 8:15pm. The timing of the event is set to overlap with the conclusion of the third round of The Open, which traditionally wraps up around 8pm.
With nearly 50,000 spectators expected at the Dunluce Links each day of the sold-out tournament, organisers are weighing potential disruption as crowds spill back into town just as the parade begins. Public transport is also a concern, with many fans relying on local bus and train services that operate from central Portrush — the same area where the parade will be in full swing.
A spokesperson for the R&A told The Guardian: “We are working on plans to minimise disruption for our fans leaving the championship due to the event taking place in Portrush on the Saturday evening.”
Despite efforts to mitigate the clash, sources suggest there is limited flexibility for organisers. Tee times must be coordinated with international broadcast schedules, particularly those in the United States, restricting the extent to which start times can be brought forward.
The 153rd Open is on track to be the largest sporting event ever staged in Northern Ireland, with a projected 278,000 fans attending across the week — a figure that underscores both the prestige of the event and the scale of the logistical challenge facing organisers on the Saturday.