Portrush Surges into the Spotlight: 7 Reasons the Coastal Gem Is 2025’s Must-Visit Destination

H1: Open Championship Fever Grips Portrush as Record Crowds Flood Northern Ireland’s Coast H2: Historic Links, Star-Studded Field Royal Portrush Golf Club is once again the center of the sporting world this week, hosting the 153rd Open Championship from 17–20 July 2025. Home hero Rory McIlroy opened with a battling one-under 70, delighting galleries that stretched six-deep down the duneland fairways. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, defending champion Xander Schauffele and 2019 Portrush winner Shane Lowry headline a field chasing the Claret Jug and a share of the £14 million purse. H2: Saturday “Moving Day” Brings Early Tee-Times and Drama Tournament officials have released adjusted Round-3 pairings to accommodate an evening heritage parade through the seaside town, pushing marquee groups onto the course before 8 a.m. local time. Gusty Atlantic winds forecast for the afternoon could transform the leaderboard, rewarding early risers who attack the inward stretch while conditions remain benign. H2: Tourism Windfall — and Beer Shortage The championship has unleashed an economic boom across County Antrim. Accommodation rates in Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine have quadrupled, while Translink added late-night rail services to handle an estimated 225,000 spectators. Local pubs say turnover has smashed records; some ran out of Guinness by Thursday evening, forcing emergency deliveries from Belfast breweries. Hoteliers predict the event will inject more than £100 million into the regional economy, eclipsing the 2019 edition’s haul. H2: What Visitors Need to Know • Transport: Park-and-Ride lots at Ballyreagh and Bushmills open daily from 4 a.m.; expect 45-minute queues at peak entry times. • Tickets: Single-day passes for Sunday’s final round have sold out online, but verified resales are available through The Open’s official exchange. • Weather: Met Office forecasts call for 14 °C highs, 25–30 mph coastal gusts and intermittent showers—bring waterproofs and layered clothing. • Viewing tips: The elevated 5th-hole tee offers sweeping Atlantic backdrops and a vantage point of the par-3 “Calamity Corner,” scene of triple-bogey carnage in 2019. H2: Legacy Beyond the Leaderboard Infrastructure upgrades—including new cycle lanes, promenade resurfacing and fiber-optic broadband—were fast-tracked to meet global broadcast standards. The Causeway Coast council confirmed the marina extension will remain permanent, boosting Portrush’s bid to host major sailing regattas. Tourism NI expects international arrivals to remain 18 % above pre-pandemic levels for at least two summers, crediting worldwide television exposure. H2: Final-Round Storylines Can McIlroy finally lift the Claret Jug on home soil? Will Scheffler cement a generational season? And could dark-horse teenager Tom McKibbin ignite a local fairy tale run? Answers will emerge Sunday evening when the iconic yellow leaderboards freeze and the R&A’s silverware is raised against a Wild Atlantic sunset. One thing is certain: Portrush has already proved it can deliver drama, passion and a festival atmosphere unmatched in major championship golf.