Golf fans can look forward to yet another memorable Open Championship at Royal Portrush GC 

In 1951 The Open Championship was played in Northern Ireland for the first time. The total prize money was £1 700 and the first prize was £300. South Africa’s currency was still linked to the British pound and three US dollars bought one SA pound.

In those days, all the players had to qualify on Monday or Tuesday, and The Open Championship started on Wednesday.

Bobby Locke, who had won The Open in 1949 and 1950, was the favourite in 1951, while Peter Thomson, who would go on to win The Open five times, was playing at his first Open that year.

The Open didn’t return to Northern Ireland until 2019 when it was held at Royal Portrush GC again. Two holes were changed to accommodate the large galleries that were expected. Even though the weather didn’t play its part, the crowds were amazing and while their favourite, Rory McIlroy missed the cut, they got rewarded with a win by Shane Lowry.

In the 68 years between 1951 and 2019, the prize money increased to nearly $11-million, with the winner receiving $1.935m. In the rainy weather, Lowry shot 15 under par. After two 67s in the opening rounds, he had a 63 in the third round which gave him a four-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood. Lowry’s 72 in the final round was good enough for a six-shot victory over Fleetwood.

In very difficult weather conditions, only Robert MacIntyre (68) and Tyrrell Hatton (69) broke par in the top 10 players in the final round.

With The Open going back to Royal Portrush after only six years, it shows you just how special this venue is. Great golf course and golfers, and add to that the fact Ireland’s two best players, Lowry and McIlroy, are both in good form. However, so are many of the other top players such as Jon Rahm, who played well at Portrush last time, and of course, Scottie Scheffler.

In 1951 the leading amateur at The Open was Frank Strachan, an American who won two British Amateur Championships and was the runner-up at The Masters as an amateur, and the US Amateur. He tied for second at The Open in 1947 and 1953. In 1951 he was 12th and it was the fourth time in seven years that he was the Leading Amateur at The Open.

His father was the founder of the Champion Spark Plug Company and Frank’s ambition was to be the next Bobby Jones and win a Major as an amateur. He came close but eventually turned professional in 1954. He won six times on the PGA Tour, but his favourite format was matchplay. He had a strategy. If he was down, he would start to play slower and slower. One year, at the British Amateur, he was asked if he thought his opponent could beat him. Strachan replied: ‘Yes, but I can tell you it’s going to take a long time!’

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The original Portrush golf course was designed by Harry Colt, with changes made in 2015 by Martin Evert. It’s the simplicity of the course that stands out. Some holes only have natural sand dunes, no bunkers and fairways that offer interesting tee shots with their curved lines, and finally large greens with loads of opportunities for interesting pin placements. The bunkers do need to be avoided!

The lovely long wavy grass which surrounds the tees and borders the fairways, finishes off the spectacular golf course.

The first professional tournament in Ireland was played at this club and it was won by its first professional, Sandy Heard.

US Open champion Graeme McDowell was born in Portrush and two former Open Champions, Darren Clarke and McIlroy, are both Honorary Members at Royal Portrush. Even if you aren’t one of the 228 000 spectators who will be at the 2025 Open, you will be able to watch all the action as there will be 50 hours of live television coverage.