What you need to know about the 153rd Open championship

Around 270,000 golf fans are expected during the eight days of practice and competitive play for the 153rd Open championship at Royal Portrush.

The first official practice day is on Sunday 13 July with the four-day championship beginning on Thursday 17 July.

On the practice days, there will be golf throughout the day with gates opening at 09:00 BST on Sunday then at 07:00 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

When the championship starts, the timings are as follows:

• Thursday and Friday – gates open 06:00
• Saturday and Sunday – gates open 07:00

Organisers of the tournament, the R&A, have strict rules around what fans can bring to the course.

Mobile phones are allowed but they must be kept on silent. People can bring rucksacks and their own food.

However, spectators are not allowed to bring their own alcohol.

Also banned from the course are:

• selfie sticks
• portable speakers
• flares
• fireworks
• pets

Guide dogs are permitted, as are pushchairs and buggies.

Although it can be difficult to find a clear view of the golf within a large crowd, ladders and periscopes are not allowed on the course.

Wi-fi will be available in the grandstands and at the spectator village which contains the catering and retail outlets.

A re-admission policy will be in place which means spectators can leave, go into Portrush town centre and then return to the golf.

However, they must collect a wristband before leaving the course to ensure re-entry.

There will be no public car-parking beside Royal Portrush, with park and ride facilities operating instead.

Charges will apply at the park and ride, with a fee of £17 during the four championship days Thursday to Sunday (17-20 July).

Organisers have urged fans to use public transport, but an industrial dispute at Translink could lead to trains not running on two days during The Open.

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has earmarked Friday 18 and Saturday 19 July for strike action involving some of its members.

If the industrial action goes ahead, it would involve widespread disruption to rail services on those days, not just in Portrush.

Translink say they are doing everything they can to avert the strike.

Extra bus and train services to Portrush are planned from 14 July, with fans urged to arrive 30 minutes before departure time as services are likely to be busy.

Sarah Simpson, Translink's northern area manager, said: "There will be enhanced train capacity and frequency, including additional services to Portrush and late evening return services.

"Special bus and coach services are also available in addition to normal Goldliner services.

"I would encourage anyone heading to The Open to visit our website for travel options."

It is six years since The Open was last in Northern Ireland, in 2019.

Since then the new transport hub Grand Central Station has opened in Belfast.

There is now a more frequent train service to and from Dublin which will make it easier for golf fans from the Republic of Ireland to travel to Portrush.

There are more hotel rooms available in Belfast, Londonderry and near Portrush with the expansion of some hotels and the development of some new ones.

Most accommodation was snapped up quickly with only limited availability left.

The economic dividend from The Open will be much greater this year - according to Janice Gault, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation.

She said: "The last time it was reckoned there was £100m of economic benefit, this time it's likely to double to over £213m as a projected figure for all aspects of the economy – tourism, retail, hospitality, there's something in it for everyone."

Speaking of money, The Open site is cash-less. The bars, shops and food outlets are all card only.

The recent victory by Rory McIlroy at the Masters means there will be even more focus than usual on the fans' favourite golfer.

He first caught the public eye in Northern Ireland as a child when he appeared on an Ulster Television chat show chipping golf balls into a washing machine.

In support of the local golfing hero, a washing machine is being set up at Grand Central Station for fans to hit balls into.

Or, perhaps, for fans to try to hit balls into.