The 153rd Open | Accessibility Information

The 153rd Open will take place at Royal Portrush from 13-20 July, marking the third time the Championship has been held there.

The Open aims to provide an enjoyable spectator experience for all individuals. If you have any queries or require any specific assistance, please telephone our Customer Service Team on +44 (0)1334 460010 or email accessibility@randa.org. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm UK time.

Further information and assistance can be found on The Open Help Centre.

This page will be updated from time to time as available facilities and operational details are confirmed. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please check back closer to the Championship or contact our Customer Services Team on the telephone number or email address above.

The latest version of our Accessibility Guide for The 153rd Open can be downloaded here.

Ticket Information

Ticket holders who require a carer to assist them are entitled to receive one free carer ticket to the Championship. This free carer ticket must be ordered at the same time as the ticket purchase via The Open Ticket Ballot.

If you purchase tickets from the Ticket Resale Platform, please make contact with us regarding the addition of a free carer ticket, subject to availability.

Tickets for The 153rd Open will be digital. These will be accessible through The Open Tickets App. More information will be made available closer to the Championship.

Further information regarding Ticketing at The Open can be found here.

Proof of Disability

In order to be eligible for a free carer ticket, spectators must provide proof of disability, with any one of the following forms of evidence accepted by The Open Ticket Office:

• Receipt of the standard or enhanced (also known as mid or high) rate of the Daily Living Component or the high rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment or Disabled Living Allowance for Children/Child Disability Payment for those under 16 years of age.
• Receipt of either Employment & Support Allowance or Attendance Allowance.
• War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability.
• Blind or partially sighted registration certificate (Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) or A655 in Northern Ireland) or evidence from an eye specialist, for example an optometrist, that the individual would qualify to be registered as severely sight impaired (blind) or sight impaired (partially sighted).
• Confirmation in writing from Social Services that the individual is included on their Deaf Register, or a letter or report from an aural specialist confirming that hearing loss has been recorded at 70 dBHL or above.
• Confirmation in writing from Social Services that the individual has a learning difficulty or disability. This may include proof of registration with Social Services, or if not on the Local Authority Register, a letter from a doctor or support worker confirming that the individual has a difficulty in learning new skills or may be unable to cope independently. For children, a letter from the head teacher at their school is sufficient.
• A personal letter from the GP, community nurse or social worker stating that the individual has a long-term disability and requires assistance/support.
• Other official documentation that a person might have to evidence that they require support via a carer in everyday life.

Proof of disability must be provided in advance of the event in order for The Open Ticket Office to process a free carer ticket.

Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs

Those wishing to bring a privately owned or hired mobility device into the venue are advised to check that the dimensions can be accommodated prior to attending the Championship.

The maximum dimensions permitted for wheelchairs are 1200mm length x 700mm width.

The maximum dimensions permitted for mobility scooters are 1200mm length x 600mm width.

Please note that a mobility device larger than the permitted dimensions will be refused entry.

The liability of using a mobility device will remain with the user and this should be considered when accessing all areas of the venue. Please also note that The R&A has the right to restrict or refuse entry on the grounds of safety if the environment and/or the mobility device is considered a risk to the user and/or other spectators. Such times may be in severe adverse weather/ground conditions or if the specification of the mobility device presents an increased risk.

It is not a requirement, however it is strongly recommended that users of powered wheelchairs or mobility scooters have Third Party Liability Insurance in case of injury or damage to persons or property.

Power sockets for charging electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters will be made available at the Accessibility Hub in the main Spectator Village.

Getting There

Accessible Parking

Pre-booked accessible car parking is available in the Blue A Car Park for Accessible Parking Permit holders, subject to availability. The Blue A Car Park is located approximately 1km from the course and an accessible shuttle will be available to transport fans to the drop off point outside the entrance tent.

To be eligible for free parking at the Championship, an Accessible Parking Permit such as a Blue Badge or equivalent must be provided in advance as evidence. To apply for accessible parking at The Open, please email accessibility@randa.org.

Park & Ride Parking

There is no public car parking at Royal Portrush or in the immediate surrounding area. All public parking will be located at The Open Park & Ride facilities, where dedicated buses will be available to transport spectators to the course. The main public car parks are grass and the double decker buses used to transport spectators to and from the course all have low floor access and are fitted with a ramp. Spectators displaying a Blue Badge (or equivalent Accessible Parking Permit) will be directed to park in the area of the car park closest to the bus stop.

Please see the “Accessible” Parking section for details of how to apply for pre-booked accessible parking.

Spectators choosing to travel to the Championship by car or motorcycle will be directed to The Open Park & Ride sites by Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) and specific black and yellow event signs provided by The AA.

Spectators are advised to switch off satellite navigation systems and follow the appropriate signage.

Ticket Office

There will be Ticket Office staff located at all of the public entrances to The Open.

The area around each of the Ticket Offices is hard-standing or flat grass.

All Ticket Offices will have a lowered window and there will be Audio Induction Loops for spectators with hearing aids.

Entrance Tent & Security Check

On arrival at the venue please proceed to the Entrance Tent where tickets will be scanned and a security check will take place.

The security check will include a bag check and a body search to check for prohibited items.

The terrain leading to the Entrance Tent will be a mixture of both hard-standing and flat grass areas. The Entrance Tent is a hard-floored structure with ramped access and natural lighting.

Accessibility Assistance at The Open

The Accessibility Hub is located in the main Spectator Village. Accessibility Stewards are identifiable by their orange bibs and are trained to assist with accessibility queries.

Included in the Accessibility Hub area is a sensory zone, which provides a quiet space for spectators with autism and sensory processing disorders to relax and find calm if the noise and excitement around The Open becomes too overwhelming. Please speak to an Accessibility Steward if you require access to this facility.

An accessible buggy shuttle will be available to assist spectators with limited mobility to access key areas of the venue. Due to the rough and undulating links terrain, the shuttle cannot operate everywhere around the course and so will run on a continuous loop-between the following locations:

• Gate 2, adjacent to sunscreen and left luggage facility (main entrance from Portrush Town Centre)

• Accessibility Hub, main Spectator Village (approximately 100m from the Accessible Viewing Platform on the 18th Grandstand)

• Practice Ground, adjacent to the Accessible Viewing Platform on the Practice Ground Grandstand

• Right Hand Side of 17th Green, adjacent to Accessible Viewing Platform on the 13th Green/17th Green Grandstand

• Gate 7, adjacent to Practice Putting Green (entrance from accessible shuttle drop off from Blue A Car Park, Train Station and 140/402 bus stop).

The shuttle will run approximately every 10-15 minutes from each stop, with a full loop taking around 30 minutes. These times may be extended during periods of heavy crowd flow around the course.

Toilet Facilities at The Open

Accessible toilets are available at multiple locations around the course and a Changing Places toilet can be found in the Accessibility Hub in the main Spectator Village. Locations of all toilet facilities are shown on the spectator map, which will be published in June 2025.

• Main Spectator Village (adjacent to the HSBC Golf Zone on the route to the Practice Ground)

• Main Spectator Village (adjacent to the Accessibility Hub)

• Spectator Village 2 (between the Swingzone and the Covered Seating Area)

• Spectator Village 3 (right hand side of 3rd Hole)

• Spectator Village 4 (between 4th, 5th and 11th Holes)

• Spectator Village 5 (between 15th and 17th Holes)

Each accessible toilet unit contains a toilet and sink to allow complete privacy. All accessible toilet facilities have an audio and visual alarm and are accessed via a ramp.

Accessible toilets are also available in the Blue A Car Park, at Portrush Train Station and adjacent to the 140/402 bus stop on Dunluce Avenue, opposite the Blue C Coach Park.

Cashless Event

The Open operates as a cashless venue, only accepting debit and credit cards for payments.

Food & Beverage Facilities

Catering facilities are available in several areas around the course. These are shown on the spectator map, which will be published in June 2025.

The catering area in the main Spectator Village will have ramped access and lowered counters at each of the catering outlets. All on-course catering facilities are provided by mobile catering units at ground level. Please ask a member of staff if you require assistance to access the counter.

All outdoor seating areas are on grass terrain. Wheelchair accessible picnic benches are available in the main Spectator Village seating area, adjacent to the Accessibility Hub and in the Spectator Village 2 seating area.

Look out for signage on tall poles to indicate where these are located in each seating area.

Large print menus are displayed at the entrance to the Spectator Village catering area and at all on-course catering units. Please ask a member of staff for assistance if required.

Premium Experiences Areas

Premium Experiences areas at The Open are wheelchair accessible with ramps provided into single-tiered structures and stair climbers for access to multi-tiered structures.

Premium Experiences guests with additional accessibility requirements are advised to email experiences@theopen.com or telephone +44 (0)1334 460090 for further details of the accessible facilities available for each specific package.

Spectator Viewing Areas

Spectator viewing is available all around the course from behind the rope line. Please take care on rough and sloping ground and be aware that some areas may become soft and/or slippery in wet conditions. Marshals are briefed to ask the crowd to allow spectators with an impairment to access the front of the rope line where possible.

There will be thousands of public grandstand seats located around the course, which are provided free of charge to all spectators and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Accessible viewing platforms are available at the 18th Green grandstand (enter at the end of the grandstand on the playing right of the hole), at the Practice Ground grandstand (enter at either side of the grandstand) and at the 13th and 17th Green grandstand (enter at either side of the grandstand on the playing left of the 13th hole and playing right of the 17th hole). These locations are shown on the spectator map, which will be published in June 2025. Seating will be provided for accompanying carers, however this may be restricted to one accompanying carer per person at busy times. Please ask a grandstand marshal for assistance with seating, if required.

If the grandstands become full at busy times, a ‘pass-out’ system will be in place to allow spectators to temporarily leave the grandstand and return to their seat within 30 minutes. Spectators who need to leave their seat for longer than 30 minutes due to a medical reason should notify a grandstand marshal, who will extend the pass-out period for up to one hour. It is recommended that spectators with a hidden disability wear a sunflower lanyard to assist marshals to implement this process fairly.

The Shop

The Shop will be located within the Spectator Village, which is on flat grass terrain.

The flooring within The Shop is a mixture of carpet and wood and the area is well lit. On entry to The Shop there will be both step and ramp access and The Shop is on one level with good access around all displays.

Floor staff are available to assist customers if required and The Shop has low height desks at all till points. Wheelchair accessible fitting rooms are available on both sides of The Shop. A hearing loop is installed in The Shop for spectators with hearing aids and staff are available to help access the service.

Complimentary shopping storage is available at the exit to The Shop, and onward worldwide shipping is available to purchase at the UPS Shipping Counter at the exit to The Shop.

Complimentary commentary radios are available for spectators with a visual impairment. These can be obtained at Customer Service till points within The Shop and from the Accessibility Zone in the Spectator Village.

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome at The Open. You may wish to bring your Assistance Dogs (UK) Book or an equivalent international organisation identification document for your dog and handler.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

In an emergency, all visitors to The Open will be directed to localised rendezvous points around the course by a Steward or Marshal.

In the case of a full course evacuation, G4S security guards will assist Marshals and direct spectators to the nearest Exit or Assembly Point. If you require assistance to safely evacuate the venue, please alert a Steward or Marshal.

All information is correct at date of publishing (01/04/25) and subject to change.