Open Champion stars in new film celebrating the charm and people of Portrush

Xander Schauffele stars in a new short film that tells the story of the links, town and its hotspots.

If you’ve watched the latest series of Golf’s Greatest Holes, starring Paul McGinley, you’ll know Portrush is a pretty magical place. It ranks sixth on our list of the Top 100 Golf Courses in Great Britain & Ireland and has even been branded the ‘St Andrews of Ireland’ by many a man.

OK, so that moniker might be overdoing it a touch, but the obsession with golf in this small seaside village runs deeper than the pot-bunkers and chasms that intersect the Dunluce Course.

To commemorate what promises to be another landmark week, Callaway have released an original short film, called CHARM, that celebrates the history and people of Portrush.

Narrated by acclaimed actor and Portrush resident, James Nesbitt, CHARM takes viewers on a journey from the harbour to the course, with contributions from famous faces with deep ties to the area and tournament – including an appearance from defending champion, Xander Schauffele.

Shot on location by Callaway Media Productions Europe, the film captures the sights and sounds of one of golf’s most iconic seaside towns ahead of its third staging of the Open Championship.

There are appearances from locals, including Matt McAlpin, owner of the beloved Harbour Bar, and the greenkeeping team at Portrush. The film also plugs Callaway’s July Major Tour bag, which you could win by entering our competition.

There is also a brief nod to the narrator, shown grimacing while holding a photo of Jamie Dornan, a fellow Royal Portrush member and golf enthusiast. The image appears among cherished memorabilia on a wall at the iconic Harbour Bar.

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“With CHARM, we set out to tell a story that’s both local and universal,” said Chris Gregg, Marketing Director, Callaway Golf Europe.

“In Portrush, the town, the links and the sea are inseparable. The film showcases how the game is about more than the iconic course — it’s about the people, the place, and the invisible thread that ties them together.

CHARM will air daily during the tournament days on Sky Sports, with wall-to-wall coverage of the Open Championship beginning at 6.30am on Thursday July 17.