News Summary
The Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black for the first time, featuring Team USA against Team Europe. This prestigious golf event is expected to draw large crowds, enhancing the course’s reputation for its difficulty and history. With affordable green fees and extensive park amenities, Bethpage Black is preparing for an influx of visitors as local businesses gear up for the occasion. The planning includes shuttle services for attendees to ease parking challenges, making this event not only a celebration of golf but also a significant community gathering.
Farmingdale, New York – The prestigious Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black, a renowned municipal golf course, for the first time in September 2025. This event pits Team USA against Team Europe and is expected to attract significant crowds, with an estimated attendance of 50,000 each day.
Developed in 1936, Bethpage Black is known for its extreme difficulty and has previously hosted two U.S. Open tournaments and a PGA Championship. The course is infamous for its narrow fairways, deep rough, and challenging bunkers, highlighted by a warning sign that indicates it is “an extremely difficult course” meant for highly skilled golfers.
The upcoming Ryder Cup marks a historic moment for the course, as it will be the first time the event takes place on a public facility. Keegan Bradley will captain Team USA while Luke Donald will lead Team Europe. This follows Team USA’s disappointing performance in 2023, where they lost to Team Europe by a score of 16.5 to 11.5 in Marco Simone, Italy.
Course Characteristics and History
Bethpage Black’s reputation is bolstered by its challenging layout, with a course rating of 78 and a maximum slope rating of 155. Players must contend with treacherous conditions; only one player, Nick Watney, has finished double-digits under par during the 2012 Barclays tournament. Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka holds the course record with a score of 63.
Originally credited to designer A.W. Tillinghast, the course’s design is now recognized as primarily the work of Joseph H. Burbeck, who had Tillinghast’s consulting assistance. The course is part of the Bethpage State Park, which includes the Yellow, Green, Blue, and Red courses, with the Yellow Course being regarded as the easiest.
Accessibility and Local Impact
Green fees at Bethpage Black are relatively affordable, costing New York state residents between $44 and $80, while out-of-state players pay between $88 and $160. Although it is open to the public, golfers often need to arrive early to secure tee times. The park also offers various recreational activities such as tennis courts, a polo field, and nature trails, making it a popular destination beyond just golf.
The planning for the Ryder Cup acknowledges potential parking challenges, suggesting that attendees utilize the Long Island Railroad. Shuttle services will operate from the Farmingdale train station and Jones Beach for convenient public parking. The Ryder Cup format includes multiple match play formats over three days, with the winning team requiring at least 14.5 points to claim victory.
Community Excitement and Anticipation
As the Ryder Cup approaches, excitement and anticipation are growing within the Farmingdale community. Local businesses are already preparing for the influx of visitors that this significant golfing event will bring. Among the expected participants are prominent players like Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy, the latter likely qualifying automatically for Team Europe.
This monumental occasion at Bethpage Black is seen as a celebration of golf’s rich history and its growing accessibility, demonstrating how the sport can unite communities and attract worldwide interest to municipal courses. With the Ryder Cup’s arrival, the spotlight will firmly shine on Farmingdale, marking a new chapter in the legacy of Bethpage Black.
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Additional Resources
- CBS News
- Golf Monthly
- Golf.com
- News12 Long Island
- Greater Long Island
- Wikipedia: Ryder Cup
- Google Search: Ryder Cup 2025
- Google Scholar: Ryder Cup 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Ryder Cup
- Google News: Ryder Cup 2025
