As a non golfer (for now) I not only wanted to find out why the Ryder Cup coming to New York is so special, but what made the competition itself stand out as such a unique event in the world of golf, and here is what I learned:
The Ryder Cup only happens every two years and is a competition between Team USA and Team Europe, but with a very unique format. The play is what’s called Match Play (not stroke play) with three main formats:
Even a newb like me knows that golf is an overwhelmingly individual sport, so main differentiators number one is that The Ryder Cup flips that script. Here golfers play for pride, their teammates, and their country which I imagine creates a level of passion and camaraderie you rarely see in other tournaments. It also creates a very unique, rather raucous atmosphere known to elicit chants and an energy players feed off of; no hushed tones of Augusta or polite claps of The Open here.
Which ties into main differentiator number two - who doesn’t love a good rivalry? Originally, from 1927 - 1977 the competition consisted of the U.S. versus Great Britain and Ireland, but year over year the U.S. dominated - I swear, the history book used the term dominated - so in 1979 continental Europe was added to make the competition stronger. Since then, Europe has not only held its own, but often outperformed the U.S., fueling the rivalry.
While a good-old fashioned rivalry is sometimes motivation enough to win, The Ryder Cup has cemented itself as a competition which can still impact a player’s legacy. Again, the play is group style with no cash prize, but former players have faced criticism for underperforming in Ryder Cups compared to their individual careers. Pressure is magnified because you’re representing your country, and this year, the Bethpage Black Golf Course will put to the test some players’ patriotism.
What makes the course so difficult? A combination of extraordinary length, narrow fairways, deep rough, large bunkers, and a generally challenging layout (Golf Monthly). A few key stats:
As if the five bullet points above weren’t enough - the course contains what is now an iconic ‘warning sign’ at the first tee which highlights the difficult reputation of the course. So in case you need an additional psychological hurdle before play even begins… consider your wish granted.
If you want to catch this psychological team thriller live
you can find all-inclusive ticket options HERE.
If you have your tickets (or just purchased them via the link above) where should you watch from?
This location is always popular, offering the excitement of the opening and final holes, with prime views and high crowd energy. The new, larger first tee grandstand is expected to be a focal point during the Ryder Cup.
Something to Note: Not all matches make it to 18, so you could miss some action here, especially in early rounds.
These greens are close together and allow you to see shots from holes 9 - 12 at once, giving you a continuous stream of match action and a variety of approach shots.
The spectator stands here offer unique sightlines of the 17th green and the tee shot on 18. It's a signature area for dramatic finishes but can be less reliable for action during group stages since not every match reaches 17.
Known as some of the most exciting holes at Bethpage Black, this area is less crowded yet provides compelling viewing, especially for shotmaking and strategy.
This vantage allows you to track play across multiple holes, including tee shots on 10 and 12, as well as action on the 7th fairway and 11th green, which makes it ideal for following several matches in real time.
Something to note: Access may be restricted depending on player movements.
Tips from a friend:
So from September 23 - 28th, forget leaf peeping and football tailgates, because one of golf’s most unique weeks is about to take over New York. See you on Long Island.