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Ryder Cup 2025 Takes Place at Bethpage Black, New York, as Europe Claims Victory

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Ryder Cup 2025: The 45th Ryder Cup came to its conclusion at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, between September 26 and 28, 2025, when Team Europe defeated Team USA 15-13 in a dramatic finish where the Americans made an incalculable comeback in the final round and just missed defeating Team Europe. This was the first time in Ryder Cup history that the biennial golfing event between the United States and Europe was held at a public municipal golf course facility.

Bethpage Black: The People’s Course Takes Center Stage

Bethpage State Park’s Black Course, known as “The People’s Country Club”, made history as the location of golf’s most prestigious, peer-to-peer event. The 7,100-yard, excruciatingly difficult course, designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1936, features the now-infamous sign at the first tee which reads “WARNING The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficulty Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers”.

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The fact that it was a course owned and operated by a municipality represents a watershed moment in professional golf, as it was the first time a publicly owned facility hosted the Ryder Cup. Bethpage Black keeps its residents’ access by offering green fees as low as $80 for residents and $160 for non-residents, but remains one of the top-ranked championship golf courses in America.

Course Features and Championship Pedigree

Bethpage Black has also played host to major championships including the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009 when the winners were Tiger Woods and Lucas Glover respectively. In addition it hosted the PGA Championship in 2019 that Brooks Koepka won. Experts have stated that the course is ideal for match play.

“Bethpage Black is unforgiving on any errant shot,” said course architect Rees Jones who has redesigned the course numerous times. “There’s a lot of thinking that the players have to do and the tee shots. This is a penal golf course but there’s a lot of strategy as well.”

The course preparation included two-and-a-half inches of rough and more than three inches of rough around the greens; it was designed to reward good play and still keep the action alive for the fans.

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Economic Impact and Tournament Scale

The 2025 Ryder Cup had a major economic impact on the New York area. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul estimated the event would generate more than $200 million in economic revenue for the area. There were an estimated 250,000 people who attended over the course of the week, which made the tournament one of the largest sporting events ever held on Long Island.

Record-Breaking Financial Performance

Ticket sales alone were expected to generate roughly $146.4 million! Tickets for dedicating days were priced at an astonishing $750. Hospitality packages for premium suites even hit the market at $10,000. More than the traditional Ryder Cups, several items rodeoed reported in the total economic impact of €262 million just for the 2023 Rome Ryder Cup.

Ryder Cup 2025 Takes Place at Bethpage Black, New York, as Europe Claims Victory
Ryder Cup 2025 Takes Place at Bethpage Black, New York, as Europe Claims Victory

The nearby Long Island Rail Road expected $20 million in revenue alone for transportation passes at $175 per person, while the number of hospitality providers had all luxury and plush space sold out.

Captain Leadership and Team Strategy

Luke Donald’s Masterful European Campaign

European captain Luke Donald achieved consecutive Ryder Cup victories, joining Tony Jacklin as only the second European captain to accomplish this feat. Donald’s meticulous preparation and strategic acumen earned widespread praise from both sides.

“In my eyes, I think he’s the best European Ryder Cup captain of all time,” said U.S. captain Keegan Bradley after the defeat. “He won home and away, and he won a Ryder Cup in New York at Bethpage. I think he’s an incredible leader”.

Donald’s team featured significant continuity, with eleven of the twelve players from the 2023 Rome victory returning, providing strategic advantages in pairing decisions and team chemistry.

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Bradley’s American Challenge

U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, making his captaincy debut, faced the unique challenge of balancing playing responsibilities with leadership duties throughout the season. The 39-year-old from nearby St. John’s University brought personal connection to the venue, having played Bethpage Black during his college years.

Despite the home team’s ultimate defeat, Bradley’s squad delivered the most points ever scored in a Ryder Cup singles session with 8.5 points, nearly completing what would have been the greatest comeback in tournament history.

Crowd Atmosphere and Controversy

The New York crowd created an electric but controversial atmosphere throughout the tournament. While passionate support was expected, several incidents crossed traditional golf etiquette boundaries.

Fan Behavior Issues

European captain Luke Donald acknowledged that some fans “crossed the line” with personal insults and disruptive behavior during players’ routines. Rory McIlroy, in particular, faced sustained heckling, with incidents requiring security intervention.

“It was loud, it was raucous. What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings,” Donald explained during post-round press conferences.

Several fans were ejected from the grounds, and additional security measures were implemented as tensions escalated throughout the weekend.

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Broadcast and Media Coverage Challenges

The tournament’s television coverage on USA Network faced significant criticism from viewers regarding technical issues and excessive commercial breaks. Golf fans and professionals took to social media to voice frustrations about audio synchronization problems and interrupted coverage of key moments.

Former European Ryder Cup player Graeme McDowell commented on social media: “Coverage driving me insane already. Think we are on the 5th commercial break”. The broadcast issues were compounded by an ongoing dispute between Comcast NBCUniversal and YouTube TV that affected millions of subscribers.

What Comes Next

Future Ryder Cup Venues

The 2027 Ryder Cup will take place at Adare Manor in Ireland, followed by a return to Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota for 2029. The success of the 2025 event at Bethpage Black has set new standards for tournament organization and fan engagement at public venues.

Long-term Impact

The historic nature of hosting the Ryder Cup at a public course has opened discussions about accessibility in professional golf. Bethpage Black’s success demonstrates that municipal courses can successfully host golf’s premier events while maintaining their public character.

European Tour officials expect the economic benefits to extend for years, with increased tourism and golf interest in the New York region anticipated through the remainder of the decade.


Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Where was the Ryder Cup 2025 held?

    The 2025 Ryder Cup took place at Bethpage Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York.

  2. When did the 2025 Ryder Cup occur?

    The tournament was held from Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28, 2025.

  3. What made Bethpage Black special as a Ryder Cup venue?

    Bethpage Black became the first publicly owned municipal golf course to host the Ryder Cup, known for its challenging layout and affordable green fees.

  4. Who won the 2025 Ryder Cup?

    Team Europe defeated Team USA 15-13, marking their first victory on foreign soil since 2012.

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