Ryder Cup practice round tickets see drop in price

For Long Island golf fans hoping to score a last-minute ticket to the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, patience may have paid off.

Practice round tickets that originally sold for $255 through last year’s lottery were going Tuesday morning on resale sites like StubHub and SeatGeek for less than half that price. Some buyers snagged them for as little as $110.

“Bought them this morning right off SeatGeek,” said Joe Frasca, 29, of Merrick. “We saw they were available, so we bought them for around $110 to $115. I was just playing it by ear, and it just happened.”

Though resale prices for Wednesday’s practice were hovering around $150 to $175 by midday with Thursday tickets closer to $200, prices may soon reflect the change of Thursday’s opening ceremony to Wednesday afternoon due to inclement weather.

While practice days saw steep drops, competition rounds remain premium. Tickets to one of the three match days were priced at $750 in the lottery and are now topping $1,000 on secondary markets. That made Tuesday’s practice round, the first open to fans before Wednesday and Thursday, a more affordable way to get a taste of Ryder Cup energy.

“The weekend offers better competition golf, but this experience is perfect,” Dianne Ludewig of Farmingdale said. “It’s not too crowded. It’s wonderful.”

The appeal of practice rounds goes beyond price. Fans said the lighter crowds meant easier access to players and a more relaxed atmosphere, benefits that may vanish once the matches begin. Even those who paid full retail said it was worth it.

“It was a little pricey, but it includes the drinks and food,” said Bryan Mercer of Melville, who brought his six-year-old son, Blake. “Better experience with the players, hopefully we get some stuff signed for him.”

Others bought tickets months ago, not expecting any deals to materialize.

“We got our tickets back in July and we brought the kids for the experience,” Adam Alpren of Long Beach said. “Today is cheaper than the rest of the week, but it’s for the experience anyway. That’s what it’s all about.”

Getting to Bethpage State Park also proved smoother than some feared. With no public parking allowed on site, fans relied on trains, Ubers, and shuttle buses to reach the course.

“Ubers were charging anywhere between $80 to $100, so we took the train from Bethpage to Farmingdale,” Mario Quimbay of Bethpage said. “It took 30 to 40 minutes from the train to getting here. I could’ve walked here, it would be a lot faster. But they are very organized with the shuttles, and they continue to go nonstop and you don’t pay.”

Others favored the Jones Beach lot.

“We drove to Jones Beach and they had a shuttle right to here, and it was a smooth process,” Alpren said. “Twenty-five minutes to a half hour at most.”

Rideshare emerged as another popular option, especially for those within a half-hour drive.

“I took an Uber, about a 20 minute ride, price wasn’t bad, much easier than parking,” said David Collymore of Dix Hills. “Very, very easy and laid back.”