3,000 Ryder Cup tickets to be given away to fans by PGA of America

For many lucky Long Islanders, a regular round of golf this summer could turn into the experience of a lifetime: free tickets to the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

Through a giveaway called “The People’s Perk,” the PGA of America will distribute 3,000 complimentary Ryder Cup tickets to New York residents through surprise pop-up events at public golf courses across Long Island and the greater New York City area over the next five months.

That includes Bethpage Black, the iconic Farmingdale course set to host this year’s Ryder Cup from Sept. 28-30. "The People’s Course” has hosted two U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship. The first U.S. Open at a true public course was at Bethpage Black in 2002 and was referred to as “The People's Open.”

Some tickets already have been delivered to a handful of fans on the course’s opening day in April. Each recipient will receive two tickets to a single day of Ryder Cup play of their choice, from Tuesday to Thursday practice rounds and the Friday through Sunday matches.

The Metropolitan PGA will help choose the public courses and the PGA will conduct surprise visits, where staff and Ryder Cup guests will distribute tickets at random. There also will be a series of special visits to give Ryder Cup tickets to area first responders and community groups.

The initiative, which launched Tuesday, is part of the PGA’s effort to give back to the region’s passionate golf community and bring the energy of local fans to the patriotic event.

“This is a special way for us to celebrate the unparalleled dedication and enthusiasm of the New York golf community,”  PGA of America President Don Rea Jr. said. “We cannot wait to welcome the lucky ticket recipients this September.”

The Ryder Cup is one of the most sought-after tickets in golf next to the Masters. The ticket price for competition days (which includes food and non-alcoholic drinks) is $750 for the 2025 matches, more than double what it was at Whistling Straits in 2021, the last time the Ryder Cup was held in the United States.

More than 500,000 people registered to buy tickets. They went on sale Nov. 13 and tickets for match days (Friday through Sunday) sold out in a matter of hours.

Juniors 15 and under will also receive free admission Tuesday through Thursday of Ryder Cup week when accompanied by a ticketed adult.