Evan Crowder, the 2025 Ryder Cup operations manager for the PGA of America, joined "The Road to the Ryder Cup" podcast with Dr. Jeff Poplarski and Frank Darby this week to discuss some details about the on-course fan experience at the tournament in September. They also outlined some of the behind-the-scenes logistics and course-setup duties that go into planning a major golf event.
Here are some key takeaways from the interview, which is available for listening and viewing on Spotify and YouTube:
SEATING AND ADMISSION
• A 5,000-seat, stadium-style grandstand will wrap around #1 tee and #18 green. General-admission ticketholders will have access to 3,000 of those seats. Construction on the grandstand will begin shortly after July 4.
• Depending on timing, fans in this area might be able to watch the morning sessions end on #18 while the afternoon sessions tee off on #1.
• Gates will open into a "fan zone" at 5:30 a.m., followed by rope drop onto the course itself at 6:00.
AROUND THE COURSE
• There will be more than 20 large video boards displaying live action around the course. "You won't miss the action no matter where you are," Crowder said.
• To help with fan flow around the Black Course, fencing will be removed along Round Swamp Road to allow easy movement between the starting and closing holes.
• There will be a celebrity match on Wednesday.
TRANSPORTATION
• The recommended method of transportation is the Long Island Railroad to Farmingdale, where shuttles will take fans less than a mile to Bethpage. There will also be a large rideshare lot on site on the Yellow Course that can accommodate 150 to 200 drop-off vehicles at a time.
• For fans who want to drive, parking will once again be available at Jones Beach with a 30-minute shuttle to the course. There is a $50 parking fee at Jones Beach, which Crowder said is designed to promote use of mass transit.
SEE ALSO:
What to know about Bethpage course schedules, closures and modifications ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup