Ryder Cup 2026 Bethpage
The biennial battle between the United States and Europe returns to American soil — at the legendary Bethpage Black, Long Island, New York.
Bethpage has hosted Tiger Woods' 2002 US Open and Brooks Koepka's 2019 PGA Championship. Now the world's greatest team golf event arrives on one of America's most iconic public courses — with the entire city of New York as the backdrop.
Event Format
The Ryder Cup is pure match play — no stroke play, no individual leaderboards. Every hole is a battle between two pairs or two individuals. 28 points are available over three days; 14.5 are needed to win (or retain if Europe hold the Cup).
4 Foursomes (alternate shot) in the morning. 4 Four-balls (best ball) in the afternoon. 8 points available. Captains set the order — strategy begins here.
Another 4 Foursomes + 4 Four-balls. 8 more points. The Saturday session is often when momentum swings decisively. Captains rotate players — expect big crowd atmospheres all day.
12 head-to-head singles matches simultaneously. 12 points available. The most dramatic day in team golf — comebacks are routine, lead changes happen on every hole.
Most Dramatic DayGetting to Bethpage Black
New York is served by three major airports. On event days, shuttle buses run from NYC Penn Station directly to the Bethpage venue — the easiest option from Manhattan.
40 min to Bethpage. Best for transatlantic flights and widest choice of airlines. Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from Jamaica station to Bethpage + shuttle on event days.
Flights to JFK →35 min — the closest airport to Bethpage. Mainly domestic US flights. Best option for fans flying from within the USA. Taxi or rideshare to Penn Station for LIRR connection.
Flights to LGA →60 min to Bethpage. Strong transatlantic connectivity. NJ Transit to Penn Station, then LIRR to Bethpage. Good for European fans on United, Air India, and other EWR-focused airlines.
Flights to EWR →Bethpage Black — Course Guide
One of the most famous public golf courses in the world. Par 71, 7,468 yards, five rounds of rough, and elevated greens that punish approach shots. This is not a course that flatters.
Course Facts
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 7,468 yards
- Rough
- 5 cuts (dense)
- Greens
- Elevated, undulating
- Type
- Public course
Major Championship History
- 2002US Open — Tiger Woods wins. First US Open on a municipal course. Bethpage Black becomes a legend.
- 2009US Open — Lucas Glover wins. Second consecutive US Open at Bethpage Black.
- 2019PGA Championship — Brooks Koepka defends his title. The course plays brutally hard in May heat.
- 2026Ryder Cup — USA vs Europe. The biggest team event in golf comes to Long Island.
"The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers."
Posted at the 1st tee — one of golf's most iconic signs. The course more than lives up to the warning.
Par 3 with natural stadium surroundings. Massive crowd capacity. Electric atmosphere for both Foursomes and Sunday Singles.
Arrive early for opening tee shots. The iconic warning sign is the backdrop. Ryder Cup opening ceremonies make this the most charged moment of day one.
The natural finishing amphitheatre. Sunday singles matches converging on the 18th will be the defining images of the 2026 Ryder Cup.
Getting Ryder Cup 2026 Tickets
Ryder Cup tickets are among the most sought-after in all of sport. The official PGA of America ballot is the primary route — act early.
The primary route for all general admission tickets. The ballot typically opens around two years before the event — applications were accepted through pgaofamerica.com. Successful applicants receive daily grounds tickets by ballot draw. Demand vastly exceeds supply.
Grounds passes give access to all 18 holes on a given day. Friday and Saturday are the Foursomes/Four-balls sessions; Sunday is Singles. Sunday passes are the most coveted — the entire Cup is often decided that day.
All-three-day access. The best option if you want to follow the full narrative from the opening tee shots to the closing ceremony. Very limited allocation — sold before daily tickets in most years.
Premium hospitality with guaranteed access, on-course dining, and dedicated viewing areas. Available through PGA of America official hospitality partners. Prices reflect the exclusivity — book through official channels only.
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Where to Stay
Accommodation near Bethpage is extremely limited and sells out fast. Manhattan is the most practical base for most fans — combine the Ryder Cup with a full NYC trip.
Long Island / Farmingdale
Closest to Bethpage Black — walk or short drive to the course. Limited hotel stock sells out years in advance. Book the moment your tickets are confirmed.
Garden City
Suburban Long Island, 20 min drive to Bethpage. Better hotel availability than Farmingdale. Good for families. Easy Nassau County access.
Manhattan / Midtown
Full NYC experience — Times Square, Central Park, world-class dining. 1 hour to Bethpage by LIRR from Penn Station. Ideal base if combining golf with a NYC city trip.
Brooklyn
Trendier and often cheaper than Midtown. DUMBO, Williamsburg, and Park Slope as base options. 45 min to Bethpage. Excellent restaurant and bar scene for evenings.
Community
New York Beyond the Golf
September is one of the best months to visit New York — warm, low humidity, the city at full energy. Add 2–3 days around the Ryder Cup and explore one of the world's great cities.
Manhattan Skyline — Top of the Rock & One World Trade
360° views of New York City from Rockefeller Center or the One World Observatory. Book at least a day in advance — queues are long without a timed entry. The Empire State Building observation deck is another option.
Brooklyn Bridge Walk + DUMBO
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (30–45 min, free) and explore the DUMBO neighbourhood on the Brooklyn side — cobblestone streets, Manhattan Bridge framing views, excellent coffee shops and galleries.
Long Island Wine Country
The North Fork and Hamptons wine regions are within 90 minutes of Bethpage. September is harvest season — perfect timing for vineyard tours, tastings, and farm-to-table dining before or after match days.
Manhattan Food Scene — Steakhouses, Pizza, Delis
New York in September: Peter Luger steakhouse in Brooklyn, Joe's Pizza in Greenwich Village, Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side, and the Eataly food hall at Flatiron. The city is built for food lovers.
Yankee Stadium or Citi Field (Baseball)
The MLB regular season runs through late September — the Yankees (Bronx) and Mets (Queens / near LGA) may have home games during Ryder Cup week. A night game at either stadium is a quintessential New York experience.
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry
Take the ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Book Statue of Liberty crown or pedestal access tickets months in advance. The free Staten Island Ferry also gives great skyline views at no cost.
European Fans Guide
The Ryder Cup has the most passionate transatlantic fanbase in golf. European fans travelling to New York — here is what you need to know.
Transatlantic demand for September Ryder Cup travel is extremely high. Book the moment your ballot confirmation arrives — typically spring 2026. Prices rise sharply in the final 3 months before the event.
New York in September: average 21°C / 70°F, low humidity, minimal rain compared to summer. Bring a light layer for evenings. Far more comfortable than August heat. One of the best months to visit NYC.
New York is GMT-4 in September (Eastern Daylight Time). Matches typically begin around 8am ET — that's 1pm UK, 2pm Central Europe, 5:30pm India. Late sessions run until early evening ET (9–10pm UK).
British Airways / Virgin Atlantic (LHR–JFK, daily), Aer Lingus (DUB–JFK, pre-clearance at Dublin), Iberia (MAD–JFK), Lufthansa (FRA–JFK / EWR), Air France (CDG–JFK). Book flexible fares for uncertainty around ballot results.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ryder Cup 2026?
The Ryder Cup 2026 takes place 25–27 September 2026 at Bethpage Black, Farmingdale, New York. Friday and Saturday feature Foursomes and Four-ball sessions; Sunday is the 12 Singles matches that typically decide the Cup.
How do I get Ryder Cup 2026 tickets?
Tickets for the Ryder Cup 2026 are sold through the PGA of America official ballot system, which typically opens around two years before the event. Daily grounds tickets, weekly passes, and corporate hospitality packages are also available. Authorised secondary market resellers carry tickets once the official allocation sells out. Check pgaofamerica.com for the latest ticket information.
What airport is closest to Bethpage Black?
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the closest at approximately 35 minutes. JFK International Airport is around 40 minutes away and has the widest flight choice including transatlantic services. Newark Liberty (EWR) is about 60 minutes and is excellent for European travellers on transatlantic routes. All three airports have LIRR or shuttle connections to Bethpage on event days.
What makes Bethpage Black special for the Ryder Cup?
Bethpage Black is one of the few public golf courses in the world to have hosted major championships. It staged the 2002 US Open (won by Tiger Woods) and the 2019 PGA Championship (won by Brooks Koepka). Its natural amphitheatre holes — especially the 16th — create stadium-style crowd atmospheres. The famous warning sign on the 1st tee (recommending only highly skilled golfers attempt the course) is one of golf's most iconic images. Long Island's proximity to Manhattan also makes it one of the most accessible Ryder Cup venues ever, with the full New York City experience available as an add-on.