Bethpage Black's Ryder Cup construction ahead of schedule
This year, it will be played at Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, and it will be the biggest event the course has ever hosted.
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Golf's Ryder Cup is one of the biggest events in the sport.
On Wednesday, Ryder Cup organizers referred to it as "the crown jewel" of golf events.
One even called it "a unicorn."
The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf tournament featuring a team from the United States against a team from Europe.
This year, it will be played at Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, and it will be the biggest event the course has ever hosted.
"There's always this mindset from the PGA to go to the greatest golf courses. We've had some incredible venues. People want this event," said Bryan Karns, the PGA of America Championship director.
The Ryder Cup will be played from Sept. 23 to Sept. 28.
Construction at the course for the event began in mid-May and is just more than halfway finished.
There are massive tents being built for security checkpoints, hospitality areas, sponsorship seating areas and a curved coliseum set of bleachers that will surround the first tee and the 18th green.
"That area will have about 3,000 seats and an additional 2,000 standing areas. Plus, they'll be thousands of fans lining the sides of each of those holes.
It's the high point on the grounds and you'll be able to see so much," said Kenny Kurzendoerfer, the Ryder Cup Operations manager.
Kurzendoerfer and other Ryder Cup officials took News12 on a tour of the construction Wednesday.
They also provided an areal view and renderings of what the finished course will look like, including parking lots for the shuttle buses, the helicopter landing area for VIPs and the 64,000-square-foot Ryder Cup merchandise tent.
"Everything we are doing here is pretty much the largest thing we've done compared to anywhere else," said Kurzendoerfer.
Officials said tickets are nearly sold out and 50,000 fans are expected for the Friday-Sunday competition rounds.
There will be shuttle buses taking fans to the course from parking areas at the Farmingdale LIRR station and Jones Beach.
Rideshare lots will be at the Bethpage Golf Yellow Course.
