The recent release of ticket prices for spectator tickets for next year’s Ryder Cup by the PGA of America sparked criticism, particularly regarding the sums being charged for volunteers at Bethpage Black.
Spectators hoping to attend the matches in New York next September will need to pay $750 (£577) per day, which includes unlimited free food and soft drinks.
This amount is nearly three times the £212 charged by the European Tour for attending one day of tournament action at last year’s Ryder Cup in Italy.
The decision to charge $392 for volunteers at the 2025 Ryder Cup has also drawn criticism, especially since volunteers in roles such as on-course marshals may find it reasonable, while others working in different areas of the site where they won’t see any golfing action are also charged the same amount.
The $393 fee, which includes taxes and a credit card processing charge, gives volunteers a tournament pass for the week, along with a uniform, drawstring bag, a commemorative Ryder Cup pin, and free food during work shifts.
Charging volunteers to work at golf events is not uncommon, with the US Open and PGA Championship requiring a fee of around $175 for volunteer workers. However, the PGA of America has faced accusations of price gouging and exploitation due to this latest price increase.
Tournament director Bryan Karns defended the decision, saying, “We looked at pricing and tapped into data from various sports events to determine the appropriate pricing based on demand. The Ryder Cup is a bucket list event for many people, similar to the Yankees opening game or World Series, and our pricing reflects the high demand for this event.”
