PGA of America’s Staunch Defense of Overpriced Ryder Cup Tickets Ripped Apart by Fans: ‘Only for the Rich’

The Ryder Cup ticketing price controversy refuses to die down. Entry to Bethpage Black will now hinge on a lot of factors, most importantly on how much you can save—considering you already started it—till next week.

In case you missed the price, here is a quick refresher. It's good to keep in mind that a trip to Augusta costs around $150.

Tuesday Practice Day: $255.27Wednesday Practice Day: $255.27Thursday Practice Day + Junior Ryder Cup, Celebrity Matches, and Opening Ceremony: $423.64 Friday Match Day: $749.51Saturday Match Day: $749.51Sunday Match Day: $749.51 It's more than double the price of the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. It would've cost you $340 for Friday, $350 for Saturday, and $280 for Sunday. International Pavilion access was priced at $400. The 1927 Club price ranged from $1,400 to $4,000.

Of course, New York is not Sheboygan, and there was no free food, and non-alcoholic beverages included then. Nevertheless, the last big event at New York's most famous public course, the 2019 PGA Championship, had a ticket price of around $110 for competitive days. Bryan Karns, the Ryder Cup Championship director, speaking on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, explained, "We view ourselves as a Tier 1 event that's on par with a World Series, or with an NBA Finals Game 7."

Notably, the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone was cheaper. Friday and Saturday tickets cost around $265, whereas the Sunday tickets were kept at $275. There is little surprise that fans are still outraged about spending $750 for the biennial showdown next year.

Is the Ryder Cup only for the wealthy? Fans ask Is golf becoming more and more expensive ? Some people certainly think so. Golf equipment prices have increased lately, as have green fees in local clubs. The loudest voices on the Internet claim Ryder Cup is also entering the 'meant-for-affluent' territory. One user lamented, "Life and pleasure only for the Rich."

That perhaps wasn't Bryan Karns's intention. Karns also revealed they spent considerable time determining the right price bandwidth for a premium event in New York City. Undoubtedly, the Ryder Cup is a huge source of revenue for the PGA of America.

It's safe to say Karns's defense has done little to calm the situation. "Professional sporting events and leagues don't care about the regular guy so understand that sooner," one user commented. The frustration was palpable. Some who were planning to make the Bethpage Black trip are already canceling. "I planned to buy tickets but will not be [buying tickets] due to this ridiculous pricing. I had planned to take my kids but not now."

There are fears that Bethpage will witness a low turnaround because of this. Kevin Van Valkenburg of No Laying Up cautioned that a similar situation to LACC last year might happen. Last year's US Open at LACC was marked by appallingly low attendance due to limited general admission tickets.

Not everyone agrees, however. "[T]hey won't have any problem with attendance and can provide a better experience for the people willing to spend that," one fan tweeted. It remains to be seen if that's the case. Scottie Scheffler will certainly hope so .

Nevertheless, a section of golf fans is also considering whether it's worth spending $750 at Bethpage Black. The dramatic elevation changes make the A.W. Tillinghast-designed layout one of the grueling walks in public courses. "I have been to two majors at Bethpage. Forget the ticket price; it's an impossible course to walk and see a tournament," one golf fan wrote.

The Ryder Cup ticket price hike couldn't have come at a worse time. When professional golf is divided over 'money grab' – take a look at the purse of Signature events and LIV Golf—the PGA of America's pricing has only added fuel to the fire. The tickets will be awarded via a lottery in November.