ALBANY, NY (September 25, 2025) — Fifteen iconic landmarks across New York State will glow red, white, and blue tonight to mark the start of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, Long Island, Governor Kathy Hochul announced.
The international golf showdown between Team USA and Team Europe runs from September 26 to 28, drawing global attention to the renowned public course. “On the night before 24 of the world’s best golfers take the global stage at Bethpage State Park for the Ryder Cup, New York State is lighting up in celebration of the players, fans and crew coming together for this exciting competition,” Hochul said. “We are honored to host this prestigious event for the first time at a publicly owned and operated facility, and look forward to welcoming hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world.”
The landmarks set to be illuminated include Albany International Airport Gateway, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Empire State Plaza, Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal, Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Grand Central Terminal’s Pershing Square Viaduct, Kosciuszko Bridge, Moynihan Train Hall, MTA LIRR’s East End Gateway at Penn Station, Niagara Falls, One World Trade Center, State Fairgrounds’ Main Gate and Expo Center, The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building, The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge, and Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons emphasized the significance of the event. “Tonight’s light show around the state is a tribute to the dedication our team brings to visitors every day,” Simons said. “This patriotic display reflects the pride we share as hosts, and our State Parks team is ready to showcase their many efforts in this historic competition. We thank Governor Hochul and the PGA of America for bringing this global event to ‘The People’s Country Club.’”
The Ryder Cup, a biennial event alternating between American and European venues, features five matches over three days between two 12-member teams. Bethpage Black, designed by legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast in 1936, is one of five 18-hole courses at Bethpage State Park. This marks the first time the Black Course hosts the Ryder Cup, making it the second New York course after Oak Hill Country Club to stage the prestigious competition.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
