Ryder Cup fans barred from bringing range finders as Trump attends Bethpage Black

Bethpage Black in New York is bracing for the Ryder Cup this Friday as security officials announced enhanced measures ahead of Donald Trump’s planned appearance in the crowd. On Wednesday morning, Ryder Cup officials said enhanced security measures would be in place, and a number of items would be banned from the course to accompany the high-profile visit. Among the restricted items are large umbrellas and range finders, with organizers stressing that the security operation is tailored to a global audience and a high-visibility political event.

Fans will not be allowed to bring range finders into Bethpage Black on Friday, the organizers said, citing a past security incident involving a range finder that was used in an assassination attempt on the president last year. Range finders are common golf gadgets used to gauge the distance to greens, but the Ryder Cup announced the device would not be permitted inside the venue on opening day. The president’s visit comes two weeks after the fatal shooting of his friend and ally, Charlie Kirk, and more than a year after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024.

Security officials warned fans to expect delays and airport-style screening as Bethpage Black braces for the president’s appearance. Gates will open at 5 a.m., a move aimed at avoiding the chaos that followed the U.S. Open’s recent men’s singles final and to manage the influx of visitors arriving for the Ryder Cup. Police and security services have prepared for a high level of scrutiny and crowd management given the attention the event is drawing from around the world.

Officials say the security operation is extensive, matching the scope of major U.S. events. Drones, bomb-disposal dogs and units equipped to handle chemical, biological and radiological threats are part of the layered precautions. Major Stephen Udice — who leads Ryder Cup security — told the BBC that planners are preparing for the worst, acknowledging that the event’s profile increases the likelihood that someone might try to use it to send a message. “If anything, the likelihood of somebody trying to use an event like this to make a statement is only increased,” Udice said. “Some would argue it’s much higher. We are planning as if there are threats. We have multiple different layers that someone looking to cause chaos and harm is going to have to get through. In an event of this size, with the attention that this is going to get around the world, we also recognize that this is a target.”