Ryder Cup fans seen sleeping on Bethpage Black as crowds drink and lounge on the course

At Bethpage Black in Long Island, a notable portion of Ryder Cup spectators were spotted resting on the course over the weekend, with attendees seen asleep on the grass or beneath trees as play continued into the day.

Daniel Manzouri, 39, of Williamsburg, said he counted roughly 10 to 12 people asleep in the field on Friday, including a man seen resting on a muddy hillside by 9 a.m. He said the early morning start and the sheer length of the day likely contributed to the fatigue, and he noted the atmosphere did not align with what some ticket-buyers expected given prices that can reach around $1,500 for prime seating. He described the scene as debauched, citing incidents such as people urinating in bottles to avoid lines at porta-potties and altercations between European and American fans that required security intervention. He added that such behavior, at a high-profile event, contrasted with the prestige often associated with the Ryder Cup.

Drinking was a prominent feature of the weekend at Bethpage, with videos circulating on social media showing crowds queuing for beer tents that opened around 9 a.m. Menu options included Michelob Ultra at $15, Bud Light Seltzer at $16, Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut at $22, and William Hill North Coast Chardonnay at $14. Four specialty cocktails were offered, including one billed as the Cherry Fairway Fizz, which incorporated moonshine made for the Ryder Cup, as well as a limited-edition Ryder-Cup Rubber Duck. Patrons could also buy Bloody Marys, margaritas and mules. Yet even with free food from burgers to sausages and complimentary water and Gatorade, attendees appeared to drink heavily, leading Manzouri to question whether some fans arrived already intoxicated from transit or pregame.

A separate observer, a 30-something publicist from New York City, said she saw two adult men asleep on the grass throughout the day. She noted that the early start meant spectators were present from dawn, and ground passes—without reserved perches—left some attendees with few places to rest in the heat. The publicist suggested the scene reflected both the built-in intensity of a Ryder Cup crowd and the practical realities of watching matches on grass rather than in stadium seating.

The Ryder Cup, contested between Team Europe and Team USA, has drawn fans eager to see matchups such as four-ball and Foursomes through the weekend. Gates opened early, around 5 a.m., to accommodate long lines and to give early arrivers a vantage point for opening-day play. Observers cited the combination of a hot late-September day, extended hours, and ground-level viewing as factors contributing to the widespread resting on the grass. Concerns about crowd behavior and the overall atmosphere were tempered by reports of strong security presence interceding in several instances, and by the continued enjoyment of golf by many fans who remained engaged with the competition on Saturday and Sunday.

Overall, the weekend at Bethpage has showcased the Ryder Cup’s ability to draw a large, dedicated following, even as some attendees—reflected in informal observations—opted for rest in unusual places and for drinks from a menu that mirrored the event’s high-profile, high-cost nature. No official statements regarding the observed behavior were available at publication time, but organizers are expected to assess crowd operations as the competition moves toward its conclusion on Sunday.