Ryder Cup rangefinders pulled from Bethpage Black shop as Trump visit brings security drive

The Ryder Cup superstore at Bethpage Black has pulled its $275 commemorative rangefinders from shelves for Friday as organizers deploy enhanced security for Donald Trump’s arrival for the opening day of this year’s U.S.-Europe clash in New York.

The move comes as event organizers outline an expanded security plan to manage a large crowd and potential threats, with Trump set to be among the spectators on the opening day. He is expected to arrive in late morning, according to multiple briefings, and is not anticipated to participate in the first session but is expected to be on hand for the afternoon foursomes. The decision to bar the rangefinders from sale on Friday was confirmed to Daily Mail Sport, with the devices due back on shelves on Saturday. Rangefinders are commonly used by golfers to measure distance to the hole and are typically popular items at the Ryder Cup superstore beside the practice range. The commemorative devices in question were marketed to fans as a collectible item for $275.

Organizers say the security plan is being executed in consultation with the Secret Service and the White House, and includes a multi-layer operation featuring drones, bomb-disposal dogs and units equipped to respond to chemical, biological and radiological threats. Officials warned spectators to expect delays and airport-style screening as Bethpage Black adapts to the president’s visit, with gates opening earlier than usual to disperse crowds.

In addition to the rangefinders, a broad list of items have been prohibited from the first tee grandstand or clubhouse area on Friday. Portable folding chairs, torch-style lighters and large vaping devices are banned, as are laptops and tablets. Umbrellas may be restricted in certain areas of the course and main grandstand, with ponchos strongly encouraged for spectators. Officials urged fans to allow extra time for security checks and to plan for possible delays.

The broader security environment surrounding the Ryder Cup has intensified scrutiny, with police chiefs warning of an elevated risk that someone could use the event to make a statement in the wake of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s ally two weeks prior. Major Stephen Udice told the BBC that officials are operating as if there are threats and that multiple layers of security would have to be cleared for anyone seeking to disrupt the event.

Separately, the week’s other notable development added to the tense atmosphere: Ryan Routh was found guilty on Tuesday of attempting to shoot Trump at a Florida course last September. The 59-year-old was convicted of attempted assassination and related firearms offenses after authorities said a rifle was spotted in a bush near Trump as he played near Mar-a-Lago, and an agent fired a warning shot before Routh could flee.

Bethpage Black officials have emphasized that spectator safety takes precedence over everything else. The Ryder Cup’s organizers say security plans are designed to balance access to the competition with the need to protect players, officials and fans, and to avoid the kind of disruption seen at other high-profile events when political figures attend.

As the event unfolds, players from Team Europe have been briefed on expected security measures and the limits of access around the course on Friday. Officials cautioned that the security perimeter may limit roaming and on-course interactions, and that updates could come as proceedings progress. The Ryder Cup, which pits Europe against the United States, remains the centerpiece of a week defined as much by its spectacle as by the security carefulness surrounding it.