Ryder Cup at Bethpage: Fans can expect care on the course for sprains, strains and other medical episodes
Northwell Health EMT Jason Stempel gives a CPR and AED demonstration outside the Northwell Health Medical Station, set up for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale Tuesday. Credit: Barry Sloan
When players in the 45th Ryder Cup tee off next week on Long Island, the nearly 250,000 spectators expected to descend on the Bethpage Black course may be eagerly taking in competitive golf between some of the best European and American players.
What they might not be anticipating are their possible bee stings, dehydration, headaches, shortness of breath and other afflictions that often leave some onlookers seeking care from medical officials during major golfing events. Medical officials say they expect several hundred people to need medical attention during the tournament.
"The common things that we see on these types of tournaments is ... dehydration," said Mary Mahoney, vice president of emergency management and clinical preparedness at Northwell Health. "We see a lot of orthopedic type injuries."
"People don't realize, as they're walking and following the golfers, that they're actually walking 4, 5, 6 miles. And they're not used to that," she later said.
Northwell Health has amassed a team of more than 90 medical providers that include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical doctors, paramedics and others to be ready to provide care for the roughly 50,000 spectators each day who are expected to be in attendance from Sept. 23 to 28.
President Donald Trump has also expressed interest in attending the tournament, but the PGA of America said in an email that "specific details have not been confirmed."
"Our priority remains delivering a seamless, secure, and first-class event for all our guests," the email said.
To ensure the health of spectators, a team of medical providers will be riding bikes and golf carts to navigate the crowds. Three stationary medical stations will be open for the event. Data will also allow medical providers to monitor areas that have a high concentration of injuries.
Alex Beauchemin, who handles security, parking, emergencies and community relations at the cup, said the presence of medical care is designed to offer a measure of security for the crowds.
"I hope it makes them feel safe, like they know that there's someone there to help if something goes wrong," he said. "Hopefully, nothing does."
During the biennial competition that takes place across three days, American and European players will square off in 28 contests in total at the Black course at Bethpage State Park, which is expected to play host to the cup for the first time, according to a Ryder Cup website.
The only other golf course in New York to host the cup was the upstate Oak Hill Country Club, the website said. Bethpage Black is considered one of the "toughest" courses in the country, the website said.
A sign behind the first tee says: "The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers."
Dr. Jonathan Ticker, an orthopedic surgeon who has worked at several major events at the golf course since 2002, said covering past events has made the medical staff and Northwell ready to handle the upcoming competition.
"We can pretty much handle what comes our way," Ticker said. And Northwell "has such a large footprint in and around the course that we have those services even available very close by," he said.
Many things can happen on a golf course, from orthopedic strains to lightning strikes to cardiac emergencies. Baiting Hollow resident Kevin Kapela, 66, who was at Bethpage Black Tuesday, is all too aware of that after having a severe massive heart attack while playing.
On a March afternoon in 2023, the golf enthusiast was on the ninth hole at Christopher Morley Park Golf Course in Roslyn when he took a hard swing. He felt tremendous pain in his neck and back. He packed up his clubs and drove to Northwell Health’s North Shore University Hospital, where he was treated and recovered.
Today, he’s doing "amazing," plays golf at least once a week and will be at the Ryder Cup, he said. Knowing that there is extensive medical care at the event, he said, provides a level of reassurance.
"It’s always good to know that there’s help ... right there," he said.
Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.
