After being forced to fork out heart-stopping prices just to attend the Ryder Cup, fans will be left furious to discover it will cost them almost as much to take home a piece of memorabilia from the iconic Bethpage Black course.
The iconic New York golf course sets the stage for the biennial bust-up between Team USA and Europe as Rory McIlroy and Co. go head-to-head with the Americans in a battle for golf’s most-coveted cup.
And those fortunate enough to clinch a front row seat for Luke Donald and the European’s title defense surely intend to mark the occasion with a souvenir as a memento of the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
And Bethpage Black offers plenty of opportunity to browse the thousands of items of merchandise on offer.
The Long Island golf course boasts a superstore bigger than a supermarket as well as a Ralph Lauren exclusive boutique near the 16th fairway, totaling 74,000 square feet of shopping paradise that even features its own live DJ to ensure the party atmosphere continues from the course to the cashier.
The only issue? They will have to splash out yet another fortune.
If the American supporters want to emulate their heroes, such as Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele this week, it’ll cost them $415 for a Team USA rain jacket alone.
A men’s knitted zip top by Ralph Lauren – the official designer of Team USA’s uniform – will set fans back $305, while a cotton sweater with the Stars and Striped splashed across the front is priced at a staggering $415.
Meanwhile, there are more fashionable items on sale for the female fans including a $598 Ralph Lauren handbag available in patriotic red, white and blue versions.
Outerwear for women also costs a pretty penny with a $398 cashmere cream hooded sweater with navy and turquoise stripes on offer. Meanwhile, a navy and red bomber jacket customized with an embroidered bald eagle costs an eye-watering $615.
But the extortionate prices aren’t reserved for clothing with an array of bizarre items also stacking the shelves.
After dominating the NFL, it appears Taylor Swift and her Swifties have also left their mark on golf with the Ryder Cup superstore selling red, white and blue beaded friendship bracelets for $12 a pop.
Golf fans can also give their kitchens a Ryder Cup-themed makeover thanks to the $120 wine decanters, $76 chopping boards and $10 shot glasses.
In the electronics section, range finders are available in a stars and stripes or European yellow stars designs, offering fans the chance to pick their allegiance. In the shelves alongside the $275 golf gadgets, portable speakers, also available in a range of colors, are on sale.
For those who truly want to take a piece of Bethpage home with them, the closest they can get is a replica of the Black course’s famous warning sign ($44)
Or if that doesn’t scratch their itch for golf-themed decor, steward’s panels calling for ‘quiet please’ are up for grabs if they have $88 to spare.
Other mind-boggling items that most wouldn’t expect to find on a golf course include Christmas decorations – some work as much as $34 – signed children’s books and a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
The eye-watering prices come after golf fans were left furious over the dramatic increase in ticket prices for the 2025 Ryder Cup when they went on sale late last year.
For practice days alone, fans were forced to fork out a staggering $255.57 for a ticket, $423.64 (£324.60) for Wednesday, and a heart-stopping $749.51 (£574.29) for actual competitive action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The tickets are a stark contrast to the entrance fees required for the gladiatorial showdown between the Europeans and Americans in Rome back in 2023.
General admission to Marco Simone ranged from $53 to $277 based on the day of the match.
