All eyes will be on Farmingdale beginning Thursday, May 16, as the world’s best golf players tee off at Bethpage Black for the 101st PGA Championship. Expected to draw more than 200,000 spectators to the area, Nassau and Suffolk counties are preparing for an influx of economic activity. Last week, a press conference was held on site to discuss the excitement the championship event will bring to the area.
“We’re expecting the PGA Championship’s economic impact to our region to exceed $100 million,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, who started out with a special thanks to Village of Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand for the village’s accommodation of the event. “Roughly 1,100 full- and part-time jobs have already been created as a result of this championship.”
To alleviate traffic and congestion in the area, Curran encouraged those with tickets to the event to utilize the island’s plethora of public transportation options. Shuttles will be operating all day to transport spectators to and from the Farmingdale train station and designated parking at Jones Beach fields 3, 4 and 5.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was also on hand to discuss the island’s enthusiasm in hosting such a large event.
“It’s not just about recreation, it’s not just about seeing an exciting championship tournament, it’s about pumping money into the local economy,” he explained. “That’s why we love supporting and working with the PGA on events like this—the amount of jobs it creates, the economic activity is incredible.”
Of course, with large events like this that draw both world celebrities and hundreds of thousands of people to watch them in action, the championship will feature a large police presence on both the local and state level. New York State Police Major David Candelaria stated that there will be more than 400 law enforcement personnel assigned to the event.
“Law enforcement and transportation partners have been planning for this event for approximately two years,” he said. “All of our planning and operational efforts are geared toward the following law enforcement and transportation goals: Number one, to provide a safe and secure environment for everybody involved in the 2019 PGA Championship; to establish a transportation system that will allow for an expeditious travel to and from the event; and third, and pretty important, is to mitigate any issues in the local community.”
Citing Bethpage State Park’s beauty and the golf course’s seclusion from neighboring communities, PGA Championship Director Scott Reid said there’s a reason why the Bethpage Black was picked for this year’s event. He commented that the Bethpage Black is a “very challenging golf course,” but it’s also a fair course, and that’s why pros enjoy playing it.
While weekend tickets are sold out, weekday tickets are still available online and will be sold on site as well. All ticketed adults will be allowed to bring in four children ages 17 and under. Active Duty, Retirees, Reserve, National Guard and PGA HOPE Veterans will receive complimentary daily grounds access regardless of whether tickets are sold out.
The 60,000-square-foot PGA Shop, the largest to ever be built for a PGA Championship, will open starting on Friday, May 10,
Previously, the Bethpage Black was home to the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009, and the FedEx Cup Playoffs in 2012 and 2016. After this championship, the Black will return to the spotlight in 2021 for another FedEx Cup Playoff, and in 2024 will be home to the Ryder Cup.
To learn more about the event, visit www.p.ga/guide.
