Ryder Cup Bethpage Black 2025

Andrew will relate his experience as Director of Agronomy at Bethpage State Park during the 2025 Ryder Cup. Preparations started in 2019 after hosting the PGA Championship. Andrew will cover both agronomic and operations preparations for one of golf’s biggest events. Preparation has been years in the making and we will discuss the past few years and how 2025 developed relative to Black Course turf conditions, the build out of all hospitality and associated structures, interactions with PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe staff, Bethpage’s course schedule, volunteer coordination and interactions with vendors for support during the tournament. Also covered will be the events of Ryder Cup week and the subsequent restoration of the golf course(s) post tournament and how we worked with our park horticulturalists and ecologist to minimize impact on our park.

• Insight into the preparation for a major golf tournament
• Perspective into being part of an international event
• Lessons in planning years in advance and creating a plan for the golf course for the next five days, months and years
• Recognising the importance of professional relationships and networking to benefit the club
• How networking can provide professional and personal support on an individual level to any greenkeeper

Presented by:

Andrew Wilson

Director of Agronomy Bethpage State Park

Andrew Wilson is the Director of Agronomy Bethpage State Park. Wilson has been at Bethpage State Park for over 35 years and has served as Director of Agronomy since 2010. He earned an English Degree from Fairfield University before graduating from Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management Program in 2000 with High Honors. Wilson has been a GCSAA and LIGCSA member for over 20 years. During his time at Bethpage, Wilson took part in the planning and preparation for the 2002 and 2009 US Opens and as Director lead the Bethpage team for the 2012 and 2016 Barclays PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoff events, plus the 2019 PGA Championship. He had the privilege of working with Frank Rossi, Ph.D., and Jen Grant, Ph.D., on the Green Course Project at Bethpage which explored solutions for reducing pesticide and fertilizer inputs to golf courses. Bethpage has hosted local university students and professors, Girl Scouts, gardening and wildlife groups to improve and promote wildlife habitat and the role golf courses play in providing valuable recreation and green space for the local community. In 2025 Andrew and the team at Bethpage hosted golf's premier event, the Ryder Cup.