by Marisa Cacciuttolo, Staff Writer
Bethpage is preparing to host their biggest event in years. The Bethpage Black Course will be welcoming the Ryder Cup 2025 tournament for the first time from Sept. 25-28. The Ryder Cup is a tournament that hosts the top golfers from the United States against the top golfers from Europe. It will be the biggest event at the course to date since the US Open in 2009 and in 2002.
The town of Bethpage and the businesses within it are getting ready for the tournament. The town, most known for the Bethpage Golf Course, has thousands of golfers aspiring to play “Bethpage Black”, a famous course, traveling near and far to get one chance at playing before the tournament.
In an exclusive interview with the Town Of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Salidino, he brought up the different effects the tournament will have on the community now and in the future.
Salidino explained, “It’s a wonderful and positive experience, it is very good for the local businesses, and the community is very excited.”
He also added how this tournament will create more interest in the sport.
“There are so many ways to look at this event and learn from it, so many ways for young people to be involved.” Salidino added.
Salidino expressed how the Ryder Cup will help the Town of Bethpage.
“There will be a lot of economic development for the businesses, Bethpage is on the map due to the lunar module and the movie studios. The Ryder Cup will showcase a beautiful community with terrific people in Bethpage not only across America, but across the world.”
As the town will face challenges with traffic, supervisor Salidino expressed some solutions, “TOB safety, NYS police, and Nassau county police are collaborating,” and “Mass transit will be available, trains, shuttle buses, uber or traditional taxis.”
Security was a topic that came up during the conversation with Supervisor Salidino. He emphasized,
“There will be an enormous amount of security in place. The State police, Nassau county police, NY state officials and TOB and our wonderful Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman want to make this perfectly and especially safe for everyone here.”
While speaking with co-owner of BK Sweeny’s John Comatous, the Bethpage native expressed the importance of the event and how they are preparing, and activities the community is holding for the town and its visitors to attend.
He explained, “We are going to take pride in what we do, that’s what we should do as Bethpage strong.”
Comatous spoke about the preparation of the Ryder Cup from a business and community standpoint. His restaurant, formally named as the Central Park Inn, is very well known in the Town of Bethpage.
Comatous describes BK Sweeney’s, “We’re a bar like Cheers.” He also mentioned, “As much as we try to make money we try to take care of all the civic organizations.”
Regarding how it felt to be a small part of the tournaments happening in Bethpage, Coumatos expressed,
“We’re lucky to have been picked for the 2002 and 2009 Open, it was a package deal that’s how we got all of those.”
In response to being asked how the vibes were throughout the town and restaurant, Coumatos said, “The community, we are all excited.”
When asked about how BK Sweeney’s prepared for the US Open 2002 and 2009, he responded, “2002 we were new at the game. It was packed, they delayed play til mid afternoon, our bar was jam-packed, everyone got bagels and food. 2009 we were a little more prepared. It was the busiest day BK Sweeney’s has ever had. They were both Thursdays, It rained during both Opens.”
Coumatos included that being a part of his town was the most important thing.
“I am a firm believer that I am a part of a town and our town should reap the benefits we can work together to make it.”
He also added the significance of the event this year.
“This is a special event because the 2002 Open was after 9/11, so the players got to wear the hats of NYPD and the fire dept. It was really special after 9/11. Where this event was after Covid, and it’s really a shot in the arm for all the business. It’s going to be special, it’s going to be really good.”
Since this is an international tournament, Comatous mentioned how the town will honor the representatives of the tournament and the country. He explained,
“The town, the chamber spent money putting Ryder Cup Banners outside, we have the American flags outside.”
In closing, the Ryder Cup can be a turning point for the town and as BK Sweeney’s Co-Owner expressed, “…We are Bethpage Strong.” That’s the mindset that can allow a town to come together during such a special time for them as a community.
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