Long Island locations will host events all weekend long, with simulators, giveaways, even tickets to the Cup itself.
When the Ryder Cup comes to Bethpage Black this month, Long Island will be the center of the golf world.
And Tap Room is making sure locals and visitors alike have a place to soak it all in.
The homegrown restaurant-and-bar chain — now with nine locations across the Island — has teamed up with PGA of America to become an official Ryder Cup watch party partner.
That means every Tap Room will be streaming the matches Sept. 26 through Sept. 28, while select locations are throwing big-time events complete with simulators (free to play), celebrity appearances and ticket giveaways.
Click here for all the details.
How it came together
“It’s been a ton of coordination but a lot of things fell into place,” said Tap Room co-founder James Bonanno.
Bonanno said PGA of America will be promoting Tap Room on its app and website as a go-to spot for fans.
Each location is getting Ryder Cup–branded signage, straws, and cups, part of a partnership the chain had been working on since the summer.
“The Ryder Cup is one of the biggest events in golf, and the fact that it’s right in our backyard at Bethpage Black — one of the most popular public courses in the country — is just really exciting,” he said. “To be able to host tourists and locals alike in our venues, we’re excited to put on a lot of really fun events for the weekend.”
Ryder weekend highlights
Friday (Sept. 26) in Farmingdale
Tap Room’s flagship Ryder Cup bash kicks off in Farmingdale with WFAN’s Greg ‘Gio’ Gianotti making an appearance, an outdoor golf simulator by DryveBox (sponsored by Michelob Ultra), and brunch starting at 11 a.m.
Flag & Anthem, sponsor of U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, is teaming up with Tap Room for giveaways, including two tickets to Saturday’s Ryder Cup matches at Bethpage Black.
Friday night in Garden City
The DryveBox Outdoor Golf Simulator moves to Garden City for an evening session.
Saturday (Sept. 27) in Garden City
A daylong event with EvenPlay simulators running tournaments and closest-to-the-pin contests every two hours. Entry is free and prizes include cash. Elijah Craig will also be raffling off a Ryder Cup Limited Edition bottle of bourbon whiskey.
Sunday (Sept. 28) Ronkonkoma
The DryveBox simulators head to Ronkonkoma with all-day Ryder Cup specials
Not only all that, all nine Tap Rooms will also be showing the matches wall-to-wall, complete with themed specials and more giveaways, including from Jameson Irish Whiskey.
A once-in-a-generation chance
The Ryder Cup takes place every two years, alternating between courses in the U.S. and Europe.
That means it’s just once every four years where the Americans will host, so Bonanno gets how the rare the opportunity is for Long Island.
Probably the only time it would happen in his hospitality career, he said.
“Having venues in relatively close proximity to the event was an opportunity we saw to bring golf fans together and really enjoy this competition,” he said. “With so many people coming in from across the country and around the world, it might never be in our backyard again during my career.
“It’s a special event, and as a golfer, I couldn’t be more excited.”
Click here for the full schedule and additional details.
Top: Tap Room Garden City. (courtesy)
