From Boston to Bethpage Black: A Ryder Cup Journey Beyond the Fairways
- Golf tournaments
For enthusiasts who love to extend a major event beyond the fairways, the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is the perfect opportunity to transform a sporting trip into an American road adventure. From Boston to Long Island, via Cape Cod, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, every stage combines landscapes, gastronomy, culture… and legendary golf courses.
Boston – Cradle of America and Urban Elegance
Boston tells the American story in the open air: the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall – the “Cradle of Liberty” since 1742 – Boston Common, and must-see museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Harvard Art Museum. The reenactment of the Boston Tea Party aboard historic ships offers a vivid immersion into the past.
When it comes to flavors, President Kennedy was especially fond of the lobster bisque served at the Union Oyster House, one of the oldest restaurants in the United States. Legal Seafoods is an institution for its seafood platters, while Mamma Maria and Yvonne’s embody the art of refined dining. In the North End, Italian trattorias continue the culinary traditions brought by immigrants from southern Italy.
Top golf courses nearby (Top100GolfCourses.com and Golf Magazine):
- The Country Club (Brookline) – America’s first club, host of the 1913 U.S. Open.
- Myopia Hunt Club – Hosted four U.S. Opens at the turn of the 20th century.
- Eastward Ho! Country Club – Stunning coastal layout.
Cape Cod – The Call of the Sea and the Taste of Salt
Cape Cod is pure American postcard: weathered-shingle houses, endless beaches, and lively harbors. Plymouth recalls the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620, while Martha’s Vineyard draws a chic summer crowd – Barack Obama, Leonardo DiCaprio – in search of nature and privacy. Nantucket charms with its cobblestone streets, preserved homes, and famous “Nantucket Reds” trousers.
Local tables celebrate the flavors of the sea: lobster rolls, fried clams, creamy clam chowder, wild blueberry pie, or cinnamon sugar donuts from the famous Back Door Donuts. After 18 holes by the ocean, it’s the perfect reward.
Top golf courses in Cape Cod:
- Eastward Ho! – Ranked among the world’s Top 100, with exceptional ocean views.
- Sacconnesset Golf Club – Rees Jones design, private and exclusive.
- Hyannisport Club – Historic Donald Ross course.
Rhode Island – Maritime Elegance
The smallest U.S. state is full of charm. In Newport, the Cliff Walk runs between Gilded Age mansions and the Atlantic Ocean. Newport Country Club, host of the very first U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur in 1895, has been restored in the spirit envisioned by A.W. Tillinghast. The city blends maritime pleasures with cultural life, offering beaches, sailing, and fine dining at venues like Castle Hill Inn.
Top golf courses in Rhode Island:
- Newport Country Club – Historic, oceanfront.
- Shelter Harbor Golf Club – Modern design with natural charm.
Connecticut – Academic Traditions and Characterful Fairways
In Mystic, maritime history comes alive at the Seaport Museum, and the aquarium welcomes visitors with its beluga whales. In New Haven, Yale combines academic heritage with culinary culture: Frank Pepe’s and Sally’s Apizza vie for the title of best “New Haven style” pizza, a local institution for decades.
Top golf courses in Connecticut:
- Yale Golf Course – Masterpiece by C.B. Macdonald & Seth Raynor, ranked among the best university courses in the world.
- Country Club of Fairfield – A refined Raynor layout with fairways winding along the shoreline.
- Tamarack Country Club – Charles Banks design inspired by classic British links.
Long Island – Golfing Apogee
Taking the ferry from New London to Orient Point avoids New York traffic and delivers you straight into a golfing paradise. Long Island boasts icons such as Shinnecock Hills (#4 US), National Golf Links of America (#7 worldwide), and, of course, Bethpage Black – the “monster” municipal course hosting the 2025 Ryder Cup. A layout that demands as much stamina as precision.
Top golf courses in Long Island:
- Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – Historic masterpiece.
- National Golf Links of America – America’s tribute to Scottish links.
- Bethpage Black – Public and legendary.
Conclusion
Blending gourmet anecdotes, maritime heritage, and prestigious golf addresses, this itinerary transforms the Ryder Cup into a personal epic. Each stage is an opportunity for a swing… and a story worth telling.
Susanne Kemper
Susanne Kemper has covered the US PGA Tour’s West Coast swing and key events, DP European Tour’s events, Ryder Cup since Valderrama, WCG, British Open, US Open, plus South African, Latin American, and Australian Major tournaments for 20+ years and numerous LPGA, LET and Solheim Cups.