Fans have been barred from bringing range finders to Bethpage Black when Donald Trump[1] attends the Ryder Cup on Friday after the common golf gadget was reportedly used in an attempted assassination of the president last year.
Trump is slated to be among the crowd on the opening day of this week’s clash between Europe and the USA.
On Wednesday morning, ‘enhanced security measures’ were announced, with a number of items now banned due to Trump’s arrival. They include ‘large umbrellas’ and range finders.
The president’s visit comes just two weeks after the fatal shooting of his friend and ally, Charlie Kirk[2]. And just over a year after Trump himself survived an assassination attempt.
Back in July 2024, the security services reportedly flagged a man using a range finger to the US Secret Service around 20 minutes before Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania[3].
Range finders are routinely used by golfers to work out the distance between their ball and the hole. But the Ryder Cup announced that they will not be permitted inside the course on Friday.
Fans have been barred from bringing range finders when Donald Trump attends the Ryder Cup
The president is expected to be among the crowd for the opening day at Bethpage Black
Trump was shot during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, back in July 2024
A string of other items have been banned from ‘the first tee grandstand or clubhouse area’ on Friday. They include portable folding chairs, torch-style lighters and large vaping devices.
Laptops and tablets are also barred from the course, while ‘all bags, personal items and their contents may be subject to inspection.’ The use of umbrellas, meanwhile, ‘may be restricted in certain areas of the course and main grandstand,’ with ponchos ‘strongly encouraged’.
Officials also warned fans to expect delays and airport-style security as Bethpage Black braces itself for the president’s visit. Gates will now open at 5am as the Ryder Cup bids to avoid the chaos of the recent US Open men’s singles final.
The clash between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz had to be pushed back half an hour after tennis chiefs implemented extra security protocols with Trump in the crowd.
‘Those attending the Ryder Cup on Friday, September 26, should expect enhanced security measures and additional restrictions,’ a statement read.
‘Ticketed attendees are strongly urged to arrive as early as possible and should budget extra time as they plan their day… guests should make every effort to restrict personal items to a minimum.’
The Ryder Cup statement added: ‘Guests should expect temporary delays moving around publicly accessible areas inside and outside of the Bethpage Black Golf Course. These areas may briefly become restricted or frozen spaces before, during or after the event.’
Charlie Kirk, an ally and friend of President Trump, was recently shot during an event in Utah
Ryder Cup fans watch US star Bryson DeChambeau during a practice round on Tuesday
Earlier this week, police chiefs warned that there is an ‘increased’ risk[4] of someone ‘targeting’ the Ryder Cup[5] to ‘make a statement’ in the wake of Kirk[6]‘s death. The conservative political activist was shot during an event in Utah[7] earlier this month.
Trump’s visit to Bethpage Black has only added another layer of complication to an already vast security operation which is ‘on par’ with a Super Bowl[8] and includes drones and bomb-disposal dogs as well as chemical, biological and radiological units.
And the man leading Ryder Cup security admitted they are preparing for the worst. ‘If anything, the likelihood of somebody trying to use an event like this to make a statement is only increased,’ Major Stephen Udice told the[9] BBC[10].
‘Some would argue it’s much higher. We are planning as if there are threats. We have multiple different layers that someone looking to cause chaos and harm is going to have to get through.
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‘In an event of this size, with the attention that this is going to get around the world, we also recognize that this is a target.’
On Tuesday, Ryan Routh was found guilty of attempting to shoot Trump at a Florida golf course last September.
The 59-year-old was found guilty of charges including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and several firearm offences.
Trump was playing at one of his courses near Mar-a-Lago when the Secret Service noticed the barrel of a rifle poking out of a bush. An agent fired at Routh, who attempted to flee before being captured.
References
- ^ Donald Trump (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Charlie Kirk (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Pennsylvania (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ warned that there is an ‘increased’ risk (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Ryder Cup (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Kirk (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Utah (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Super Bowl (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Major Stephen Udice told the (www.bbc.com)
- ^ BBC (www.dailymail.co.uk)