Security Operations in Focus for 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black
A massive security operation will be in place when more than 250,000 fans, staff and players gather for the 2025 Ryder Cup at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. The effort will bring together advanced technology, multiple public and private agencies and authorized partners to help ensure safety across the sprawling golf venue.
The event, scheduled for September 26–28, marks the 45th playing of the Ryder Cup, a biennial international competition between 12 golfers from the United States and 12 from Europe. Unlike traditional tournaments, the Ryder Cup has no prize purse. Players compete for national pride, creating an atmosphere more comparable to a soccer match than a typical golf event.
Behind the scenes, Motorola Solutions is supporting the operation. Clay Cassard, vice president of global enterprise strategic sales, tells SecurityInfoWatch that priorities for such global gatherings extend beyond “boots on the ground” and now require “integrating people, process and technology to enable smarter, more proactive decision-making to help keep people safer."
Technology at the core
AI-enabled video cameras will be placed strategically throughout the venue to provide intelligence across public zones, restricted areas and access points. These systems are designed to detect unusual activity, with alerts enabling faster responses to issues such as unauthorized entry or unusual crowd behavior.
Another layer of technology will come from license plate readers positioned along roadways and parking areas. The systems allow security teams to cross-reference vehicle traffic against watchlists and discreetly flag potential threats. According to Cassard, this not only helps increase safety but also minimizes traffic disruptions to improve the overall operational experience.
Coordinating agencies
A wide range of agencies and stakeholders will be involved in the Ryder Cup security operation. These include federal, state and local law enforcement, private security contractors and EMS personnel.
Cassard explained that Motorola Solutions technology will keep the PGA of America’s Championship Operations connected with these groups through command center software used across multiple onsite centers. The system “brings together video and incident data into a single shared dashboard,” he said, providing a comprehensive, real-time view that enhances situational awareness, accelerates responses and improves coordination.
Motorola Solutions is working with authorized technology partners on the deployment of systems throughout the event site.
Unique challenges
The open terrain of a golf course presents distinct challenges compared to stadium sports. Spectators will be spread across walking paths, viewing hills, temporary seating, hospitality tents, merchandise areas and transport hubs. The presence of high-profile attendees and international media further elevates the complexity. Cassard noted that this requires multinational planning, precise execution and proactive threat detection and management.
From a broader perspective, Cassard emphasized that effective security for events of this scale depends on an integrated ecosystem rather than standalone tools.
“The security strategy isn’t just about having advanced cameras or two-way radios. It’s about connecting these technologies so they work together,” he said.
Information flowing seamlessly from AI-enabled video to communications devices allows for coordinated and rapid responses, he added.
“The vitality of having a seamless flow of information and a unified operational view across all security and safety personnel is what makes this approach so important,” Cassard said.
About the Author
Rodney Bosch
Editor-in-Chief/SecurityInfoWatch.com
Rodney Bosch is the Editor-in-Chief of SecurityInfoWatch.com. He has covered the security industry since 2006 for multiple major security publications. Reach him at [email protected].