Golf’s biggest team showdown is just around the corner, and it’s bringing the hype to New York. Yes, we’re talking about the 2025 Ryder Cup, a biennial clash between Team USA and Team Europe that’s equal parts prestige and pride. This year, it lands at the legendary Bethpage Black course on Long Island, with the action set for September 26–28, 2025. If you’re a casual golf fan or a newbie to the sport, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered on what to expect, why everyone’s suddenly talking about golf, and how now might be the perfect time to pick up a club yourself.
Bethpage Black Sets the Stage
Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, NY isn’t just any golf course, it’s a beast. In fact, it’s so tough that there’s a famous warning sign on the first tee cautioning that the course is “extremely difficult” and “recommended only for highly skilled golfers”. This public course has hosted multiple U.S. Opens and even a PGA Championship, but 2025 will mark its first Ryder Cup appearance. Fans can expect a rowdy New York crowd cheering (and maybe some friendly heckling) in true Ryder Cup fashion as Team USA looks to capitalize on home advantage.
Dates to circle on your calendar: the tournament runs Friday through Sunday, September 26–28, 2025. The first matches typically tee off early Friday morning (around 7:10 a.m. Eastern), so plan on some early wake-ups, you won’t want to miss a minute.
Ryder Cup 101: Format and Fireworks
So what makes the Ryder Cup so special? For starters, it’s a team event in a sport that’s usually all about individual play. Each side has 12 golfers, and over three days they’ll battle in 28 match-play matches. The competition features three formats:
Foursomes (alternate shot): Two-player teams from each side take turns hitting the same ball. It’s the ultimate test of teamwork, if your partner slices one into the rough, you’re the one hitting the next shot! Four foursome matches are played on Friday morning, then again Saturday morning.
Fourballs (best-ball): Two-player teams again, but each golfer plays their own ball. The better score from each pair counts for the team. There are four fourball matches each afternoon on Friday and Saturday. This format tends to produce more birdies and highlight-reel shots since players can be super aggressive.
Singles: On Sunday, it’s one-on-one. All 24 players go out in 12 head-to-head matches, USA vs. Europe. This is where comebacks happen and legends are made (cue the clutch putts and nail-biting finishes).
Each match is worth one point, and with 28 points total, 14½ points is the magic number to win the Cup outright (14 points would result in a tie, in which case the defending champs retain the trophy). The beauty of match play is that it’s fast-paced and full of momentum swings, a single hot streak can turn the tide, and a normally quiet golfer can transform into an animated, fist-pumping hero for his team.
One more thing newcomers notice: the atmosphere. Unlike hushed regular tournaments, Ryder Cup crowds chant, sing, and cheer like it’s a soccer match. You’ll see matching team outfits, flags waving, and maybe the occasional face paint. It’s golf, but with a serious shot of adrenaline.
Stars to Watch and Storylines
Both Team USA and Team Europe are loaded with talent, a mix of household names and rising stars. For Team USA, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the pack, joined by major champions like Justin Thomas and clutch performers such as Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. The American roster will aim to recreate the youthful energy that delivered a record 19–9 home win in 2021.
On the European side, the team coming to New York has serious firepower too. Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, two of the world’s top-ranked golfers, are the heartbeat of Team Europe. They’re backed by an exciting wave of new talent. Keep an eye on 25-year-old Viktor Hovland (already a star with a gleaming resume) and rookie Ludvig Åberg, a young Swede who earned a captain’s pick after a meteoric rise in 2023.
Team Europe enters as the defending champion, after a rousing 16½–11½ victory in 2023, sweet revenge after Team USA had routed them 19–9 in 2021. Now Europe holds the trophy and would love to break the home-team winning streak by triumphing on U.S. soil (no European squad has won an away Ryder Cup since 2012). Meanwhile, Team USA is determined to reclaim the Cup on home turf. It’s the classic back-and-forth drama that makes this event so compelling.
Golf is Getting Younger: A New Generation on the Greens
Beyond the pro scene, have you noticed more younger folks at your local driving range or Topgolf lately? You’re not imagining things, golf is experiencing a surge in interest among younger generations. Once stereotyped as a stuffy “old man’s game,” the sport has undergone a modern makeover that’s drawing in a vibrant new crowd. Consider a few trends:
Big boom in young players: As of 2024, adults 18–34 have become the largest group of on-course golfers in the U.S. (approximately 6.3 million players). Many of these newcomers picked up the game recently, 3.4 million people played golf on a course for the first time in 2023.
Social media & YouTube influencers: Golf has gone viral for the younger set. Scroll through Instagram or TikTok and you’ll find trick-shot artists, comedy golfers, and vloggers making the game feel more accessible and fun. These content creators are boosting golf’s “cool factor” among kids who might never have watched a PGA Tour event on TV. In short, social media has helped turn golf into a lifestyle trend.
Casual hangouts like Topgolf: Another game-changer has been the rise of off-course golf venues. Topgolf, Five Iron Golf, and other simulator lounges have made golf into a social night out. In 2023, about 18.4 million Americans hit golf balls at entertainment-focused venues like these (often with friends, food, and music in the mix). For many, places like Topgolf are a fun, low-pressure introduction to the sport, a way to get the feel of hitting a ball without the formality of a country club. It’s working: these venues help newbies build confidence before they ever play a traditional round.
Entertainment & media buzz: Golf is popping up in pop culture more than ever. Televised events like “The Match”, where tour pros pair up with celebrities or NFL quarterbacks, have drawn huge audiences and brought in younger viewers (the average age was about 10 years younger than typical golf telecasts). And let’s not forget Netflix’s “Full Swing” docu-series, which gave a binge-worthy, behind-the-scenes look at pro golf. It paid off: 63% of “Full Swing” viewers said they tuned into PGA Tour coverage in the months after watching the show. In other words, golf has hit the mainstream, turning curious onlookers into actual fans.
All these factors have combined to make golf cool again, or maybe cool for the first time. The sport’s overall reach (people playing, watching, or following golf) is up roughly 30% since 2016. A lot of those new fans and players are in their teens, 20s, or 30s, injecting fresh energy into local courses and driving ranges. The old stereotypes are being left in the dust of a well-struck drive.
Tee It Up: Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Start Playing
If you’ve ever thought, “Golf looks fun, maybe I should try it”, now’s the time. With so many new players picking up the sport, you won’t be alone if you’re still whiffing a few shots. Golf isn’t an exclusive country-club affair anymore, it’s all around us, and everyone’s invited. Public courses abound, driving ranges are cheap and welcoming, and lots of communities have beginner clinics or short 9-hole courses to get you started. In short, it’s never been easier to give golf a go.
Join the Fun
Golf’s youth revival isn’t just about watching the pros, it’s about everyday folks discovering the joy of the game. It’s blasting a drive down the fairway (or topping it and laughing it off), sinking a putt while your buddies cheer. With the 2025 Ryder Cup shining a spotlight on the sport and so many new players hitting the links, the vibe around golf is downright welcoming right now.
So, go ahead, grab a bucket of balls, channel your inner Rory, and give it a shot. TeachMe.To can help you every step of the way, from that very first lesson to the day you finally out-drive your friends. The fairways are calling, and there’s no better time to answer. Let’s tee it up!
