THOUSANDS of avid sports fans will flock to Long Island to watch the best golfers from the US and Europe compete in this year’s Ryder Cup.
One spectator who will be at the Bethpage Black golf course is avid golfing fan, Donald Trump, but his presence alone means there will be a huge security operation in place.
APAvid golfer Donald Trump, seen teeing off in his course in Turnberry, Scotland, in July, will attend the first day of play at this year’s Ryder Cup[/caption]
Tom FarmerEx-Secret Service agents have revealed it’s more likely than not Trump’s armored golf buggy will make an appearance[/caption]
This year’s Ryder Cup comes at a time when the security threat facing America has never been graver, ex-Secret Service agents have told The U.S. Sun.
The assassination of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, was a little over two weeks ago, and Trump, himself, survived two attempts on his life in the run-up to last year’s presidential election.
The entire security operation could cost as much as $10 million, ex-Secret Service agent Donald Lane estimated.
It will involve local, state and federal agencies working together.
But, a team of Secret Service agents will flank Trump and watch his every move.
Trump is expected to arrive at Bethpage just after 11am local time.
Lane suggested it was more “likely” than not that Trump’s armoured golf cart, dubbed Golf Force One, will be on display.
Curiosity grew when the $28,000 security fortress made an appearance at Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire in July.
The cart has steel or composite plating, a bulletproof glass windshield, and extra panelling for protection.
Fans will have to go through airport-like security when they arrive at the course, which is considered one of the hardest in the world.
“In some places, you will have metal detectors set up where people would have to put belongings in a tray and go through X-ray machines,” Lane said.
“You may have folks wanding and asking if they can see IDs.
Semi-trailers will be dotted around the perimeter of the course to block the line of sight, according to the former agent.
“This is so that you can’t sit up on a building somewhere and shoot into the site,” he explained.
Hundreds of troopers from upstate New York will be deployed to the 1,477-acre course, counter snipers will be on standby, and surrounding roads will be closed and locked down.
There will also be chemical units in place.
List of banned items at the Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup have banned the following items:
Portable folding chairs
Large vaping devices
Torch-style lighters
Metal/hard plastic insulated beverage containers
Large umbrellas (small retractable umbrellas are allowed).
Umbrella use may be restricted in certain areas of the course and main grandstand. Rain ponchos are strongly encouraged.
All bags, personal items and their contents may be subject to inspection.
Laptops and tablets will NOT be permitted in the Bethpage Black Golf Course.
But on Friday, September 26:
Range finders will NOT be permitted inside the golf course.
“Anytime you have an event like this, there’s a possibility that somebody would launch some type of biological or chemical weapon,” Lane said.
“It presents a danger to the public because it’s going to be hard to stop something like that.
“Nobody’s going to be carrying a gas mask.
“But, again, it comes back to vetting people coming in and out of the site to make sure that they don’t have anything like that.”
Timothy Miller, a former Secret Service agent with more than three decades of experience, warned there will be security measures in place that are not visible.
“You won’t be aware of them,” he said.
“There are security measures behind the scenes, in terms of protective intelligence, that focus on any potential weak points.”
A series of restrictions are in place for the thousands of fans heading to Bethpage Black course.
Measures have been enhanced because of Trump’s scheduled attendance.
Laptops and tablets are among those banned, as are large umbrellas.
PANot all security measures at the golf course will be visible, security experts warn[/caption]
PACops and dogs stand-by near the Bethpage Black Golf Course[/caption]
ReutersTeam USA beam as they pose with the Ryder Cup[/caption]
Range finders cannot be brought into the golf course, coinciding with the presidential visit.
Large vaping devices and portable folding chairs are also banned, according to Ryder Cup chiefs.
Officials have also warned that moving in and out of the Bethpage Black golf course will be tricky.
Frozen spaces could be in place as part of efforts to manage flow.
Chiefs have explained how Trump’s attendance has caused difficulties.
“It’s the hardest thing we’ll have to do, probably,” Bryan Karns, the tournament’s director, told BBC Sport.
Trump’s presence is set to cause a stir, but Team USA golfer, Scottie Scheffler, has welcomed his appearance.
Describing the commander-in-chief as a funny man, Scheffler said: “He loves the game of golf, he loves supporting golfers, and I get a call or a text from him sometimes after wins, saying ‘great job.’”
“That was one of the things I noticed a lot with the time I’ve spent with him, is he treats everybody the same and treats people with the utmost respect.
“Whether you’re the person serving us lunch or the caddie on the golf course or the guy who’s the president of the club, he treats everybody like they’re the greatest person in the world.”
AMERICA DIVIDED
At least 250,000 spectators are set to attend the three-day golfing spectacular and fans have been encouraged to make use of public transport wherever possible.
Long Island Rail Road trains heading to Ronkonkoma will stop at Farmingdale Station.
The station is located around two-and-a-quarter miles from the golf course.
A free shuttle bus service will transport fans to the course.
The Ryder Cup is being held at a time when the security threat facing the US has never been as “grave,” according to Miller.
“We are a divided nation,” he warned.
“Violence has become an everyday part of America’s life and we gotta stop it.
“If we don’t stop it, America is going to rapidly decline as a nation, because the first responsibility of the government is to keep its people safe.”
He claimed that the Kirk assassination proves there’s a segment of the American population who are willing to turn to violence.
“That’s a big problem for the US. It’s never been that way in my lifetime,” he warned.
PATeam Europe star Rory McIlroy beaming as he practises on the course[/caption]
GettyTrump smirks as he attended the US Open final at Flushing Meadows, New York[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
