There is never a shortage of controversy in the golf industry but the latest move by the PGA of America has to top it all off. So, remember how everyone was extremely excited about the 2025 Ryder Cup when they learned about Team USA’s contenders? All that excitement is gone now, all thanks to the PGA of America’s new decision.

So, the Ryder Cup team for the USA has some of the top golfers which include Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman, and Billy Horschel. The fans were super over the moon with the excitement for all the right reasons until the latest announcement.  According to Golf.com’s James Colgan, the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is stirring controversy with its steep ticket prices and you’ll understand why in just some time.

Per Colgan, volunteers are being charged $350 for a package that includes a uniform, drawstring bag, commemorative pin, and meal vouchers during shifts. While it’s common for volunteers to pay fees, the significant price hike has raised the eyebrows of the fans. NUCLR GOLF also made a post on X confirming this and the fans lost their collective minds over it. “The PGA of America is charging volunteers $350 USD to work at the 2025 Ryder Cup, per @GOLF_com. That price is higher than at any other major championship and includes: ☑️ Volunteer uniform ☑️ Drawstring bag ☑️ Commemorative pin ☑️ Food (during shifts only) ☑️ Tournament credential”, read the caption.

Golf fans are also not spared from the increasing prices as the daily tickets to the 2025 Ryder Cup will cost a staggering $750, which is a five times increase compared to the cheapest tickets to the Masters and U.S. Open. The golf fans didn’t take this lightly and expressed their disagreement in the comment section.

Netizens strongly disapprove of the new decision by the PGA of America

So, we all know that golf fans love the Ryder Cup. They eagerly wait for the event to take place and when things don’t go their way, they often get very brutal. But here’s the thing, maybe, just maybe they’re right this time around and they did not shy away from proving their point. This one fan was so mad at the organizers that they said the game would be ‘ruined’ because of their move. “The PGA needs to get a grip and realize they are about to ruin this event”.

And well it seems like many fans agree with the statement because this one fan straight up called the latest move a “Robbery”. But you would be surprised to find out that Bryan Karns who is the  Ryder Cup championship director actually defended the price hike, saying that this was their way of avoiding a ‘massively inflated secondary market’. “We knew that it was going to be critical to get this right and to try to do something that we felt was on par with where we viewed ourselves and where our position was in this world, he said.

But of course, the fans are still disagreeing with this approach, as one fan said, “When did this become a trend where you have to pay to volunteer your services for an event? This is ridiculous”, while another said, “It’s pathetic, they shouldn’t have to pay to volunteer”. 

We all know that the volunteers at every event are the unsung heroes of professional golf. They provide essential support to maintain security and organization at major events. However, the PGA of America’s decision to charge volunteers $350 for the 2025 Ryder Cup does not make that easy for them to do so. Many fans are also upset that they won’t get to see their favorite players like Scheffler and Schauffle because of this new move. According to Golf.com, some volunteers considered declining the offer due to the hefty fee but ultimately paid for the privilege of a full-week course access.

This one fan suggested something that many people agree with and said, “The PGA should pay them $350 to work”. The suggestion goes completely opposite of what PGA of America has in plan. So, what do you think about this new situation? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!