GOLF-loving Donald Trump has departed for the Ryder Cup to throw his support behind Team USA.
Trump has left the White House as he boarded Marine One for his visit to Bethpage Black Course in New York.
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he departs the White House[/caption]
Avid 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]
It comes as an enormous ring of steel has been thrown up around the course ahead of the President
Ex-Secret Service agents warned the threat to the compeition has never been greater following the political assassination of Charlie Kirk.
And it follows two attempts on Trump’s life in 2024 – including one at his West Palm Beach golf course in Florida.
Trump is expected to bring with an armoured buggy – known as Golf Force One.
He will also be supported by his usual team of Secret Service agents backed up by local cops along with drones and snipers.
The entire security operation could cost as much as $10million.
Gold Force One accompanied the Don to Tuurnberry in July – with the $28k cart having bulletproof glass and armoured plates.
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.
Ex-Secret Service agent Donald Lane told The Sun said the security operation will be intense.
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.
“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.”
Not all security measures at the golf course will be visible, security experts warn[/caption]
Cops and dogs stand-by near the Bethpage Black Golf Course[/caption]
Team USA beam as they pose with the Ryder Cup[/caption]
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.”
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.
A series of restrictions are in place for the thousands of fans heading to Bethpage Black course.
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.”
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.
