Farmingdale State College to close during Ryder Cup; Farmingdale public schools remain open
The college announced it will completely shut down for the week of the tournament.
Top Stories
The highly anticipated Ryder Cup is set to bring excitement to Long Island next week, as Bethpage Black hosts one of golf’s biggest events. But with tens of thousands expected to descend on the area, local schools and colleges are making plans to prepare for the influx.
Farmingdale State College announced it will completely shut down for the week of the tournament. The decision stems from a logistical partnership with the PGA, which will use approximately 4,000 parking spaces on the college campus for tournament staff, volunteers, and other personnel.
“We feel in-person instruction is the most effective way to engage with our students,” said Gregory O’Connor, vice president and CFO at Farmingdale State College. “We wanted to be sure we did not deprive them of that in-person instruction, so we modified the calendar accordingly.”
Meanwhile, the Farmingdale School District, which includes schools located close to Bethpage Black, is opting to remain open during the event. Superintendent Paul Defendini emphasized the district’s commitment to the community.
“We’re looking to do what we can in order to stay open for our parents and our students,” Defendini said. “So many of our community members rely on our schools for a variety of reasons.”
District officials are monitoring the situation and may make minor adjustments to scheduling, but say they will continue operations as long as a safe environment can be maintained.
The Ryder Cup, which is expected to bring both excitement and disruption to the region, runs from Tuesday through Sunday next week.
