The distribution of tickets for the Ryder Cup in September will begin next month, the organisers announced yesterday.
Thousands of Irish golf fans who procured tickets in last year's public ballot can expect to receive them in the post before the end of August.
Forty five thousand people will attend each day of the competition from Friday, September 22nd to Sunday, 24th at The K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare.
The competition days are sold out although a limited number of hospitality packages (€3,400 for a table of 10) and tickets are available for the two practice days on Tuesday, September 19th and Wednesday, September 20th.
The organisers also confirmed, to avoid the threat of forged or invalid tickets being offered for resale, photo identification (passport or driving licence) will be required for entry to The K Club.
Such rigorous checks may seem unfeasible, considering the large crowds expected to attend each day, but all tickets are non-transferable according to a Ryder Cup spokesman: "If circumstances dictate we need to check all ID this will prevail. There is a real threat of forged or invalid tickets being offered for sale. This warning must be taken seriously. The only way unscrupulous agents can supply tickets is if they were forged, as they do not have access to the official tickets. This also raised the question that such agents will not have tickets and therefore will accept money without being able to supply. We do not want anyone disappointed. We also need to make it crystal clear that all official corporate hospitality packages have sold out for Ireland."
This may cause concerns for people purchasing tickets online in the coming weeks. Tickets on various websites were on sale yesterday at prices ranging from €300 to €1,500. "We would advise anyone in any doubt to contact the European Tour immediately. We do not want anyone duped. We do not want the public disappointed. We are also aware that in 1998 three private hospitality companies went into liquidation shortly before the World Cup owing more than £5 million to customers . . . that was a warning for all international sports events."
The organisers also made it clear patrons will not be allowed enter The K Club with mobile phones. This ruling is not binding under law after it was pointed out during last week's British Open it is illegal to seize a citizens mobile phone. "The terms and conditions of ticket sale indicate failure to observe and abide by these regulations shall constitute a breach of contract and may result in eviction from the venue and/or demarcated areas, cancellation or confiscation of this ticket," added a Ryder Cup spokesman.
Applications for the remaining practice day tickets can apply online via www.rydercup.com. Tickets are €35 each (€22 for OAPs and under-16s) and a maximum of four tickets for each day will be allocated to any one household. Passport details are required to make a purchase.
The organisers stress there will be no "pass outs" throughout the six days of the event.
A road-closure programme, stretching to a five-mile radius around The K Club, will be in operation Sunday, September 17th at 11.59pm to Sunday, September 24th at 11.59pm. All ticket holders will be liable to security checks at the entrance gates and are reminded it is essential to have a car-park pass (€20 per car per day) to access the "park and ride" terminals.
The Ryder Cup Ltd were unable to confirm whether two former presidents of the US, Bill Clinton and George Bush senior, will be attending the main event.
