An Englishman in New York: A Ryder Cup Adventure and City of Dreams

I can hear An Englishman in New York by Sting in my head as I write these words. This was my first-ever trip to the Big Apple - planned entirely around attending the Ryder Cup. What a glorious experience on so many levels.

I’d researched the possibility of playing golf while in New York but decided that witnessing the 2025 Ryder Cup was the better option. Having secured some great accommodation in Manhattan, I soon discovered a wealth of accessible golf within an hour’s travel of the main tourist centres.

Bethpage Black would be top of the list because of its Ryder Cup links, but it was rather busy during my visit and therefore not an option. Still, I found a fantastic range of highly rated courses through Golfshake, an excellent online resource.

If you’re considering a golf trip, Golfshake should be your first port of call. The map feature is intuitive, the ratings are by golfers for golfers, and I’ve found them wholly reliable for over a decade.

For this trip, though, the clubs stayed at home. My wife was joining me for the Ryder Cup - and hauling golf bags through Manhattan would have been a step too far!

Discovering New York: The Big Red Bus Experience

The tourist experience in New York was sublime, and it began on the Big Red Bus, recommended by several well-travelled friends.

Two circular routes are offered around the Manhattan area, providing easy and comfortable access to the main tourist centres using a hop-on, hop-off facility. A ticket provides access for 24 hours and is excellent value, especially with the multi-language commentaries from the top seat of the double-decker bus.

The views from the open-topped bus are tremendous - expect to take many pictures.

I researched the areas deeply before travel, and we decided to hop off at Hudson Yards and Chelsea Market. We were not disappointed, getting direct access to The High Line complex and a wonderful food hall offering a global range of cuisine.

The circular nature of the tour allows you to become better orientated to the city and its immense scale. Some more advice I followed was - look up!

New York has extraordinary architecture from a range of styles and periods, and I genuinely think that starting our New York odyssey with the Red Bus tour was the best way to commence a trip.

Iconic Highlights: Edge, Vessel & Central Park

There were several highlights to my trip, including an awesome experience visiting Edge and essel.

The Vessel - a stunning copper-like spiral of interlinking staircases - sits beside The Edge, offering superb views, upscale shopping, and a cosmopolitan food court.

The Edge itself surpassed even my experience at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Easier to access, with better facilities and friendlier staff, it offered breathtaking views and a glass-floored platform that’s not for the faint-hearted.

The elevator ride - 100 floors in 52 seconds - is worth the ticket price alone. I won’t spoil the surprise, but the descent is just as thrilling!

I loved the experience of walking in Central Park in the sunshine to find the Imagine mosaic within Strawberry Fields - an oasis of nature covering some 873 acres that owes its existence to public parks in Derby and Liverpool.

Architecture, Culture & Awe

The Rockefeller Center was another extraordinary location, especially as it was adorned with a Ryder Cup pop-up bar featuring live jumbo-screen coverage of the games.

Grand Central Station simply blew my mind with its architecture, scale, and grandeur. Magnificent is the only way to describe it.

Shopping in New York was exceptional, with Macy’s and FAO Schwarz being a genuine pleasure and delight. Fifth Avenue was a place to walk, wander, and window shop.

9/11 Memorial

I am still inspired and awed by my guided tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Two buildings built as symbols of world peace destroyed by calculated terrorism. The stories told with such respect provided me with solace and an uplift I did not expect. The memorials are wonderful, and I feel better for having experienced them at least once in my lifetime.

Over 1.8 million tons of rubble were created by the explosions, and the proximity of the Hudson River to the foundations of the buildings added even more difficulty to the recovery and rescue work. Initial estimates for the repairs ran to years, but the work was completed within nine months of 24/7 effort.

Those heroic efforts compromised the health of many of those involved, and now thousands more lives are being impacted by the health issues they suffered during the rescue operations.

The Sounds & Smells of the City

I was amazed by the sounds and smells of the city that never sleeps. Cannabis dispensaries are available on most street corners, and the strong smell of weed pervades many sidewalks. Add to this the aroma of street vendors selling food, and the munchies are alive and well in the USA.

The sidewalks are not paved with gold but have metal grilles that provide an exhaust system for the subway. I was caught out while wandering over one grille as a train passed urgently underneath, spouting gases and hot air with a growl that caused me to jump feet into the air.

New York has a unique soundtrack. The first responder vehicles are all fitted with incredibly loud wailing sirens that have a vocabulary all their own. The cops especially use them to talk to other motorists in words of one syllable. The cyclists - especially the tricyclists who taxi tourists around the city - provide a mobile DJ sound booth with lights and themes according to one’s taste.

Dining Highlights: Keens Steakhouse & Beyond

Cuisine in New York was extensive, global, and excellent.

A special shout-out to Keens Steakhouse on 35th Street for providing the best steak meal I have ever seen, never mind enjoyed. Simply exceptional! Our visit coincided with the meeting of the United Nations, and many of the best restaurants were fully booked. We went onto a standby list and got the call - a gastronomic highlight of our week.

Nightlife & Ryder Cup Celebrations

The nightlife is exceptional - from the rooftop bars of The Monarch, overlooking the Empire State Building, to the extraordinary atmosphere of The Westbury, an official Ryder Cup pub on 38th Street linked to the man of the hour, Shane Lowry.

Celebrating the European team’s success here was an incredible experience of epic (and slightly alcoholic) proportions. We were still at Bethpage when the putt dropped but managed to visit late on the Sunday night. Instagram >>

Check out the scenes from inside the pub when Lowry was about to play his epic putt. The entire crowd drops into respectful silence so as not to put him off - wonderful!  Instagram >>

My New York Dream Golf Wish List

After my stay, I found myself creating a wish list of golf courses that I plan to play should I be able to return with an unlimited budget.

If I had a month available, I would intersperse the sightseeing with rounds of golf, having established an accommodation base within the Manhattan district, as it’s so easy to access the rest of the city’s boroughs from this location.

Top 10 Golf Courses in New York

• Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (Southampton) – Historic, prestigious, and a U.S. Open regular.
• Winged Foot Golf Club (Mamaroneck) – Legendary for its West Course and championship pedigree.
• Oak Hill Country Club (Rochester) – Classic Donald Ross design and Ryder Cup history.
• National Golf Links of America (Southampton) – British-inspired links with Long Island charm.
• Bethpage State Park – Black Course (Farmingdale) – Iconic, public, and punishingly good.
• Fishers Island Club (Fishers Island) – Ocean views and unforgettable scenery.
• Friar’s Head (Riverhead) – Modern design meets natural beauty.
• Garden City Golf Club (Garden City) – Understated and immaculate.
• Quaker Ridge Golf Club (Scarsdale) – Classic Tillinghast layout, perfectly kept.
• Sleepy Hollow Country Club (Scarborough) – Hudson River views and timeless elegance.

Final Reflections

I was a first-time visitor to New York, but I know I’ll return. It’s a city that astonishes, inspires, and welcomes - a global melting pot where 600 languages are spoken daily.

From the Ryder Cup celebrations to quiet walks in Central Park, from sizzling food stalls to sky-high views, New York lived up to every expectation and then some.

It’s an extraordinary city populated by extraordinary people.