The Long Island Rail Road is adding extra service to Farmingdale next week to accomodate crowds traveling to see the PGA Tour playoffs at Bethpage State Park's golf course, the MTA announced Tuesday.
"Go green to get to the Black," said Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand at a press conference at the Farmingdale station, referring to The Barclays Black Course.
Ekstrand was joined by County Executive Edward Mangano, LIRR president Helena Williams and Barclays executive director Peter Mele to announce the partnership.
"We urge golf fans to leave the car at home because there will be no faster or more convenient way to get to The Barclays than the Long Island Rail Road," Williams said in a statement. "We will have plenty of LIRR service and extra personnel available to assist customers, so leave the driving to us."
Williams encouraged riders to purchase rail tickets in advance online through CooCoo.com. These tickets can be scanned on the train directly from customers' smartphones, she said.
The PGA Tour runs from Thursday, August 23 through Sunday, August 26 from 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Regular weekday train schedules will apply during the practice rounds being played on August 21 and 22.
Advance tickets for the tournament are $55, with tickets at the gate costing $75.
Children under the age of 18 with a ticket-holder get in free, as do active and retired military servicepeople and their families.
The Black Course is renowned for its challenges, including uphill fairways and long-distance pars, according to Mele.
"Bethpage is the crown jewel. It's one of the best courses in the country," Mele said.
