Ryder Cup volunteers fear accommodation prices could price them out of Adare event

Applicants from around the world hope to secure volunteer places, but accommodation costs are causing concern

If she is selected as a volunteer, Margaret Elizabeth Birks will be attending her 10th Ryder Cup.

More than 35,000 people have applied to be volunteers at the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, with registrations coming from 87 countries — but it will be a costly experience for many, with accommodation rates through the roof.

If she is one of the lucky 2,000 to be selected, Margaret Elizabeth Birks, from Scotland, will be attending her 10th Ryder Cup.

“I've done all the Ryder Cups in Europe. This would be my 10th one, and it'll be my second one in Ireland because I did the K Club,” she told the Irish Examiner.

“The atmosphere at the Ryder Cup is nothing like any atmosphere at any other golf course. The spectators enjoy themselves, and they cheer their teams on, and they sing. It’s just so wonderful. 

"I've got friends now that we only see at the Ryder Cup, we call ourselves the golfing friends — we always share one big house.” 

Successful applicants will fulfil two types of volunteer roles — the traditional on-course marshal role and a new 'ambassador' role that will support the overall fan experience.

Volunteers and fans alike can expect a bit of celebrity spotting, as Ms Birks was once delighted to get a hello from David Beckham.

“You’ve got Rory McIlroy and all of them as they're walking past us volunteers, they always say thank you. They're very, very polite and are really nice,” she said.

While she is eager to find out in August if she got selected, the “ridiculous” price of accommodation in Ireland is a concern.

Local residents who rent their homes during the tournament could make up to €25,600 in a week through official channels, while a lot of properties have been listed on unofficial websites for tens of thousands.

The prices of accommodation in Ireland are just ridiculous. In my 10 years of doing this, I have never come across a cost of accommodation like Ireland.

“I was in the centre of Rome two years ago, and we got an apartment for eight of us, and it only cost about €3,000.

“The other thing as well is that the Ryder Cup have closed every hotel within a 50-mile radius of Adare,” she said.

Ms Birks said volunteers are not “wealthy golf people” —  they have to pay for their own flights and accommodation.

“I just hope to goodness they manage to let their accommodation out, because I've got a funny feeling they'll have to drop the prices,” she said.

Last year, Ian Bushby got “very lucky” to be put on the waitlist to volunteer at Bethpage, New York. Unsuccessful in the first batch of applications, he was eventually called forward.

“It’s contagious. When you become a volunteer, you get more and more involved all the time because you're so close to so many elements. So I just went up to one of the marshalling desks, and I said, 'Look, guys, you know, I'm free. Do you need any help?' And the organiser said, 'Absolutely, because we've got people not turned up'."

According to Mr Bushby, because of how the results were going, some American volunteers did not bother to show up.

After being assigned to “match eight”, an Irish man informed him this would be “heaven”, as Shane Lowry was the one playing.

Last year, Ian Bushby got 'very lucky' to be put on the waitlist to volunteer at Bethpage, New York.

“We had this incredible experience of watching an American crowd come alive as they thought they were gonna see the Americans pulling off the impossible.

“I was standing on the 18th green when I saw Shane sink his putt to halve the match and to get the point, to retain the Ryder Cup, and it was just an experience that will live with me forever,” he recalled.

“The players are in a bubble because they've got to concentrate. You can speak to them occasionally, and you can get a word in with the caddies outside of the match environment."

On the Bethpage course, Mr Bushby witnessed “so much abuse” being thrown at the players from a small yet “very vocal” minority.

The American fans were absolutely despicable. They weren't sporting fans, they were just loudmouth, drunken Americans. It was a real shame. What you saw on TV was nothing compared to what it was like live. It was a boiling, melting pot of abuse.

As he waits to find out if he got selected, Mr Bushby is “casually browsing” for accommodation. While the prices are eye-watering, he is not surprised.

“It’s understandable because people see it as an opportunity to cash in because there are always a lot of wealthy people, and so-called sports fans who attend marquee events such as the Ryder Cup because it's the place to be seen,” he said.

In Gleneagles, Paris and Rome, British man Philip Hughes was one of the walking media marshals. He got to see the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy play. Next year, he is hoping to be in Limerick.

“I like to think that myself and others earned the respect of players, simply because most days they would come across afterwards and say thank you for helping them. That’s why you go, that’s it. That’s a buzz, no money could buy that,” said Mr Hughes.

At the Ryder Cup, you never know who you might bump into. In 2014 at Gleneagles, Mr Hughes was introduced to none other than the captain of the American team.

“My colleague and I met an American guy in the pub, we had some beers and told some stories. The next day, midway around the golf course in the middle of the Ryder Cup, this young guy comes up on a golf buggy and says ‘Phil, I’d like you to meet my dad’. And dad was Tom Watson,” he recalled.

Despite hoping to be selected, Mr Hughes pointed out a lot of the volunteers are on a pension, or have limited income.

“We’ve all seen the crazy rip-off offers online. We’re the foot soldiers, not the millionaire spectators,” he said.