Want to bet the Northern Trust at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City will be one of the most exciting golf tournaments of the year? Now you actually can, as the August 18–22 tournament—the first of the PGA Tour’s three FedEx Cup playoff events—has announced a partnership with DraftKings Inc.
With gaming legal in New Jersey, DraftKings is the official betting operator of the Northern Trust—and will debut DraftKings House, a public venue between the 15th green and 16th fairway that will feature televisions airing golf and other live sports, phone chargers, complimentary WiFi and premium food and beverages.
From DraftKings House, fans can watch past champions Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed, who have already committed to the tournament, finish on the 481-yard, par 4 hole 15, which played as the toughest hole on the course when the Northern Trust was last at Liberty National in 2019.
This year, the Northern Trust is offering its most affordable tickets ever. “As we come out of Covid, people who have been struggling are now ready to get out, and we want to encourage that,” says Julie Tyson, tournament executive director.
As in years past, admission is free for kids under the age of 15 when accompanied by a ticketed adult. A Daily Grounds ticket starts at $30 for Wednesday, $55 for Thursday and Friday, and $65 for Saturday and Sunday. A ticket to the Ultra Club, an open-air venue overlooking the 17th green, starts at $195 per day. Complimentary admission will be offered to military members verified by SheerID and tri-state area firefighters, who will have access to a dedicated concession venue—made to look like the famed firefighter bar O’Hara’s in Manhattan—near the 13th green.
[RELATED: 13 Great Golf Courses on the Jersey Shore]
The tournament will continue to highlight local restaurants, with Jersey City institutions Pizza Vita and Torico Ice Cream and NYC favorites Shake Shack and Luke’s Lobster all returning. Complementing the already stacked lineup in the Garden State Marketplace along the 17th fairway will be new addition Playa Bowls. Fans can also visit the Meomi Wine Garden, which mimics a North Fork vineyard near the 16th tee; the First Round Beer Garden for a craft brew at the 15th green; and the Kids Zone, sponsored by Tackle Kids Cancer, a philanthropic initiative of Hackensack Meridian Health.
While enjoying views of the Statue of Liberty, which sits just 2,000 yards from the golf course, fans can also watch the top 125 golfers in the world warm up at the driving range and practice putting green. Mastercard cardholders may visit the new Mastercard Skybridge, a 12-foot-high observation deck that gives an even better perspective.
“If you are interested in golf with a side of fun, there are lots of great views, and seating around almost every hole,” says Tyson. “But if you’re looking for fun with a side of golf, we have that, too.”
Throughout the tournament, Uber will be allowed to drop off on-site; free shuttles will be provided from general parking near the Jersey City Medical Center. The tournament also can be accessed by ferry or PATH train from Manhattan. Visit thenortherntrust.com for more information, or to purchase or reserve tickets.