President Donald Trump made a trip to a west suburb of Chicago on Sunday to attend the Presidents Cup golf tournament, prompting heightened security at the event and several protests.
Gates at the Medinah Country Club opened to sectators at 8 a.m., though the president wasn’t scheduled to make an appearance until the closing ceremony of the tournament around 11 a.m.
Air Force One could be seen flying over the course ahead of Trump’s visit.
Additional security restrictions are in place throughout the event because Trump’s visit, according to the PGA Tour. Everyone will have to go through TSA style screening checkpoints around the first tee grandstand and surrounding areas.
“Spectators should make every effort to restrict personal items to a minimum,” Presidents Cup organizers said in a press release. “Spectators are encouraged to arrive as early as possible and should anticipate extra travel time to Medinah Country Club as they plan their day.”
Anyone who leaves the secure areas will have to be re-screened if they want to enter again, organizers said.
The Presidents Cup is bringing 200,000 people to Medinah this weekend. But it’s not just Medinah — there are three other suburbs playing host.
Officials also said certain areas of the club “may become briefly restricted or paused before, during, or after the event to support security operations.”
“The PGA Tour and DuPage County take security seriously they’ve been planning this event for years,” said special agent in charge Derek Mayer, U.S. Secret Service, Chicago Field Office. “We’re expecting 30,000 people a day and when the president’s here there will be a multi-layer approach to our security.”
NBC Chicago spoke with Mayer earlier this week about the presidential visit and what spectators should expect.
“Obviously all the spectators will come through the PGA Tour security, and then to get close to where the president would be you would have to come through Secret Service security,” he said.
Medinah Country Club is getting ready to host one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world, with President Donald Trump expected to be among the spectators this weekend. Patrick Fazio reports on preparations for the president’s visit.
Trumps visit sparked protests on Saturday and more were expected throughout Sunday.
A small group gathered in front of the country club on Saturday morning pushing back on the president’s policies.
Security is tight at west suburban Medinah County Club as President Trump is expected to make an appearance at the Presidents Cup golf tournament. Vi Nguyen reports.