Bethpage Black Course

Awesome, awesome course! Nothing not to love, unless you play golf as poorly as I do! Really worth the trip.

Bethpage Black is one of the greatest golf courses in the world.
Lets get that straight.
Having played the «Black» since 1992 .
Close to 100 plus rounds.
I have grown intimately close and developed a true love and respect for the track.
The Best Holes on the course based on a number of factors including memorability,
Playability, reward for a well played shot,
Penalty for a poorly played shot.
As well as the demand on every club in the bag.
Best holes are as follows:
1. 5^th hole
2. 15^th hole
3. 10^th hole
4. 4^th hole
5. 12^th hole
6. 17^th hole
As far as a Parkland course not many rival the
Layout.
It has some of most impressive group of par 4’s in the US.
That rival Augusta, Winged Foot, Pine Valley, Shinnecock.
If there is a weak spot on the course it would be the rebuilt 14^th hole/​short par 3.
(Several changes for the last open in my opinion were not a value add. including the green on 14(the back shelf didn’t work.
The huge fairway bunker to the left on 9 also made the hole easier strategy wise and reduced the options off the tee to simply aim rt center…
14 also Played 98 yards on Sundays us open– to a flat green.
Look it up:) sorry 14.
A small critique is of the flattish green complexes as well.
The shortish 18^th Hole
Ans the bland and 1^st Hole.
However.
In regards to sheer ball striking and honest
In front of you golf…
This is as good as it gets.
Advice.
Play it like a target golf course
Stay out of the bunkers!
Especially front bunker on 15 and 17.
They ruin a good score .
Now if the rough is up!
All bets are off.
Just survive and keep your golf ball in play.
Its a Beast when the rough is up!
Good luck and enjoy this public treasure of Golf.
Its a gem.
Played all the great ones.
This is just as good.
Friars Head, Sebonack and many other new challengers are great and have amazing locations but, still lack the integrity, beautiful routing, and natural flow this course displays and owns with ease and awe.
Last thought–
May have the best family of bunkers in the world.
I know I have been in almost everyone.
Best
Play Well
Hugh Callaghan

Great course, only to be tackled by guys who are at the tip-​top of their game! Stay out of the rough is the best advise I can give!!!
Only complaint I have is that after paying $ 135 for green fees and another $ 50 on water, soda and a few bits in the pro shop, to be asked for $ 5 to get into the locker room for a shower was ludicrous!!! Come on, walking such a long course let alone playing golf too anyone would need a shower and to be asked for $ 20 deposit (refundable) and $ 5 to get a key card to open the locker room door was nuts!!! To make it worse, no towels supplied!!! For a top notch course and clubhouse this is just crazy and it left a bad taste in what was a memorable day…

Ditto what all the other reviewers have said: a great layout that impresses visually while requiring the golfer to be able to hit a variety of clubs in both directions. A word of advice, as the greens threw me off. The course is a beast, both in length and the visual intimidation that the rough and bunkers provide. But the greens are surprisingly subdued. They aren’t as fast as you’d expect, and the breaks are subtle. I found myself consistently missing on the high side of the hole. Once you get on the green, you have to be aggressive to score. Good luck!

Really is an amazing golf course. After playing a full round here I appreciate how hard it is for the pros to walk this4 –5 days in a row and maintaining focus.
I usually play from the whites but my buddies and i decided to play from the tips to get the full experience. It is a different beast and was especially difficult since I didn’t have my driver that day. On many holes you need to carry the ball 270+ just to have a proper angle. I repeat you need to CARRY it that far… Holes 10,11,12 are absolutely brutal and can easily blow up your round.
I’ve played tough courses before but this place just makes you think on every hole. Only course I will usually take my medicine instead of going for par most often. The rough can be brutal. If you are hitting anything more than a 7 iron going to be tough to get it out. If in fescue just take a penalty its the better play. Bunkers are always in play and many are deep.
Will keep coming back. One day I’ll put together a decent round here.

There used to be a secret pathway I found and used on a daily basis to get to the furthest of the five courses from the parking lot, The Green Course. Exiting from the far end of the driving range, skirting the far end of the clubhouse, emerging next to the back putting green and checking in with the starter, off I would go. Back then, circa 2009, I played 18 on Yellow or Green to ready myself for 18 on The Black. Gosh I miss those days.
The first hole plays left to right, hit a 3 wood or less if your long, don’t miss right and under the tunnel you go until re-​emerging four hours later to play #18.
The Green plays comfortably in terms of difficulty level, no hole will cut your mental game in half like The Black can and has and will do again. #3 is an uphill par three, about a buck fifty yards which is tricky to judge distance so club up. #4 and #5 are fun little tpar fours with subtle doglegs and flat greens, #6 is a great par three playing 200, all carry.
The back nine is not punishing unlike the other Bethpage courses, yet #17 can create problems when the wind up up and against you. Par fives are reachable for longer players, not only the gorilla long. The ones you toss a Hans full of bananas to after their tee shot. (Yours truly) I love banannas.
Go Play…

This is a must-​play course for any serious golfer. If you can deal with the challenging tee time reservation process and walking all 18 holes (no carts allowed), you will experience one of the greatest golfing challenges out there in the most immaculate conditions, especially for a municipal course.
This is no regular municipal course though as it is definitely on par with the best private golf clubs out there period. That said, Bethpage Black is a daunting course that requires intense concentration, strategic course management, solid ball-​striking and short game skills.
Simply put, there is a reason why Bethpage Black has hosted 2 US Opens over the past decade, several FedEx Cup playoff events and the 2019 PGA Championship.
One suggestion, however, is to bring along plenty of water, gatorade, energy bars and snacks to keep your energy and hydration up throughout the round. I would also recommend renting one of the pull-​carts as well to conserve more energy.

It lives up to the hype!
This is a long, tough course. But it is beautiful and fun to play. Most holes have a lot of character and are very unique and memorable. There are massive bunkers all over the place and I play 5 times more bunker shots than I do on any other course. Lot of dog legs requiring more accuracy on the distance and location of the drive. And for me, who is not a very long hitter, I play some par 4’s as par 5’s. The rough is tough, check how the ball is sitting, and if it is sitting down you need to take your medicine and punch out (you will end up in a bunker otherwise). It is kept in excellent condition, especially for a state course. Overall a great experience and worth doing.
I play there pretty often since it is a half hour from me, and am often paired up with others playing for the first time. I have yet to play with someone (either paired up with or a friend) who didn’t come off the course saying it is an amazing course and they loved it (even if it did beat them up).
Some notes on getting a tee time. I play on the weekends (only option for me) and I usually get there around 5am. As a single I can typically get a tee time around 7am give or take. But don’t take that as a fact, it varies day to day.

Hands down the best public course I’ve ever play on for every single reason you could imagine.
Layout — Gorgeous, varying, challenging
Conditions — Immaculate and they do everything they can to keep it that way
Price — SOOOO worth it. To be able to play this place for 50 bucks (NY resident) is amazing, this place would still be worth it at double the price
Pace of play — I’ve played here a number of times now and my rounds have varied in length from about 4:15 at the shortest to 5:15 at the longest. Even at the longest, that isn’t bad considering carts aren’t allowed and the course is hellishly difficult compared to most. You won’t be waiting around much on the course unless you get unlucky. There’s no protection from a randomly terrible group trying to play a course they can’t handle. Getting a tee time on the other hand can be a terrible experience if you show up on a beautiful weekend day.
My favorite course in the NYC area.

Have played Black close to ten times, and it is right up there with all your more well known courses here in the USA, and Scotland for that matter. I’m sure many other reviewers have played it closer to 100 times, but not being from Nassau County, I have to rely on others to drive me there and get a tee time.
I won’t go into details on each hole, other than the first hole is probably going to be your easiest hole of the day. Dogleg right, easy tee shot, and, even short hitters like me can get there in two. I have, and have pared the hole. Most of my rounds here have been in the dead heat and humidity of the summer, so you can imagine the feeling once you get to 15 and start that nutty stretch of 3 holes. 18 is actually not that bad, if your not collapsing by then of heat exhaustion from the brutal walk you just had. Yes, you can get a caddie, but the few times I did they were marginal at best. Nothing like the real caddies at St. Andrews.
Cost is great. But, very hard to get on unless you want to sleep in your car the night before. If you do not know the rules of the game or are not a fast player, do not play the course. Go play Douglaston or Forest Park. Also, dress the part. No jeans guys, you are playing on a US Open track. In fact, all of the courses here should really enforce the dress code better. Nothing worse than a jeans tee shirt guy rolling up to the tee. Don’t care if you got game, get golf pants and a collared shirt champ.

The layout is impressive.

Scratch one off the bucket list — played Bethpage Black this weekend — well at least half of it — walked the rest back as the rain and cold was no longer pleasurable — had a 12:30 tee time got there early — hit the range — rented a hand cart — (walking course only) I was playing with an older friend of mine who is in great shape — weather was 63 for November 10% chance of rain — We got an earlier tee time because the lines dissipated — there is a reason for that I will explain — about 4 hours in we were finally at the 11^th hole. It seems like a long time but for some reason it wasn’t but at that point the rain came down and it turned bitterly cold — couple that with two slower groups ahead of us who kept bogging us down 1 minute here 2 minutes there we saw groups behind us heading back to the clubhouse so we decided we should just head back — the black won that day but the experience for a golf obsessed person like me was unforgettable.
My advice is to prepare for a true endurance test if you have the time to play 18. I am going to come back to Black and be prepared — and get an earlier tee time than 12:30
The shots you will need to do well.
1. A straight long drive with the ability to fade etc. for those fairways that bend like a nascar speedway
2. A super gentle putting stroke — I barely touched the ball at first and went 4 feet past the hole when I missed — and i mean i gently tapped the damn thing
3. Solid Wedge play — you will have a chance at the greens put will have to put some serious spin to avoid going into hazards and bunkers.
4. Solid Fairway wood play to have a chance to get there in three (not two unless your Nicklaus’s little brother)
5. Solid bunker skills — you will be in the sand and this is true sand so soft you cant afford to be off or you will pay.
6. Be prepared for alot of elevated shots I recommend a 52 degree wedge so you get air but also get to the green — 60 degree will leave you short too much depending how good you are with wedges.
7. A snack bar or food and water as you will be on the course for a minimum of 6 hours based on my estimates.
Do it once before your too old to enjoy it — but be prepared to suffer to the sheer difficulty of this course — it is a true test at various points and will make you look at other courses as if they are mini golf courses.
Ill be back to take on the Black next season but I will go alone so as not to be distracted from my task.

By far the best course to play on Long Island. I’m a Long Island resident and an avid golfer so the fact that you can play a US Open course for $ 65 is an absolute steal. The course is no joke, if you’re wild off the tee don’t even bother trying to play this place. Hitting fairways here is paramount. If you miss the fairway and end up in the second or third cut of rough you are going to have just about 0 chance of hitting the green in regulation. The course is always in great shape for the most part. Couple of greens that have down hill approaches can get a bit beat up but the worst greens here at better than the best greens at most facilities. This is a must play for any avid experienced golfer. Go in with a clear head and an open mindset and you’ll have the time of your life.

The best course that you can actually play anywhere in the NorthEast. Also, the most DIFFICULT course by far. If you’re not a good golfer, take a try at any of the other 4 courses at Bethpage. There’s a warning sign on the Black course for a reason!
Course is always in perfect condition. Bunkers EVERYWHERE! Once you’re on the green though, the greens roll very nice and aren’t all too difficult compared to the rest of the course. The challenge here is definitely getting to the green.
Oh yea, one very important tip if you are going to play here. STAY OUT OF THE ROUGH! It’s like hitting your ball out of cabbage all day long. There’s a reason they played the US Open here twice. If you are buried in the rough, just try to get back into the fairway and then work from there. Don’t get stupid when your ball is buried in this thick rough, you’ll be putting an 8 on your card for sure.
Go play this course, even if you only do it once. It’s a great challenge. Prepare to shoot at least 10 strokes higher than you would on any other course.

Bethpage Black is public golf at it’s finest. Had the fortune of playing it earlier this fall. Military – we were able to pay the in-​state rate!!! We played the white tees – very hilly (bring or rent a pull cart and plenty of water/​snacks – your body will thank you!), very challenging, intimidating views from the tee with all the bunkers, and the course in amazing condition.
Stay in the fairway as best as you can since the rough is long and thick. It settles in versus sitting up on it reminding me more of bermuda rough. The bunkers can also be pretty brutal. It’s amazing to imagine how the pros are able to play this course during much more challenging conditions.
If you’re in the area, make sure you visit this very special course.

Golf heaven on the East Coast. Though much has been written about the black course in this space, what many don’t know is that there are 4 other courses here, all of which I have played and like. Due to the notoriety the black course has given Bethpage, the resources and know-​how have also benefitted the other courses, especially the Red, which rival all but the finest private courses. Given the variety of courses, players tend to somewhat self-​select to courses based on skill level, which is a nice thing for a muni.
Here are my throughs on the courses I’ve played, each of which is a small step down in quality from that which precedes:
THE BLACK — About 6700 yards from the regulation tees (nearly 7,500 if you dare the tips), this course may destroy your soul and your will to play golf. There’s a reason this course has a warning label on it. Water only on one hole (a par 3) and you might not ever lose a ball, but there’s nothing easy otherwise about it. You have to be long and accurate off the tee to give yourself a chance and need to be able to both fade and draw the ball as nearly all fairways are angled. There’s sand everywhere and greens are challenging to hit. They roll fast with subtle breaks. For just $ 80, New York State residents can play a course which has hosted U.S. Opens, PGA tour events and a future PGA championship and Ryder Cup. Still, I wouldn’t recommend anyone over a 20-​handicap play this course. Even those in the single digits will get very frustrated at times by the sand and deep rough. It is surprisingly accessible if you’re willing to play later than the early morning, especially on weekdays. It’ll take you at least 4.5 hours to play and you must walk the course, which has a lot of hills. You’ll be wiped by the end of your round. Consider the expense of a caddy ($ 80/​bag plus $ 40 tip) if you’re making it a special event.
Red — Almost 7,000 yards from the tips and could be made even further with a couple tee boxes not used. If not for the black, this place would be a star and many tournaments are played here. Both the opening and closing holes are killer. You have to be long to be successful here, but the course is forgiving of misses. Greens are very large, fast and have a lot of subtle breaks so be prepared to hit a lot of putts. There are many long dogleg par 4’s which can inflate scores of those who don’t drive accurately, but you can score on the par 3’s and 5’s.
Blue — The front 9 is absolutely killer on this course, but the back is much more forgiving. For this reason, they often flip the course for outings and tournaments. Unlike the Red, you have to be very precise or you will be punished, but still need to be a decent hitter at 6,500 yards. Be prepared to do a lot of walking up and down hills. Often the tee boxes and greens are elevated, but what’s in the middle is not. I’ve found the longest rounds are here because of its low cost and high difficulty.
Green — A short course with a few holes that I find boring (14 and 16), but the green complexes give this course its bite. You have to be thoughtful with your approach shots and prepared for some really hard putts. Like the black, the green course goes across the street and is by a gun range, which provides a unique distraction. The lack of length bails you out a lot, so this course is favored by senior players. There are many hills as well, but most often to climb up to the tee box. Most holes play downhill or flat and don’t require long hitters to lay up. Take what the course gives you and stay out of trouble on the difficult holes (particularly 17 & 18) and you’ll be fine.
Yellow — Forgiving warn-​up course in the morning, leisurely 9 hole course in the afternoon. Featuring light, rolling hills and wide open fairways, the Yellow course is fantastic for beginners. Unlike the Green and the Red however, if you miss too far off the fairway, you could easily lose your ball in high grass, woods or an adjoining hole. I find the greens to be second only to the Black in rolling true and fast. You’ll feel good about your play here and rounds are among the quickest of the five because of the short length and relative ease.
The range is a definite weak area as you can’t hit woods and have spongy matts that give you a false sense of quality ball striking. There are a number of practice greens at Bethpage, but no chipping area. Wait until your first back-​up (often on the second tee box) and you can hit a couple around the tee box.
Most of the staff is very nice. The pro shop is always worth a visit and the food in the restaurant is always pretty good.
A last note, you must walk the black course and Bethpage has a strong walking culture. It’s a five minute walk to a second concession area to pay/​pick-​up carts. For this reason, unless you have a disability, I wouldn’t recommend getting a cart in good weather as you’ll probably end up waiting behind a walking group.

Tips for getting on the Black Course and playing the Black Course:
Getting on the black course:
1) Camp out the night before with your pals. Drink lots of beer, tell lots of jokes, pass out, wake up to get ticket, play most grueling round of golf ever while hungover, shoot 110, be pissed you drank so much the night before.
2) Get a reservation ID and call 7 days in advance to schedule tee time only to find out that its virtually impossible to even get through to the reservation system because every other golfer in the Tri State area is doing the exact same thing as you.
3) Pay something like $ 400 per person to have a Luxury Service book you a tee time and escort you to and from the course.
4) Go up as a walk-​on single the around 10−11am and get off around an hour to an hour and half later.
5) Do what I do. Which if i told you, would make it harder for me to keep doing it because you would start doing it.
Playing the Black course;
1) Buy the yardage book. Its like $ 8. This will save you from hitting good shots and having them ending up short in a massive bunker or long in the wickedly thick fescue.
2) Bring lots of cliff bars. There is only one water cooler (8^th hole) on the course which i find ridiculous considering the amount of walking you do. There is also a halfway house at 6 and 12. Always have water or gatorade on you. You will be exhausted by the time you get to 15 and then you will be forced to walk an uphill 450 yard par 4. It borders on torture.
3) Get better at golf. If you cannot break 90 at your local course do NOT bother playing the Black course. You will frustrate yourself, the people in your group and the people in the group behind you. The course is long even from the white tees, the fairways are narrow and the rough is as gnarly as it gets. This course is rated the 5^th hardest in the country for a reason.
4) I would suggest renting a hand cart for your bag unless you are under 25 or in very good shape. I am always hungover when i play so throwing a bag full of clubs on my back is out of the question. if you can afford it get a caddy. i think its $ 75 plus tip
That all being said, Black is almost always in great condition and even though its a 5 + hour round you dont wait on the tees because the tee times are spaced out. I find the Black course to be an awesome layout and a fair test of my golf game. I have shot 80,80, 85 and 81 from the back tees when ive played (4 Handicap). The course always brings out the best in my game and i know a 79 is in my future.
Best of luck to you

While the layout is 5-​star, the spotty upkeep isn’t. As much as I’d like to give it a perfect rating because it’s just one beautiful public course, I can’t give the «as good as it gets» until the course maintenance is up to the caliber of its layout.

How to play Bethpage Black as a walk-​on while staying in the city:
I took the 3:15am train on a Friday from Penn Station. It’s the Ronkonkoma train. Less than $ 10.
Jumped in a taxi at 4:15 to the course. $ 5.
Staff gave me a number behind the twenty some guys in the parking lot and I was in the third group out. All singles. $ 130
Taxi back to the station $ 5,
Train back to Penn Station. $ 13.50.
The course was in perfect condition and the greens true and fast. Very tough. A yardage book is money well spent.

This is one of the toughest courses I have ever played. I had the opportunity on short notice to play the Black Course. The rentals were not great. The staff was attentive. The greens were in terrible shape, but it was mid-​October. Long, lots of sand, as difficult as it appears on TV. Worth the the effort. If you get the chance to play do it!

Get ready for one of the toughest tests of your game. 250-​yard carries over waste areas; hit driver high on 10, sting it low on 11; draw it left on 2, cut it right on 5. hit a high draw 190 to a left uphill green with bunkers short right and long left. Please explain the gravitational anomaly emanating from the tree on 8.
This is my nightmare before every round. What follows is an inimitable 18-​hole experience with perfect fairways unadulterated by carts, perfectly sanded bunkers (no hardpan underneath), and fast (~11), true greens beautifully guarded by bunkers.
If you’re going to play the Black Course:
1. Don’t be a hack. Just b/​c you CAN pay $ 75 ($ 150 out-​of-​state), doesn’t mean you SHOULD pay it and see if your buddies taught you enough golf over the past week… You’ll make your foursome miserable, and you will be forever shamed and emasculated. You will not want to take lessons. You will despise yourself and everyone around you. After a year, you might eventually pick up bowling to find an outlet, but ultimately, you will find this unfulfilling, and and you will still be 75 dollars poorer and have two dozen fewer Pro V1s.
2. Ok, so you’re a single handicapper. Excellent. Don’t take your buddy, who’s a hack, onto the course.
3. Take heed of other reviewers’ advice on getting tee times. OR just show up as a single and most likely you’ll get on late morning or midday, due to no-​shows.
4. If you”re not in shape, don’t play and walk the Red or Blue course, and then play the Black in the afternoon. Just b/​c you CAN get on the Black for a glorious second round after you’ve warmed up on a lesser course, doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Trust me, I’ve paid the price. Twice. And I’ll probably do it again.
5. Wear comfortable shoes. The walk is very hilly, especially on the last few holes when you’re really tired. Sit on the benches at the tee boxes when you can.
6. Take some advil (with a meal, of course) before and after your round, and bring lots of snack to eat over the 5 or 5.5 hrs.
7. Freeze some gatorade bottles overnight. During the round they will thaw out into a delicious slushy texture. You will pass a snack bar on the 6^th tee, and the 12^th fairway, if you need drinks. No beverage carts on the course.
8. Practice hitting your driver at your home range. Apparently, some ppl have hit cars on the road opposite the range, so they don’t allow driver at the range anymore (GRR!). So… good luck with that on the first tee.