Bethpage

PUBLIC ACCESS Bethpage state park features 5 amazing courses on a beautiful section of land in the heart of Long Island, NY. In order of difficulty, they are the Black, Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow. The Black is the most challenging course at Bethpage, and is among the most difficult in the country. On the other side of the spectrum, the Yellow is fantastic for beginners and regularly plays host to the Met PGA Junior championship. Whether you are a beginning golfer, or a seasoned pro, Bethpage has a breathtaking course to match your skill level. The Black Course is a difficult and challenging course that should be played only by low-handicap golfers. The course is for walkers only and its slope rating is one of the highest in the northeast. Anyone who has played will tell you it is a true test of golf skill and physical endurance. This was one of the last courses designed by master golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast, and is said by many to be his finest work. The Black Course served as the site of the 102nd U.S. Open Championship in 2002, and again at the 109th U.S. Open in 2009. The Barclays is scheduled to be played here in 2012, adding another major event to the list played at Bethpage. The narrow fairways, high roughs, well placed bunkers and small greens help to make this an extremely difficult course. It regularly ranks among the best courses in the country. Golfweek rated it the #1 best municipal course for 09-10, and again in 10-11, and it made their list of the top 100 classic American golf courses. It also made the Golf Digest's top 100 American public and private course list in 2005, and was number 7 on their Top 100 American Public Courses. Golf Magazine included it on their Top 100 Courses in the World, and ranked it 10th in the Top Courses Since 1959. Every serious golfer should test their skills, and what better place to do it than the Black? The Black Course is closed Mondays for course maintenance except holidays. All yardages given are from the back (blue) tees. Refer to the scorecard for championship, white, and red tee yardages. If you would like to play the Black, call 1-516-249-0707 to make a reservation, or visit the official New York State Park Guide to Registration for a detailed, step-by-step guide of how to register and utilize the tee-time system.