This is in my top 2 courses played and I will be back again for another whooping! Bethpage Black….wow! FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Brawny is not a word typically used to describe golf courses, but it’s a favorite among the locals when asked what they think of the Black Course at Bethpage … My first time and would recommend a caddy as they know the layout of the course. Walking only so bring your carry bag or your push cart. Tee boxes were great, no complaints. Only thing not to like is the pace of play (expect AT LEAST a 5 hour round to walk here). The Bethpage Black Course is one of the finest tests in all of golf, and certainly the greatest municipal-run golf course in the country. Bethpage Black is the clear winner overall with the only weak spot being pace of play. Mythical Bethpage Black reputation is fully warranted. The course rating is 72.2 and it has a slope rating of 126 on Rye grass. Extremely difficult. It also appears they changed the sand type in the bunkers since I last played, it was very thick, especially up in the flashed faces; I was not a fan of the new bunker sand. The course condition was honestly incredible, especially considering it's public. You see the finish line, start to realize its almost over and you really start to take in how great a round of golf you've been lucky to have.18 is a perfect way to end the day, you think of the Major Champs that have made the same walk you are making as you finish one of the best courses you will ever play. But I can’t wait to go back. Oh, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg - assuming you can get a tee time. Sprawling Bethpage Black, designed in the mid-1930s to be “the public Pine Valley,” became the darling of the USGA in the early 2000s, when it played the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Fla. On my most recent round, the weather was ideal and the rough was not at tournament length, as a result I was able to score well on the front nine. There's no better golf course for the price in America. Was in NY for a company trip and had to get out. Stay out of the rough. 8 among America's 100 Greatest Public Courses, Joseph H. Burbeck & A.W. Every hole from there is a beast, relentless and grueling while staying very enjoyable and fun. The greens roll true and the bunkers, fairways, … Highest ranking: No. (Unless you’re handicap is over 15, in which case do everyone a favor and just play the red course. That makes it a mecca for golfers from all over Long Island. View Course in Google Earth. Lastly, in case you don’t know the “halfway” house on Black is on hole 6 and then you have to run from 12 to get something on the way back towards the clubhouse. Jimmy Lee manages the course as the Manager. The design is incredible and the bunkering is beautiful. I have played this course since the late 70's and have seen it go from good to poor to the fantastic shape it is in currently. My day started when I arrived around 3:30am to wait on my golden ticket. The rough is thick, not overly long, but thick and very uniform throughout. It appeared that maintenance had taken a few days off from cutting the grass. I'll be back for sure as it's one of the best layouts in the country, but for what they charge you'd think they'd spend a little more time making sure the conditions were worthy of the price. Retrieved May 1, blsck Also, the slope rating is higher as well. Bethpage Black is hard, but it isn’t tricked up and there’s nothing crazy asked of you outside of the rough and some extra yardage. You must be able to find the fairway to score well here. Designer: A.W. It's already a beast and playing it a couple weeks after the PGA Championship, makes it even more of a beast. Muslims have Mecca, Catholics have Lourdes and we golfers have Bethpage Black. Tillinghast, and is said by many to be his finest work. They rolled true (a little slow) and the fairways were rewarding. Bethpage State Park Golf Course, Black in Farmingdale New York Course Flyover presented by Golf Frontier. In its July list of America’s greatest golf courses, Golf Digest ranked Bethpage Black 26 overall, [7] 6 in the state of New York[7] 6 of America’s 50 toughest courses, [8] and 5 in its list of America’s greatest public golf courses. 26, 2007-08. The locals are very proud of this course and they should be.”, “As well-conditioned fairways and greens as any private club I've seen this year. The course is always in great shape and is beautiful to look at. With a par of 71, slope of 121, rating of 69.5, and running 6124 yards from the back tee's, it is far less grueling than some of the other courses at Bethpage. We took caddies. Does Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point beat Bethpage? Previous ranking: 38, Panelist comments: You can opt to book your tee time online but it’s hard to get an early round. Tillinghast (1936)/Rees Jones (2015). It was almost 100 degrees today and we shouldn’t have played, but it’s so hard to get a foursome at a decent time so we kept the tee time. The 18-hole "Black" course at the Bethpage State Park Golf Course facility in Farmingdale, New York features 7,065 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COOKIES INCLUDING HOW TO MANAGE YOUR CONSENT VISIT OUR. A must play course that you keep thinking about afterwards. Bethpage Black inspires muni golf in America, PGA Tee to Green: Difficult 15th hole of Bethpage Black, Municipal Madness: Renovations pay off for these American munis, How major championship golf altered Bethpage Black, Bethpage Black is unquestionably the best of the 'super munis', How to get a tee time at Bethpage Black on New York's Long Island, Muni golf: The Bethpage State Park experience, Ranking the experience at six public U.S. Open venues. The only real weakness might be the rather benign, flat greens -- but given the length and difficulty -- and that it's a public course, it makes sense.”, “This is a driver's golf course. dmackdid your local pro have to play with you? The Takeaway: Grade A+ Quick Facts. You know what you're getting here...go with proper expectations, expect to take 6 hours, expect to have your golf game made to look like a beginner's, and expect to feel beat up when you leave. Pace of play is always an issue, we played in about 5:15, that's reasonably fast for the Black. There is a mystique that can’t be defined about this course, but it’s always fun to try and describe it over a beer in the clubhouse after the last putt. Paid for a locker and shower afterwards and there were no towels. The Bethpage Black Course is famous for the warning sign at the first tee, placed in the early 1980s, which reads "The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers." The course is five stars, it'll always be five stars. The course was modified by A.W. Courses You Can Play, A view of a hole protected by tricky bunkers at Black from Bethpage State Park Golf Course (Rees Jones Design), Add a Golf Advisor ratings badge to your website, Get a feed with the latest reviews for this course, Yellow at Bethpage State Park Golf Course, Eagle Golf Package at Rock Barn Golf & Spa, Escape to Borrego and stay at our beautiful “House on the Hill". Would highly recommend and most definitely a bucket list course. Get unlucky and catch the upslope or lip and your guaranteed to plug. The Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York has quickly become one of those pilgrimages every golfer has to make at some point in their lives. they were very helpful. I don’t think a short knocking 25 handicap would have any fun on it, but the course wasn’t built for them. The experience is not even remotely similar to caddies at other top public tracks. Even cut back, it’s a game changer. The Black doesn't take any holes off to let you breath.The course is long and hilly. Limited distance and mats do not instill confidence in your game before your duel with the black. Rough was very thick and the fescue was terrible; I wish they'd cut the rough lower and eliminate the high grasses. The greens had been punched a week before but there was very little signs. If you’re thinking of playing or just want to follow the bouncing ball. It really is a pilgrimage: a 0315 train from Penn Station to Farmingdale, arriving at the course at 0420 I managed to get the 5th parking slot where I … But had my pro from my home club call and we got set up. The locals were very friendly and helpful. The course is for walkers only and its slope rating … The greens were in great shape and fast, the rough was super thick and the fairways were in great shape. The course itself is beyond amazing and I am always impressed by the conditions of the greens and (massive bunkers). A little steep in price, but seeing as how they’re having the 2019 PGA Championship there, guess it’s understandable. Yes, you can get there early and pick up … Bethpage Black rates are really cheap by premier golf standards. Heady stuff for a layout that was once a scruffy state-park haunt where one needed to sleep in the parking lot in order to get a tee time. In addition to 3D terrain, this will also allow you to … Bethpage State Park (Black), located in Farmingdale, New York, is ranked No. As for PGA-host TPC Harding Park, it has the most consistent ratings of the foursome and a strong Course Layout score. Couldn't believe how immaculate the Black's fairways were for a state, public-park golf course that gets so much play.”, © 2020 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR. And I was able to grind and make a lot of shots and even post decent numbers. Got lucky and scored a 930am tee time on the Black online a few days before, it can done if you keeping checking throughout the day.It was a wet morning with a few showers the night before, stayed fogging and misty throughout the morning until burning off in the afternoon.I am an above average player that has been eyeing the Black all season as test to my progress this year. 100 Greatest History: Ranked 1967-1976, 1997-1998 and since 2001. That being said I loved it. I highly recommend this course to any mid to low handicap player. The pin was removable if you so wish though. If you're a serious golfer and can get out there, you should make every effort possible to try and play the Black Course. and was he able to book a decent time? The only negative is the range. Fun and challenging layout and picture perfect conditions. I would love to play this course again but perhaps just once or twice a year. But enjoy the nostalgia and challenge of the US Opens and the PGA and Ryder Cup to come. Played here 10 years ago. Black Course. The Black Course is a difficult and challenging course that should be played only by low-handicap golfers. It should be on every golfers top five bucket list courses and it’s public, and relatively speaking, cheap to play so there is no reason not to make the trip out to Long Island. I am from Chicago and registered to book online but seems like all the Friday and Sat tee times are taking up early from locals.Thanks. It’s long, so long, and unforgiving — the rough is brutal and even the first cut isn’t gentle. UNLIMITED rounds of golf over three days, and two nights lodging in one of our 4-bedroom Stay & Play luxury townhomes, including access to fine dining for dinner at Champs and Rockers. If your budget allows, take a caddy for sure and listen to their advice. I can’t wait for my next visit. Seller of Travel Ref. 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