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| Bethpage Black Course | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bethpage Black Course |
| Location | Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale, New York |
| Established | 1936 |
| Designer | A. W. Tillinghast |
| Type | Public |
| Holes | 18 |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 7,468 yd |
| Rating | 77.5 |
| Slope | 155 |
Bethpage Black Course Bethpage Black Course is a public championship golf course located in Bethpage State Park on Long Island near Farmingdale, New York, designed by A. W. Tillinghast and developed under the auspices of Robert Moses during the 1930s as part of New Deal-era park improvements. The course gained national prominence after hosting multiple editions of the U.S. Open (golf), the PGA Championship, and events organized by the United States Golf Association, drawing professional fields including Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson. Managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the course is noted for its demanding layout, famed routing, and robust public access policies championed by local officials in Nassau County, New York and figures associated with Long Island recreation planning.
The course originated from a 1934 initiative led by Robert Moses and construction overseen by the Civilian Conservation Corps with design credits to A. W. Tillinghast, whose portfolio includes Winged Foot Golf Club, San Francisco Golf Club, and Baltusrol Golf Club. Initially part of wider parkland projects linked to New Deal programs and state park expansion, it opened in 1936 alongside other Bethpage layouts as municipal leisure infrastructure serving Nassau County residents and wartime-era communities like Garden City and Bethpage, New York. Subsequent renovations involved firms and architects connected to Rees Jones, Tom Fazio, and consultants familiar with USGA standards to prepare for championships such as the U.S. Open (golf) and the LIV Golf Invitational Series controversies that engaged media outlets like The New York Times and broadcasters including NBC Sports.
Tillinghast’s routing emphasizes strategic bunkering, firm fairways, and penal rough similar to features at Baltusrol Golf Club and Winged Foot Golf Club, with greens influenced by designs seen at National Golf Links of America and corridors recalling linksland at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. The course measures approximately 7,468 yards from the championship tees with a par of 71 and a USGA course rating placing it among the hardest in the United States alongside Oakmont Country Club, Pine Valley Golf Club, and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Signature features include deep pot bunkers, elevated tees, slopey putting surfaces, and forced carries across hazards comparable to challenges at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Augusta National Golf Club—components maintained under turf programs aligning with agronomy practices promoted by United States Golf Association agronomists.
Bethpage Black hosted the U.S. Open (golf) in 2002 and 2009 and the PGA Championship in 2019, each conducted by the United States Golf Association or PGA of America with media produced by companies like Fox Sports and ESPN. The course has also staged amateur events such as the Metropolitan Open and qualifiers for the U.S. Amateur Championship, and has been featured on professional tours including the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour exhibition matches, and the Korn Ferry Tour regional events. High-profile moments involved players Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka during major qualifying, and controversies around spectator access drew attention from officials in New York State and municipal bodies.
Several holes are frequently cited by commentators and analysts from publications such as Golf Digest and Golfweek for their strategic demands resembling notable tests at St Andrews Links and Carnoustie Golf Links. The par-4 4th, par-5 15th, and par-3 11th have been singled out in coverage featuring players like Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy for requiring precision off the tee, long-iron approach shots, and recovery play from deep bunkers similar to challenges at Whistling Straits or Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Hole routing integrates elevation changes and natural terrain preservation practices advocated by organizations such as the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
Facilities at Bethpage State Park’s golf complex include a clubhouse, practice range, short game area, putting greens, and cart and caddie services, with operations overseen by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and maintenance staff trained in turf management recognized by PGA of America education programs. The site offers spectator infrastructure used during the U.S. Open (golf) and PGA Championship, including grandstands, hospitality zones linked to corporate partners, and concessions compliant with county health regulations administered by Nassau County, New York authorities.
Course records include low rounds recorded during professional competition by players such as Lucas Glover and Brooks Koepka, and the course has appeared in top rankings by Golf Digest, Golfweek, and international lists alongside venues like Augusta National Golf Club and Pinehurst Resort. Its USGA course rating and slope place it among the most challenging public layouts in the United States, drawing comparisons to other elite public courses including Torrey Pines and Cypress Point Club in journalistic and ranking analyses.
As a public course within Bethpage State Park, the Black layout remains accessible by reservation, walk-up tee times, and yellow-teed booking policies administered by New York State Parks and local transportation links including Long Island Rail Road service to nearby stations and road access via New York State Route 135. Policies on public play versus championship closures involve coordination with agencies like the United States Golf Association and PGA of America to balance community access with tournament logistics.
Category:Golf clubs and courses in New York (state)