Bethpage State Park – The Black Course

Bethpage State Park – The Black Course
99 Quaker Meeting House Road
Farmingdale, New York 11735
Yards: 6684, Par 71 (White Tees)
Course Architect: A.W. Tillinghast
Website: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/golf/info.asp?golfID=12
Score: 109 (56 out, 53 in)
Date: October 30, 2008

After two failed attempts to play the black course (#1 attempt: no tee times available upon an unscheduled visit, played 12 holes of the Green Course, #2 attempt: drove up from South Jersey, it was warn and sunny, it rained the day before so they decided to close the entire park), I finally got the chance to play the famed Black Course. Leaving the South Jersey area around 3:45 AM and at times driving excessively over the speed limit, arrived at the course at 5:55. Driving into Bethpage, the first thing you notice is the grand scale of the place. This State Park is massive, and it's really undulating, wooded and rolling. Seems like the perfect place for a golf course (or five). We got in line, just as I put me car seat back for a little rest, the vehicle line started to move toward the state worker handing out the lottery tickets for your tee time reservation. We were 14th in line, drove up and parked at the club house and got in line at the ticket booth to get out tee time. We received the 8:12 AM tee time on the Black Course, now 6:30, we headed back to the car for some rest.

When the sun came up, we headed over to the driving range, nice and cold, 38 degrees at 7:15 AM. We hit a bucket of balls (felt like rocks) then headed over to the first tee for our 20 minutes sign-in requirement prior to teeing off. As you wait and see others teeing off, you are watching from a balcony where everyone stands directly behind the first tee and watches golfers tee off on the first hole. As you wait for your chance on the tee box, more and more people show up to watch, you start getting more and more nervous, your stomach starts doing flips, your brain just keeps saying, don’t chunk it, whiff or banana slice it onto the first fairway of the Green Course. In addition, as you stand there fully knowing as a high handicapper, you really do not belong on this course, there is a sign confirming it.

Our 8:12 tee time was called and there were 4 people already on the tee box, not knowing two are hired caddies, another golfer in the foursome behind us started complaining to the starter, welcome to New York. We walked down onto the tees area and apologized for the arrogant NY golfer behind us who was complaining. Before teeing off, I told our two playing partners, we were only out here to have a good time, subliminal message, we suck and will stay out of your way as much as possible and not slow you down.

Standing on the tee box, you just look out and see a 40 to 50 yard drop on the first hole and the beauty of the surroundings, then I sliced the ball right of the fairway, here we go. The Black Course was as tough as I thought it was going to be, walking and pulling the golf cart up and down this very hilly course was burtal and very exhausting. On a beautiful sunny but cold day, I shot a round of 109 (7 lost balls) with a few mulligans, come on it is a US Open Course! With 5 layers of cloths on, I wasn’t hitting the ball straight or solid off the tee which makes this extremely long course, even longer and more difficult. The course is very demanding off the tee, you MUST hit it straight. My approach shots were peels off as well, landing in the rough which ate up balls even if you saw exactly where the ball landed. I lost three balls in the high grass and I knew where the ball landed within a few feet. My chipping was pretty good, getting the ball to stick on the green was fairly easy since the greens were not very fast and a little soft. My putting was average, the greens were very slow being a US Open course, I was expecting super fast greens, they were a little faster after exposed to the sun for a while, but not lighting fast like Galloway National Golf Club was two weeks before.

Designed by A.W. Tillinghast, Bethpage opened in May of 1936. The course was given 3 million from the USGA and was renovated from 1997-1998 by Reese Jones. The atmosphere walking up to the first tee could not get any better, especially with the signature Bethpage Sign which reads. "The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers." Right from the start you know that this course will test your game in every faucet. As you might expect with a top-notch course, it is immaculate. From the tee box to the greens you will not be disappointed with the maintenance of the golf course. The rough is long and thick, but still fair for the average golfer. The course is extremely long with narrow fairways and extremely large and in some areas deep bunkers. There is only one hole where water actually comes into play. Because of the length you will be hitting a variety of irons into moderate sized greens, surrounded by large bunkers. All of your tee shots will demand a great deal of accuracy and power.

Overall it is a world-class establishment and no golfer will walk away being disappointed. With the US Open Championship returning in 2009, you know that the course will be in great shape no matter what time of year.

After the round, we walked around the club house looking at all the pictures, etc... and hit the extensive pro shop.

Getting on the course (found this on the net): As for the "how," you have a couple options: 1) use Bethpage's tee time reservation system, 2) go the infamous route of trying to walk-on at the crack of dawn, which often involves camping out in your car, or 3) pay a huge premium to a little-known company that may be able to get you a tee time on your preferred day of play (This option was used by our playing partners).

Before anyone can use Bethpage's reservation system, they must become a registered user. To register, you have to fax a copy of your driver's license AND write or type out all of the information that appears on the front of it, plus your telephone number (an email address would help, too), in case the image is unreadable via the fax.

If you're not a New York resident, you are also encouraged to include your Social Security number, which will become your reservation system account number. It's not required (they'll assign you a number, otherwise), but it will expedite processing. It usually takes between one and three days before you're officially "in" the system.

Again, out-of-state residents can only make tee times two days in advance of the intended date of play. (Note that when Bethpage says "two days," it means you can begin calling at 7 p.m. two days before you'd like to play. So, for instance, if you plan to play on a Saturday morning, you have to wait until 7 p.m. on Thursday night to make a reservation.) New York residents can reserve seven days out. Sometimes, it's good to call the night before you wish to play because there are often cancellations.

In addition to a $4 reservation fee, the green fee is:

Weekdays: $50 (NY residents) $100 (non-residents)

Weekends: $60 (NY residents) $120 (non-residents)

Your second option for getting on Bethpage Black, as mentioned above, is to try and walk on, as all of the first hour's tee times (which begin at 6:30 am), and one slot per hour thereafter, are made available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the Bethpage brass.

Walk-on hopefuls typically arrive at Bethpage in the afternoon or early evening the day before they wish to play, backing their cars into the designated and numbered "overnight" parking spaces. At about 6:00 pm, a Bethpage official hands out wrist bands, one per car, which confirms the order for the next morning's ticket dispersement.

It is these tickets, handed out between 4-4:30 am, which allow you to purchase your round of golf. It used to be that only one player in the group needed a ticket, but now every person has to have their own ticket. [Note: If you want a caddie ($60 plus tip) or locker room use for the day ($10), pay for them at the same time as your green fee as you probably won't have time to get through the long cashier line again.]

Overnighters should consider bringing a tent or sleeping bag, too. Cars aren't conducive to sleeping, and, if you choose to bed down on the root-laden grassy area near the parking lot, you'll need more than your golf towel to stay warm and comfortable.

Better yet, get a hotel room nearby. Remember, only your car has to stay put to maintain your place in line. As long as you're back before the tickets are handed out in the morning, you're golden.

From our experience and stories from people we know, if you're one of the first few cars in line, you'll likely get out in the morning. Later arrivals will likely get out, too, but it probably won't be until the afternoon. Either way, if you go this route to get on Bethpage Black, you'll be spending a good deal of time just waiting around, so bring a good book and/or some good beer.

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one other option for getting on Bethpage Black, though it's better suited to those for whom money is not an object. An un-named company sells Bethpage Black packages that include the green fee and round-trip transportation from Manhattan for $750 ($400 per person for a foursome). At 15 times the in-state green fee, it is a huge premium, but convenience does have its price.

FROM THE WEB SITE: Bethpage State Park, a mecca for public golf featuring five 18-hole regulation golf courses including the world-renowned Black Course which was the site of the United States Open in 2002, will again host the U.S. Open in 2009. Bethpage State Park was developed from an estate owned by the Yoakum family and other properties. The Yoakum family leased their estate to the Lenox Hills Corporation which subsequently used the property to build the Lenox Hills Country Club. In the early 1930s, the Bethpage Park Authority purchased the Lenox Hills Country Club and other adjacent properties to build what we now know as Bethpage State Park. Famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast was hired to design and oversee construction of three new golf courses (Black, Red and Blue) as well as modify the Lenox Hills Course which became the Green Course. Due to the increased demand for golf, the Yellow Course designed by Alfred Tull was opened in 1958. Approximately 300,000 rounds are played annually on the five courses at Bethpage, all of which start from the Clubhouse area.

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. 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. Our National Championship will again return to the Black in 2009. The narrow fairways, high roughs, well placed bunkers and small greens help to make this an extremely difficult course.The Black Course is closed Mondays for course maintenance except holidays.

COURSE CONDITION: The course was in excellent shape, and except for a few areas of dead fescue grass, they are ready for the 2009 US Open now. No divots in the tee boxes or fairways, no pitch marks on the greens, but the greens were rolling slowly.

FACILITIES: Bethpage State Park provides top notch practice facilities, pro shop, locker room, restaurant, tennis courts, hiking trails, bridle path and picnic area.

SHOT OF THE DAY: Hole #8, Par 3, 191 Yards: Tee box sits 60 to 70 feet above the tee box with a pond front left of the green and a hill to the right of the green at the same elevation as the tee box covered with fescue grass. Take out my 18 degree rescue club, hit it on top of the hill on the right. I trek up the hill and find my ball deep in the 12” grass. I open up my 9 iron and swing through the grass, hitting a high shot. The ball hits the base of the slope of the hill and rolls to about 2 feet from the pin, one putt for par.

SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: If you get a chance to play the Black Course, no matter your handicap, go and do it. I read numerous blogs and articles on the Black Course, warning golfers how hard it is and only highly skilled golfers should play it. Well, I’m a 20 handicap and loved it, and will play it again. Do you need your A+ game and extra balls, yes, if you love golf, you will love this course and want to play it again. And remember, walking only, NO CARTS. Did I get a physical and mental beating, hell yea, and it was worth it! There is a half way house between holes 5 and 6 which also can be accessed half way down fairway #11 on the left side.

GOLFNERDNESS: Walking only, no carts on the Black Course. Go play it, don’t worry about your handicap, just keep pace. The two guys we played with were better than us and on the back nine we keep waiting for them and their caddies to find their golf balls. Walk and play the links of past champion, Tiger Woods!

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: I found this online the week before I left and it was very helpful so I decided to post it here:

Hole #1, Par 4, 429 Yards: Take 3 wood (1st hole) tee it up high so you don’t top it. This hole should be a 3 wood & 5 iron.

Hole #2, Par 4, 354 Yards: 3 wood and 6/7 iron... whatever you think your 2nd shot yardage is its one extra club... over the green & left is safe. So play it that direction.

Hole #3, Par 3, 158 Yards: Depending where the tee is (up / down) will dictate which club you pull... NO MATTER WHAT- PLAY TO THE FAT PART OF THE GREEN - IE - THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GREEN.

Hole #4, Par 5, 461 Yards: Pull driver- aim center of the fairway- don’t try to play left - just hit the fairway is fine. The remainder of the whole... just make sure you play up the right side (don’t be scared) aim off the part of the glacier bunker (on the right side of the bunker) that looks like a pair of nuts (no joke), and continue to play along the right side the whole hole.

Hole #5, Par 4, 423 Yards: This one is not as long as it looks. Just poke Driver / 3W out over the center of the waste bunker (don’t try and clear it along the right side) - and take one extra club on your 2nd shot. Back of green is safe here!, so play it long.

Refreshment House, stock up here, there is no half way house after nine holes!

Hole #6, Par 4, 386 Yards: If you’re hitting driver straight - hit driver. If not hit 3 wood, if not hit 4 iron. Just make sure you are straight on this one. The hole really opens up nicely once you get up the hill- you’ll have to dial in your irons on this one... THIS TIME TAKE ONE CLUB LESS!!!! it plays down hill and with the wind... back of the green is big trouble.

Hole #7, Par 5, 502 Yards: A harmless par of 5 - except for the 3 acre wide glacier bunker. Just play it center of the bunker and get in the fair way. Than you can hit 3w, 4 or even 5 as your lay up.don’t go over the green, to the right and short is safer than left and long.

Hole #8, Par 3, 191 Yards: A long and beautiful par 3. It plays MUCH longer than it looks. It’s either 3 w or 4 iron. - the green is about 30 yards deep, so use the whole green. Don’t worry about over, short is where the trouble is.

Hole #9, Par 4, 385 Yards: Driver definitely, wide open fairway - do not go left. Should be a 9 iron / 8 iron in.

Hole #10, Par 4, 434 Yards: You have to hit driver if you want to have a chance at getting to the green in 2. This is a long par 4. Make sure you pick a club that will get you to the green on the 2nd shot. - bunkers in the front, false back in the rear.

Hole #11, Par 4, 421 Yards: Should be driver then mid iron, just make sure you stay out of the fescue on the right. Take 3 w on tee if you’ve been hitting it straight.

Refreshment House half way up the 11 fairway of the left side.

Hole #12, Par 4, 432 Yards: You can clear the bunker - go for it.

Hole #13, Par 5, 480 Yards: You won’t reach the 1st bunker on your first shot, and on your second shot you should be able to clear the 2nd bunker on left. 2nd shot- aim to the left side of the fairway - easy chip for your 3rd shot.

Hole #14, Par 3, 151 Yards: Take one extra club... it should be a 7 iron, NOT AN 8, the green is huge, you will not overshoot it w/ a 7 iron.

Hole #15, Par 4, 430 Yards: Play this one as a par 5- its a driver then 3w /4iron hole. Just make sure you club up to get it up to the green.

Hole #16, Par 4, 457 Yards: Take 3 wood or long iron for this one... but driver will be more fun. Make sure you commit to a yardage on 2nd shot, left of green is bad, right of green is bad - short ok.

Hole #17, Par 3, 195 Yards: Club up- aim back left - its the only bail out spot, make sure you get it there.

Hole #18, Par 4, 394 Yards: Take Drive or 3 wood. Club up to get it on to the elevated green - long is good here - so make sure you club up!

This is by far the hardest course I have ever played, makes Galloway National Golf Club (my previous hardest course ever played) look like a playground.

Some information contained within this blog post was taken from outside sources, blogs, websites, etc..

For all your local golf information, check out www.twooverpar.com!