Oakmont is much harder on the greens. Almost out of character with the rest of the course. In this edition, we’ve asked four of our experts to share their takes on big, bad Bethpage Black heading into the 2019 PGA Championship, and whether it lives up to its fearsome reputation. The course was designed by Joe Burbeck with A.W. Its a 460 yard par 4 dog leg left with an uphill (by 40 feet or so approach shot), and oh yeah, it's guarded with bunkers in the front and a treeline in the back. With the increased demand for golf, the Yellow Course opened in 1958 and now 300,000 rounds are played annually on the five courses at Bethpage, all of which start from the clubhouse area. A long day’s march! Bethpage Red’s par 4’s varies from fair to notoriously long, the Red is in my opinion the most playable course … Few golf courses are more difficult than the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York. Errant drives leave little chance of reaching the heavily sloped and well-perched green. It provides a varied topography of woodland holes 1-7 and 15-18 and wide-open, fescue-lined holes 8-14 with less in the way of sand bunkers than the Black and more sedate greens. Championship at Long Island’s Bethpage State Park Black Course, and each … 100 YEARS OF TRADITION. I think the 15th is the perfect face of the black course (it's the most noticeable when you drive past bethpage). Located in suburban Long Island in close proximity to New York City, Bethpage is a mecca for public golf featuring five 18-hole regulation golf courses, including the world-renowned Bethpage … Tee-to-green at Bethpage Black is quite demanding, yet once on the dance floor, the putting surfaces aren’t nearly as challenging. Panelist 1: Panelist since 2006; has played 99 of current World Top 100, Panelist 2: Panelist since 2006; has played 79 of the current World Top 100, Panelist 3: Panelist since 2011; has played 88 of the current World Top 100. Bethpage State Park is a 1,477-acre (5.98 km 2) New York state park on the border of Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island.The park contains tennis courts, picnic and recreational areas and a polo field, but is best known for its five golf courses, including the Bethpage Black Course, which hosted the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Open Golf Championships and the 2019 PGA Championship. Panelist 1: Winged Foot West, Somerset Hills, Baltusrol (Upper), Shawnee-on-Delaware (original), San Francisco, Panelist 2: San Francisco, Somerset Hills, Quaker Ridge, Winged Foot West, Kansas City Country Club, Panelist 3:  Somerset Hills, San Francisco Golf Club, Winged Foot West, Bethpage Black, Baltimore Country Club-Five Farms, Panelist 4: Somerset Hills, San Francisco Golf Club, Bethpage Black, Baltusrol (Lower), Baltimore Country Club (Five Farms). Bethpage State Park has something for everyone except a pool ! This weekend, the best golfers in the world will meet in New York at Bethpage Black to compete in the PGA Championship. Any courses you have played that are more difficult? Tillinghast design from the 1930s. A mainstay on Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses” list (this year it ranks at No. 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 State Park. 1 of 9. Some modern courses, like Oak Tree, lose a sense of continuity in their quest for difficulty.Such modern courses feel fragmented, as … Interestingly, despite its 4.506 average, the hole did not play the toughest of all 18 at Bethpage on the day. The Black Course became the first public owned golf course to host a US Open, which was won by Tiger Woods in 2002 and in 2009 by Lucas Glover. Most United States Open courses are draped in golf history, but Bethpage State Park's history is just golf itself. It is very challenging and long if you arent hitting fairways. Tillinghast course to open at Bethpage State Park, predating the Red Course by several months and the fearsome Black Course by a year. Despite its recent neutering, the slope on No. When it first opened officials gave the course a 162 rating for difficulty, but USGA headquarters wouldn't accept this as the upper rating for difficulty is 155. If you accept bogey, it’s very manageable. Green Fees. Panelist 1: The 18th is a bit of a downer, with big bunkers right and left off the tee and a relatively large, flattish green. Course Rater Confidential: Where does Bethpage Black rank among the hardest golf courses? No drama on second shot and green is nondescript. “Ragged” is the best word for the few times I’ve played it. Panelist 4: Less difficult as compared to courses like Oakmont and Merion. Bethpage is a New York state park with five eighteen-hole golf courses the Black, Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow in decreasing order of difficulty. The red course at Bethpage is the second toughest out of 5 courses at this golf mecca. GOLF’s Top 100 course panelists are among the most respected and well-traveled course evaluators in the game. To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor. Weekends. The Red Course is over similar terrain along broad fairway corridors carved through the deep woods with doglegs left and right. The Bethpage State Park has five eighteen-hole golf courses, named the Black, Blue, Red, Green and Yellow, in decreasing order of difficulty. 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 and 2009. Over 450 yards, even from the whites. Pine Valley is the toughest to hit a recovery shot on the green. Course Name: Bethpage State Park Golf Course – Blue Course Designer: A.W. Bethpage Black and the 25 Toughest Golf Courses in America ... That's in conjunction with the 6991 yards that you have to hit through in order to finish. Bethpage State Park Golf Course Book A Tee Time NYS Resident Pricing Out of state pricing. Among these agencies was the Bethpage State Park Authority, which had been created by the state legislature the previous summer for the purpose of acquiring the 1,360-acre estate of the late railroad tycoon Benjamin Yoakum. Opens were contested here on wet golf courses, and it looks like the first PGA Championship that Bethpage Black will host is also going to be played on a soft, long course. RELATED. These factors make the “regular” set-up for amateurs very difficult. New York State added golf courses to the list of non-essential businesses on Thursday, meaning that golf on Long Island was shut down. Panelist 2: The 16th. But while Black gets all the love and attention, Bethpage State Park actually features five strong courses (in order of difficulty): Black, Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. At this point, the prospects of a birdie coming in are dim. In 2002 the Black Course became the first publicly owned and operated course to host the U.S. Open. Bethpage Red is a strong course in its own right, holding up as a player’s course. A.W. The Blue is generally considered the third-toughest course behind the Black Course and the Red. Panelist 3: While undoubtedly the toughest muni course around, it pales in difficulty when compared to the likes of Oakmont, Butler National, Pine Valley, Winged Foot, or Kiawah. Panelist 2: The 18th. It is consistently ranked in Golf Digest magazine's list of top 100 golf courses in the US. In 2002 the Black Course became the 1st publicly owned course to host the U.S. Open. Bethpage lives up to they hype of being a true, great test of golf. The 2012 Barclays Championship is coming next. Order of rank - Black, Red, Blue, Green & Yellow Also check out Eisenhower Park where there are 3 courses including the Eisenhower - Red Course. The Black Course became the first public owned golf course to host a US Open, which was won by Tiger Woods in 2002 and in 2009 by Lucas Glover. Tillinghast in the 1930s. In fact, the Black Course became the first publicly owned and operated course to host the U.S. open in 2002 and will again host the U.S. Open in 2009. "One of the things nobody talks about enough with Bethpage is the physical requirement of the golf course," Bolling said. 18 Holes: $38. The Red Course is another classic at Bethpage that was designed by course architect A.W. $99.99. Tight driving area. More than 200,000 fans are expected to attend this week’s 2019 P.G.A. In 2002 and 2009, Bethpage hosted memorable US Opens. Significant changes would require land from the Red Course but an angled drive would be preferred. The goal is not only to entertain you but also to give you a better understanding of how GOLF’s panelists assess courses. Panelist 1: The par-4 16th. American beauties: Our 2020-21 rankings of the best golf courses in every state, Why one big-name golf course architect is fiercely tackling a very short, very old muni, Best golf courses in Virginia, according to GOLF Magazine’s expert course raters, The best golf courses in Tennessee, according to GOLF Magazine’s expert course raters, The best golf courses in Rhode Island, according to GOLF Magazine’s expert course raters. This course has been reviewed 13 times Panelist 3: The 15th remains the hardest hole. http://nysparks.com/golf-courses/11/details.aspx. PGA Championship: Round 1 & 2 tee times, pairings; PGA Championship: How to watch on TV, online; PGA Championship: Tiger Woods ready to roar New York State RESIDENTS. They’re also keen to share their opinions. The park has five eighteen-hole golf courses, named (in increasing order of difficulty) the Yellow, Green, Blue, Red, and Black Courses. s local amateurs know, Bethpage State Park's Black Course is a special place, deserving of its selection as the first public facility ever to play host to a U.S. Open tournament. For that matter, I prefer the closing hole on the Red Course to this one. Panelist 4: The 16th, unless you stripe it down the middle. Tillinghast. The Black Course was designed by A.W Tillinghast, one of the most prolific golf architects of all time. Kiawah Ocean Course and Blackwolf Run River are more difficult to score on. It can play to 7,014 yards off the back tees, 72.2/127, course/slope ratings with two shorter tees, designed by Joe Burbeck, Dev Emmet and possibly A.W. Tillinghast (1935), Alfred Tull (1958, Redesign) Location: Farmingdale, New York History: Bethpage Blue was the first A.W. Don't know how many square miles it is , but it's huge ! With stratigically placed bunkers and length, the layout is one of my favorite tracks of all courses. The obvious solution is to borrow some land from the Red Course, yet absent that, I’d lose the overdone Rees Jones pinch bunkering and move the green 40 yards to the right. Missing the fairway virtually precludes hitting the very elevated green and any recovery is very challenging. Course conditions were great except for people not fixing ball marks on greens. Five deserves an honorable mention for its acute premium it puts on hitting an accurate tee shot. Panelist 2: Less difficult than that Double Black Diamond sign on the first tee indicates, but more difficult to walk than expected. Plus, even though it’s been recently muted, it is the course’s most severe putting surface. The Black Course does not have … The property’s existing golf course, Lenox Hills, was transformed by Tillinghast into Bethpage’s first layout, the Green. It's a long walk, mileage-wise. If you can't play the famed Black Course at Bethpage State Park and still want a classic challenge, try the Blue Course, also an A.W. 15 make it the scariest two-putt. 18 … The layout is an immense challenge as it's routed along contoured fairways lined with sand bunkers and stands of mature trees providing one unique hole after another. What hole would you change/improve and how would you do it? The park has 5 18-hole golf courses, named (in increasing order of difficulty) the Yellow -> Black Courses. And Rehor is not shy about admitting Red as his favorite. $99.99. It generally provides plenty of width off the tee with the fairways bordered by deep rough and the greens fairly generous with slight to no undulations. Panelist 1: Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Ocean Course at Kiawah, Panelist 2: Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits, Bethpage Black, Panelist 3: Pebble Beach, Pinehurst #2, Ocean Course at Kiawah, Panelist 4: Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits, Bethpage Black. B ethpage Golf Course is one of the most popular and cherished golf courses in the nation. It’s very long and narrow. Give us your top 5 Tillinghast courses. The 2002 and 2009 U.S. Bethpage State Park’s five golf courses are hardly modest. Panelist 1: Less difficult, much so, because its putting surfaces are flattish and not nearly as treacherous as courses like Winged Foot, Merion, Oakland Hills et al. Panelist 1: Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Ocean Course at Kiawah Panelist 2: Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits, Bethpage Black Panelist 3: Pebble Beach, Pinehurst #2, Ocean Course at Kiawah Bethpage is long, strategic, relatively narrow (with above average-length rough) and well-bunkered. In general, what I’d improve is the conditioning on the whole course. But if set-ups are comparable, I think that many courses including Winged Foot and Oakmont are more difficult. The Bethpage (Black) is widely recognized by top golfers as one of the finest golf courses in the world. I agree that the greens are much more manageable. The Black is an amazing track but The Red course is also amazing. Green, Blue, & Yellow Courses; Red Course; Black Course; Weekdays. Tillinghast. Strategic ball placement and accuracy off the tee are vital to score well at the Red. Panelist 3: Yep, 18 is the hands-down candidate. In 2002 the Black Course became the 1st publicly owned course to host the U.S. Open. Tillinghast designed and oversaw construction of the Black, Red and Blue courses, and modified the Lenox Hills Course (Green) course. Three of the five eighteens at Bethpage were Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects designed by A.W. Panelist 4: See above. GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF, PGA host Bethpage Black has tormented New Yorkers for years (but they keep coming back), A view of the 18th fairway at Bethpage Black, My favorite golf hole: A brutal (but somehow enjoyable) par 4 at Bethpage Black, 8 ways to make the most of camping out for a Bethpage Black tee time. The tournament was won by Tiger Woods, being the only golfer to score under par for the tournament. Why? 9 Holes and Twilight: $23. For this GOLF.com series, we have granted them anonymity and turned to them for their unvarnished views on all matters course-related. The state had taken the lead in keeping golf courses … It's a walking only layout at 7,468 from the tips, par 71, 78.1/152, course/slope ratings with four shorter tee boxes. 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 and 2009, the Barclays in 2012 and 2016, the PGA Championship in 2019, and will host the Ryder Cup in 2025. Located on the western half of Long Island, the Bethpage facility has served as a mecca for public golf since 1936. Panelist 4: Panelist since 2017; has played 63 of current World Top 100. Yet today, the Black Course is as Tillinghast intended: a course to challenge the finest, as was evidencedthroughoutthe 2002 U.S. Open. Tillinghast as the consultant and opened in 1936 with design enhancements by Rees Jones. "It's a little bit of an endurance test. Is Bethpage Black more or less difficult than its fearsome reputation? Courses are often measured by their difficulty. Bethpage is a New York state park with five eighteen-hole golf courses the Black, Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow in decreasing order of difficulty. In terms of quality of design, please rank your top three public-access courses on the major rota in the United States?