Bethpage State Park — Black Course Golf Course
Farmingdale, United States
Course Details
About Bethpage State Park — Black Course Golf Course
Bethpage Black is the most celebrated public golf course on the East Coast and a genuine achievement of American democratic golf: a championship course owned by New York State and open to any golfer willing to pay the fee or, in the case of New York residents, queue through the night for a tee time. A.W. Tillinghast designed the Black Course in 1936 as the hardest of five layouts at Bethpage State Park, and a sign at the first tee still warns: 'Warning — The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.' Tillinghast built massive, undulating greens, steep rough-covered hills, and a series of long, demanding par-4s and par-5s that punish anything short of precise ball-striking. The 2002 US Open — the first major held on a US municipal course — validated Bethpage Black's championship credentials and produced Tiger Woods' dominant ten-stroke victory. A second US Open followed in 2009. The 2019 PGA Championship and 2024 Ryder Cup (the first ever held on a public course) further cemented its status. With a weekend green fee for New York residents around $77 and non-residents paying $153, Bethpage Black remains the gold standard for accessible championship golf.
Why Play Bethpage State Park — Black Course
- A.W. Tillinghast's 1936 design — New York State-owned and open to all, home of four major championships
- First US Open on a municipal course (2002 — Tiger Woods wins by ten strokes)
- 2024 Ryder Cup venue — first Ryder Cup ever held on a public golf course
- Warning sign at the first tee: 'recommended only for highly skilled golfers' — not marketing, a statement of fact
- New York residents pay from $77 for weekend rounds — championship conditions at municipal prices
Bethpage State Park — Black Course Golf Course Characteristics
Course Type
Parkland — Public access
Course Architect
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast
Year Opened
1936
Region
North America — United States
Practical Information
Current Weather at Bethpage State Park — Black Course
Approximate current conditions · Updated every 30 minutes · Source: Open-Meteo
Visit Bethpage State Park — Black Course Golf Course
Farmingdale, United States