Bethpage State Park Golf Courses
Jericho, NY 11753
(516) 249-4040
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Bethpage State Park Golf Courses
Located about 30 miles from Manhattan is Bethpage State Park and its 5 18-hole golf courses, all of which are public (the Black, Green, Red, Yellow, and Blue). That makes it a mecca for golfers from all over Long Island.
If you're a serious golfer and can get out there, you should make every effort possible to try and play the Black Course. The gem of the park, the Black was home to the 2002 US Open and the 2009 Open. It's the first truly public course EVER to host the US Open ($54 weekday greens fees for NY residents). It measures 7200+ yards and is one of the tougest courses on the east coast, let alone the entire country. I've played it 4 times and its the most punishing test of golf I've ever experienced (im about a 15 handicap and have shot 100, 99, 90 and 98 there...and FELT LIKE I PLAYED WELL each time). Long, heavily bunkered, high rough, and did i mention long...most holes go like this: Hit a good drive, then have a long iron into a green defended by yawning bunkers. This isn't your local muni where you can spray the ball all over creation and just hit wedge recovery shots. The Black makes you pay for any errant shots. But its also an incredibly satisfying and beautiful course...beautiful in its simplicity and the challenge it presents.
Because of its popularity, its obviously very hard to get a tee time. A lot of suckers sleep out in the parking lot the night before (youve probably heard of this), but theres an easier way around that. If you are a NY resident, you can register for a phone system that allows you to make a tee time a week before. You have to have a NY drivers license in order to register. Call (516)249-0707 or go to the park in-person. Then, at 7pm the week before you'd like to play, you can call in and secure a tee time. You won't get in every time, but its a heck of a lot easier than sleeping in your car all night.
The other 4 courses allow carts, but you have to walk the Black. Its not only a punishing test on your game, but physically as well. Its the longest course ive ever walked, and hilly to boot. By the end of your round you are usually exhausted. Its a stern test that I would only recommend for golfers with a sub-18 handicap (ie if you dont normally break 90, then you arent going to enjoy yourself on the Black). If you don't believe me, check out the sign at the first tee. There's a reason that Tiger Woods was the ONLY golfer to finish under par during the '02 Open there.
The Black is closed on Mondays.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
This place used to be my home course since college up to when I moved out to the nether regions of NJ. The review should really be split out into two parts, one for the four main courses red, green, blue and yellow and two THE BLACK.
First the main courses: Of the four main courses, red is the best kept and provides a pretty good challenge to the moderately skilled golfer, next is the green, then blue and then yellow. I would say Yellow is the worst kept and most of the hackers play on that. I would have given a five star review, but the total time per round is insane. If you don't tee off early in the morning, one round ends up being 5.5 to 6hrs. Which means that the rangers aren't doing a great job moving people along. Actually I hardly ever see a ranger.
The Black: This course is clearly different than the other four. Maintenence is superb and even better than most of the private courses in the United States. The inexpensive greens fees and course conditions truly make this a bargain. There is a sign when you walk towards the first tee box which states that the black is extremely difficult and is for highly skilled golfers. I think most people do listen to this warning. This is definitely one of the courses an avid golfer needs to experience.
The facilites are very well maintained as well, the clubhouse and the bathrooms are clean and the food and snacks pretty good.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
This is a very enjoyable place to spend an afternoon. For golfers and non golfers... who can find an enjoyable long walk around the state park and have lunch at the restaurant. There is a field where people fly small electric planes.