Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
The people’s major — a brutish, state-run public course on Long Island that has hosted two U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship and the 2025 Ryder Cup, yet anyone can tee it up for a municipal green fee.
Bethpage State Park (Black Course) in photos
Can I play Bethpage State Park (Black Course)?
Yes — a true public, state-owned muni that anyone can play, with no membership or resort stay required. The catch is access and price: New York State residents get priority booking and much lower green fees, while out-of-state visitors pay roughly double and book on a shorter window. It is walking-only (no carts), so be ready for a long, hilly loop.
How to book: Book online through the official Bethpage tee-time system (bethpagegolfcourse.com). NY State residents with a Park ID card can reserve up to 7 days ahead; non-residents up to 5 days ahead, at the higher non-resident rate plus a per-player reservation fee. Tee times release at midnight and the best slots vanish within seconds, so set an alarm. Caddies are available and recommended.
About Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
Bethpage Black opened in 1936 as a Depression-era public-works project, designed by A.W. Tillinghast with park superintendent Joseph Burbeck, and it remains owned by the State of New York and open to all. At 7,468 yards of par 71 with a slope of 155, it is a relentlessly long, heavily bunkered parkland test that became famous when the 2002 U.S. Open was the first ever held on a genuinely public course. Tiger Woods won that Open, Lucas Glover took the rain-soaked 2009 edition, and Brooks Koepka the 2019 PGA Championship. In September 2025 it hosted a raucous Ryder Cup, where Luke Donald’s Europe held off a Sunday USA charge to win 15–13.
Signature hole
The par-5 4th, a cross-bunkered three-shotter regarded as one of Tillinghast’s finest, and the long uphill par-4 15th. The first tee’s warning sign — recommended only for highly skilled golfers — is golf’s most famous placard.
What makes it special
The warning sign
The placard beside the first tee — warning that the Black is an extremely difficult course recommended only for highly skilled golfers — is the most photographed sign in golf, and it means every word.
A major on a muni
The 2002 U.S. Open was the first ever staged on a genuinely public, municipal course, cementing Bethpage as proof that championship golf need not be private.
Champions’ ground for a muni fee
Non-residents pay a fraction of what a comparable private or resort test would cost, and walk the exact turf that hosted Tiger, Koepka and the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Tournament pedigree
- U.S. Open 2002 (Tiger Woods)
- U.S. Open 2009 (Lucas Glover)
- PGA Championship 2019 (Brooks Koepka)
- Ryder Cup 2025 (Europe def. USA 15–13)
Need to know
Best time to play
May–October for peak turf; late spring and early autumn bring the best weather and firmest conditions. Book the first tee times to avoid a slow five-hour-plus round.
Dress code
Collared shirt and golf attire; no denim. Standard soft-spike golf shoes.
Good to know
Walking only — no carts under any circumstances, so a caddie or pushcart is wise given the length and hills. Rounds run long. Overnight tee-time queuing in the car park is a legendary (if no longer necessary) tradition. Five courses share the complex (Black, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow) — only the Black is the championship test.
Upcoming golf tournaments
Prefer to watch the world’s best? Book tickets to an upcoming tournament, then add a hotel and flights.
Getting there
Nearest airports
Long Island MacArthur/Islip (ISP) ~20 min; JFK ~35–45 min; LaGuardia (LGA) ~45 min; Manhattan ~1 hr.
On arrival
On Long Island, off the Bethpage State Parkway near Farmingdale, about 30 miles east of Manhattan. Driving is easiest; the LIRR to Farmingdale plus a short taxi also works.
Stay near the course
The Inn at Fox Hollow (Woodbury), Hilton Long Island (Melville) and Courtyard by Marriott Farmingdale are close by; many visitors simply base in NYC and drive out for an early tee time.
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices The Garden City Hotel
Garden City
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices The Inn At Fox Hollow Hotel
Woodbury
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices The Roslyn, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Roslyn
A taste of the luxury stays near Bethpage State Park (Black Course) — tap any hotel to see live availability and prices for your dates, or search them all.
Plan your golf trip
Hotels near the course
Live-priced stays a short drive from the 1st tee.
Search hotelsFlights
Get to Farmingdale — search fares to the nearest airport.
Find flightsTournament tickets
Rather watch the pros? Book golf tournament tickets.
See golf ticketsThings to do
Tours and experiences around Farmingdale.
Explore FarmingdaleFrequently asked questions
Can I play Bethpage Black, and how do I book?
Yes — it is fully public. Reserve through bethpagegolfcourse.com: NY State residents (with a Park ID) up to 7 days ahead, non-residents up to 5 days ahead at the higher rate. Prime times go almost instantly when the window opens at midnight, so book the moment it releases; caddies can be arranged.
How much does it cost to play?
Non-residents pay roughly $140 weekday / $160 weekend plus a small reservation fee; NY State residents pay about $70 / $80. Twilight is cheaper, and it is walking-only so there is no cart fee. Check the official site for current pricing.
Do I have to walk, or can I take a cart?
No carts are permitted on the Black — it is strictly walking-only. Bring a pushcart or hire a caddie; the course is long and hilly, so budget five-plus hours for the round.
Which is the "real" Bethpage course?
The complex has five courses; the Black is the championship layout that hosts the majors. The Red and Blue are also strong and far easier to get on, but the Black is the one you have seen on TV.
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St Andrews — Old Course
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Golf guideSources & pricing note
Green fees, access rules and tee-time policies change frequently and vary by season. The figures here are indicative for trip planning — always confirm on the official site before booking.
- Bethpage State Park Golf Course (official)
- Bethpage Black Course — Wikipedia
- Everything to Know About Bethpage Black — PGA.com
Hero image: JazzyJoeyD, CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Guide updated 2026-07-27.