Bethpage Black Course facts for kids
| Club information | |
|---|---|
 Location in the United States
Location in New York
|
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| Coordinates | 40°44′31″N 73°27′18″W / 40.742°N 73.455°W |
| Location | Bethpage State Park Farmingdale, New York, U.S. |
| Established | 1936 |
| Type | Public |
| Total holes | 18 |
| Tournaments hosted | PGA Championship (2019) U.S. Open (2002, 2009) The Barclays (2012, 2016) |
| Greens | Poa annua |
| Fairways | Ryegrass / Poa annua |
| Black Course | |
| Designed by | Joseph H. Burbeck & A.W. Tillinghast (1936), Rees Jones (2015) |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 7,468 yards (6,829 m) |
| Course rating | 77.5 |
| Slope rating | 155 |
| Course record | 63 – Brooks Koepka (2019) |
The Bethpage Black Course is a famous public golf course located in Bethpage State Park on Long Island, New York. It was designed by Joseph H. Burbeck with help from the well-known golf architect A. W. Tillinghast. This course is known as the toughest of the five courses at Bethpage. There's even a special sign at the very first hole that warns golfers: "The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers."
Over the years, Bethpage Black has hosted many big golf tournaments. These include the U.S. Open in 2002, the U.S. Open in 2009, and the 2019 PGA Championship in 2019.
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Why Bethpage Black is a Top Golf Course
Bethpage Black is considered one of the best and toughest golf courses in the United States.
How Golf Experts Rank Bethpage Black
In July 2008, Golf Digest magazine ranked Bethpage Black as the 26th best golf course in America. It was also ranked:
- 6th best in New York state.
- 6th among America's 50 toughest courses.
- 5th among America's greatest public golf courses.
It's also the top-ranked course on the Golf Digest list that is owned and run by the government. In September 2020, Golf Advisor named Bethpage Black the #1 toughest golf course in the United States.
History of Bethpage Black
The Bethpage Black Course first opened in 1936. It was designed by Joseph H. Burbeck, who was the superintendent of Bethpage State Park at the time. He also designed the park's Blue and Red Courses. The famous golf architect A. W. Tillinghast also gave some advice on the design.
In 1972, a golfer named Mel Galletta Jr. set a course record by shooting a score of 65. Later, in 2001, club pro Rick Hartmann matched this record.
U.S. Open Tournaments at Bethpage Black
Bethpage Black has hosted the prestigious U.S. Open tournament twice.
The 2002 U.S. Open
The 2002 U.S. Open was won by Tiger Woods. He was the only player in the entire tournament to finish with a score below par. This event was seen as one of the most exciting and challenging U.S. Opens ever. It broke records for how many people attended and created a very lively atmosphere. The 17th hole was especially exciting, with large stands and a natural hill creating a huge horseshoe shape of cheering fans.
Before 2002, all U.S. Opens were held at private golf clubs. These clubs usually charge a lot of money to play. The USGA chose Bethpage Black in 2002 to be the first public course to host the tournament. This was seen as a way to make golf more open to everyone.
The 2009 U.S. Open
The 2009 U.S. Open was affected by a lot of rain, which caused play to be stopped many times. This tournament was won by Lucas Glover. Tiger Woods, who won in 2002, wasn't a strong contender this time.
After finishing his round, golfer Phil Mickelson announced he would take time off to be with his wife, Amy, who was unwell. The crowd in New York really supported Mickelson. A memorable moment happened on the 17th hole when fans chanted "Let's Go!" as he walked to the green. Even though he missed his birdie putt, he praised the New York golf fans. He even suggested that if a Ryder Cup tournament were played at Bethpage Black, it would give the U.S. team a "big advantage."
To give fans a taste of playing the tough Black course, the USGA teamed up with World Golf Tour. They hosted a "2009 Virtual US Open tournament." The winner of this online game won a trip to the 2010 U.S. Open. Hundreds of thousands of players from over 180 countries joined the virtual tournament.
Recent Tournaments at Bethpage Black
Bethpage Black has also hosted other major tournaments.
The Barclays in 2012
The annual Barclays tournament, which is part of the FedEx Cup playoffs, came to Bethpage State Park in 2012. Like the U.S. Opens, the 2012 Barclays was played on the challenging Black course. For this tournament, the 7th hole was made a bit longer and played as a par-5, making the entire course a par-71.
The Barclays in 2016
The Barclays tournament returned to Bethpage Black from August 25-28, 2016. Patrick Reed won the tournament by one stroke. This event was also the last chance for golfers to qualify for the American team in the 2016 Ryder Cup.
The 2019 PGA Championship
The 2019 PGA Championship was held at Bethpage Black from May 16 to May 19. Brooks Koepka won this tournament, finishing two strokes ahead of the other players.
Major Golf Events Hosted at Bethpage Black
Here's a quick look at some of the biggest tournaments Bethpage Black has hosted:
| Year | Date | Tournament | Winner | Score | To par | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Jun 13–16 | U.S. Open |  Tiger Woods |
277 | −3 | Major championship |
| 2009 | Jun 18–22 | U.S. Open | Lucas Glover |
276 | −4 | Major championship |
| 2012 | Aug 23–26 | The Barclays* | Nick Watney |
274 | −10 | FedEx Cup playoffs |
| 2016 | Aug 25–28 | The Barclays* | Patrick Reed |
275 | −9 | FedEx Cup playoffs |
| 2019 | May 16–19 | PGA Championship | Brooks Koepka |
272 | −8 | Major championship |
Future Events at Bethpage Black
Bethpage Black is set to host another very important golf event in the future.
| Year | Tournament | Type | Times hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ryder Cup | International match play | Inaugural |
The 2025 Ryder Cup
On September 17, 2013, it was announced that Bethpage Black would host the 2019 PGA Championship and the 2024 Ryder Cup. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ryder Cup was later moved to 2025. The Ryder Cup is a special team competition between golfers from the United States and Europe.
