Bethpage Black Pictures

[Big D McGee]

I swear, I see pics like that and I'm first envious (of course!), and then I think "it doesn't look much harder than the muni I play". I mean, the course I usually play has fairways as narrow as the one in pic #4...on all 18 holes. Every hole is lined with Walnut trees; they basically went into the woods and hacked out a course.

 

Then, I notice the bunkers placed so that you are pretty much destined to hit them, the greens that look like postage stamps, and of course, the "warning sign" and I think, yeah, that course is plenty tough. Love to play it someday when I improve a bit! Thanks for the pics!

[dispatch096]

BethPage is my favorite place on the entire planet. unfortunately i havent gotten a chance to play the red or the black. Cant wait. The courses are always in such good condition and it isnt that expensive for a U.S. Open Course.

[FairwayFred]

Great Pics! Thank you. The Black has some of the best bunkering of any course anywhere.

[dispatch096]

yardage is 6684 and the slope is 140

[jamesduncan]

hey all

 

bethpage black player here too. i play it every weekend and it is my "home course"

 

As someone said earlier, when they grew the rough in (4 1/2 inches!!) for this years NY State Open, a hard course became totally insane. what a treat and a challenge!

 

gave us a small taste of what the US open might have been like. Rounds took an avergae of 30-45 minutes longer cause people simply couldnt find their ball

 

Black is one of those courses where local knowledge really helps, especially concerning the wind.

 

The wind either blows one way or the exact opposite. Case in point, on 10 downwind, Ive hit driver 8 iron. Into the wind Ive hit Driver 3 wood and two good pokes at that.

 

Im regularly shooting mid to high 70s on black now (after many many rounds!) so next season im gonna knock it off the blues for a few rounds and really get my ego bruised lol

 

Here are the yardages and ratings from this years card.

 

Par 71

White: 6684 73.8/135

Blue: 7366 76.6/144

 

 

Thanks for the pics!

[grinder1320]

First time I have seen those pics. Thanks for the large number of great shots! The course looks amazing and appears to be all about the golf. I live a long way from the NY area but I am considering making a trip out just to play it.

[Jer-Jer]

Is it still like $35 a person?

[857 Pro-Ti]

Current greens fees:

 

Weekday Fee (18 Holes) Residents:$41

Non-Residents: $82.00

Weekend Fee (18 Holes) Residents: $51

Non-Residents: $102.00

 

Well worth the price of admission :drinks:

[Omen]

i'm in baltimore and have a threesome that wants to play the black any time between april and july, would you like to be our fourth and make us a tee time....P L E A S E ?????

 

prolly a stupid question but they don't mind push carts do they?

[857 Pro-Ti]

i'm in baltimore and have a threesome that wants to play the black any time between april and july, would you like to be our fourth and make us a tee time....P L E A S E ?????

 

prolly a stupid question but they don't mind push carts do they?

PM sent :D

 

IMO it's easier to carry because of the hills :drinks:

[mwmilk]

don't take this the wrong way, but by the looks of those pictures, WHAT ROUGH?. i have played there many times during the summer, they must have gutted the rough and tall grass. the course almost looks naked when those pics were taken. you lucky dog!

[scottyallanb]

Yes what a great course!! I have been lucky enough to play it a few times now. I played in "Naked" like in the pictures and I played it 4 days before the NY State Open. What a difference. Also guys everyone is correct when they say you need course knowledge. GET A CADDY!! I paid $100 bucks the 1st time I played it and got a great caddy!! After about 5 swings and a few yardage questions he clubed me on everything. Shot 72 (1 handicap) with the rough grown out the course is just different. Fairways look tighter and your shot choices change. Also guys remember for the U.S.Open the faiways were cut in half from the pictures you see here. I have another 20 or 30 pics. Let me know if you want to see them. Scotty B

[srixon]

great pictures....making me homesick!! i grew up on bethpage and had a chance to play the black regularly. to say the course is hard is a understatement. the course can be brutal at times. i moved out of ny 2 years ago to ga because of new job....and i got to tell you, i have not found a course that is as demanding as the black in ga. not even close. i had the privelige to play atlanta athletic and tpc sugarloaf which had higher course ratings than the black....but you know what, the black is so much more tougher than the 2. i always compare any course i've played to the black and in terms of difficulty... i haven't found many courses as hard. the black is more than your swing or your putting stroke, your head has to be functioning at its highest efficiency. this course requires prudence and patience, because there aren't many let up holes.

[TM golf guy]

Great pictures. That has got to be one of my top 5 places I most want to play.

[Omen]

okay guys, if i get to play this spring/summer (please, God!!!) what kind of things should i work on in preperation, i mean besides drivers that find fairways?

 

What kind of roll do you typically get out there? I probably CARRY my driver 255-260, with that and the roll am i still going to be left with long irons into the 4's ? am i long enough to play the tips?

 

do the greens hold pretty well, do i need a shiny new 60* spin milled wedge? what about a shovel, are the bunkers deep anywhere?

 

thanks guys, I am getting all giddy just thinking about it...and it's still a few months away

 

oh how much are the walking caddies and are they worth it? How much is a respectable tip.

 

Yes I am a NEWBIE to world class Venues....thanks for any help

[scottyallanb]

Yes get a caddy. Long irons you will be hitting. My hybrids saved me there. Bring camera!! Biggest tip of all, ENJOY!! I took a buddy and he was so into playing well he forgot to enjoy the course. I laughed at him afterword. Also make sure you have a Nathan's hot dog at the turn!! I was laughing when I saw it. Stay to the right side of fairway on number 2 and hit 1 extra club on the approach. Ok could tell you much more but I will stop here.

[sirvinim]

Omen, be careful because some of the caddies are straight up crooks. I've never used a caddy there but I've played the Black about 10 times. What you really need is to hook up with someone who's played the course a lot and they will be more helpful than the caddies that try to tackle you in the parking lot. You'll need a good sand wedge for the bunkers and most important of all, have fun!!!

[AcesAZ]

Omen, be careful because some of the caddies are straight up crooks. I've never used a caddy there but I've played the Black about 10 times. What you really need is to hook up with someone who's played the course a lot and they will be more helpful than the caddies that try to tackle you in the parking lot. You'll need a good sand wedge for the bunkers and most important of all, have fun!!!

 

 

Tackle you in the parking lot? Crooks? What do you mean?

 

The course looks sweet, I am missing golf so much right now I'm going crazy!!! :drinks: :D :drinks:

[soberguy16]

okay guys, if i get to play this spring/summer (please, God!!!) what kind of things should i work on in preperation, i mean besides drivers that find fairways?

 

What kind of roll do you typically get out there? I probably CARRY my driver 255-260, with that and the roll am i still going to be left with long irons into the 4's ? am i long enough to play the tips?

 

do the greens hold pretty well, do i need a shiny new 60* spin milled wedge? what about a shovel, are the bunkers deep anywhere?

 

thanks guys, I am getting all giddy just thinking about it...and it's still a few months away

 

oh how much are the walking caddies and are they worth it? How much is a respectable tip.

 

Yes I am a NEWBIE to world class Venues....thanks for any help

 

Obviously the amount of roll/softeness of the greens will vary depending upon the conditions. I live in the NY area and played the black for the first time this past summer and can't wait to go back. I'll definitely be playing this course regularly as it is a true test of golf...maybe the best I've played. As for what irons you're gonna be hitting into greens, that also depends on what the conditions are and what tees you play. I played from the tips and the course was playing longer than I could ever have imagined...that 499 yard par 4 (11 i think?) was playing even longer because the tees were back about ten yards (so like 509) and played straight into the wind. I crushed my drive perfect and still had like 245 into the green (i can drive 300 regularly so this was a big hit), and still had 3 wood left...hit into a greenside bunker and made a 5. But if youre gonna play the back tees youre gonna be hitting long irons or woods into many greens, probably from the whites as well. This course is serious long. The bunkers are very well placed as well...I've never been in so many bunkers in one round ever...fairway and greenside. I'm somewhere in the 2-4 handicap range and shot an 82 when I played. The wind was blowing pretty hard and the course was fairly soft. It seemed like I was hitting into the wind on every hole (horrible feeling). The round took well over 5 hours, i think over 6 actually. The rough was pretty bad when i played and if you miss the fairways by more than 5 yards you're f****d. But you have to embrace the toughness of it and appreciate it, which is why i can't wait to go back. Course knowledge is definitely a help (i had none) which is also why i can't wait to go back (will surely do better after playing it once). Best value around by far. This course is second to none in difficulty and prestige IMO. Hope this was helpful, and didn't scare you too much :D Good luck and have fun!! :drinks:

[Omen]

dear heavenly i father, i beg you for the strength and the courage to see me through Bethpage black. Give me the fortitude to stare down the bunkers, the will to blast through the rough, and the wisdom to lay up when necessary.

 

keep my putts within reason, guard me from temptation for Heroism, remind me I'm not Tiger, see me through to better than 82, so that one day i may tell my kids i conquered Bethpage Black....well as close to conquering it as mere mortals can hope to.

 

so no caddy necessary huh? meeting you in the parking lot trying there best to sell you their services huh? No good...

 

problem is my bag is kind of heavy....not exactly a carry bag...should i pick up a Mizuno aerolite?

[sirvinim]

The "caddies" appear to be guys who just came off the street. You can't judge a book by its cover but I don't think any of the guys I've seen there are real caddies. You will see players on the course with caddies so I can't speak for all of them. I think they prey on players who've never played the course before. They'll spot you with your I.D. band on or ask you as you're walking to the clubhouse if you're playing the Black. They'll say "Ohh, you don't want to play the Black for the first time without a caddie!" Choose wisely.

[857 Pro-Ti]

The only reason I take a caddie is for them to carry my bag. I don't need some crackhead telling me what club to hit and where to hit it. I usually reserve one of the kids that the course hires. They need the money more than one of the crackheads in the lot do :rolleyes:

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

857, I am going to try and hook up with you this summer for a round on the Black Course and maybe Montauk Downs as well!! I might even be able to get you on Yale GC as that is being set up for me as well, we'll need a 4th if we get a time....

 

I am in a state of golf withdrawal right now....have no fear friend, the wife and I are playing Mid Pines and Pine Needles in 2 weeks and I'll be in Myrtle Beach playing Barefoot Dye, TPC MB, King's North and the Avocet course in less than 2 months!

 

Pics on the way!

[Grimace45]

I have been lucky enough to play here a number of times and it is by far harder (Ocean Course at Kiawah a close second) than any course I have plaeyed when the rough is up. The last time I played there I hit one fairway and a lot of wedges back into play, just brutal from the back tees. That being said, I will play it anytime I can :rolleyes:

[toddnt]

Those are great prices even for non residents. Thank God Im a resident here in San Diego because Torrey rakes the visitors.

[littlepoison]

The only reason I take a caddie is for them to carry my bag. I don't need some crackhead telling me what club to hit and where to hit it. I usually reserve one of the kids that the course hires. They need the money more than one of the crackheads in the lot do :D

 

 

Hmmm... forgive me for what is probably going to be an utterly stupid question...

 

if the course hires kids/teenagers/anyone as caddies, wouldn't they make it a point to make them stand out from someone just walking up to you in the parking lot? :) ;)

[857 Pro-Ti]

857, I am going to try and hook up with you this summer for a round on the Black Course and maybe Montauk Downs as well!! I might even be able to get you on Yale GC as that is being set up for me as well, we'll need a 4th if we get a time....

 

I am in a state of golf withdrawal right now....have no fear friend, the wife and I are playing Mid Pines and Pine Needles in 2 weeks and I'll be in Myrtle Beach playing Barefoot Dye, TPC MB, King's North and the Avocet course in less than 2 months!

 

Pics on the way!

 

Just say the word ;)

 

 

The only reason I take a caddie is for them to carry my bag. I don't need some crackhead telling me what club to hit and where to hit it. I usually reserve one of the kids that the course hires. They need the money more than one of the crackheads in the lot do :D

 

 

Hmmm... forgive me for what is probably going to be an utterly stupid question...

 

if the course hires kids/teenagers/anyone as caddies, wouldn't they make it a point to make them stand out from someone just walking up to you in the parking lot? :cheesy: ;)

The kids the course pay aren't just hanging around. You have to reserve them a few days in advance. The guys by the parking lot are just hanging around. But they do get plenty of work.

[johnj]

My brother Jimmy & I at the Black June 28, 2000. The last hole of a great day. We came down from Hidden Valley G.C. upstate with our good friend Kevin and his cousin Matt. We were fortunate enough to have caddies that our friend Eddie sent over from his club on the North Shore. Having local knowledge and walking unencumbered was just the icing on the cake for such a fantastic round of golf. I do remember that first tee shot, very intimidating, there was a tour up by the practice green, all asian tourists with cameras and the usual folks looking on. After you read the sign you tee it up in front of everyone and pray.

We all got off great and there was some good-natured joking (or maybe not) that this would be a good place to quit while we were ahead...I'm glad we didn't. Thanks for the great photos they brought back alot of memories.

[pacdunk412]

damn..ive played that course on xbox but those pics r hot!

how much did it cost u?

[Gross]

ahh the black course, I think its about 35-40 dollars for a resident. Not being a great golfer, im fine with the green, its challenging yet rewarding and from playing it in school im starting to figure out the best ways to play it