Bethpage (Black) has hosted the US Open several times and is designed by A.W. Tillinghast. Bethpage is also home to 5 other public courses and is about 1 hours drive from Manhattan depending on traffic. I have read many stories around getting tee times and sleeping overnight. I tried to book through the complicated phone system and did not succeed. Instead I decided to try my chances with the walk-up times during the morning. It was a friday in september and I left Manhattan at 4AM and got there at 5AM, where I took the 13th spot on the parking lot. I went to have a chat with the guy parked next to me (Ed from Ireland) who was a regular at the course. He explained the procedure to me and as usual the attendant showed up at 05.30AM and handed out numbers. We drove to the clubhouse car park and joined the cue for a tee time.
tee time at bethpage black
It did not take long at I got 08.12AM together with Ed and 2 other players, where one of them also was a regular visitor. I was pleased to get out relatively early. This was possible due to some of the earlier people to arrive was playing the other courses. Some people still get there early to get out on the first tee slots and go around the course quickly.
You get a wrist band and matching tee time ticket. The wrist band is removed on the 1st tee. We went for breakfast at the restaurant – Taste 99
After breakfast the sun was getting up and I went to have a look in the proshop for a souvenir. I ended up getting a towel with the well-known “warning” statement from the 1st tee printed on it. I have visited so many different pro shops around the world on great golf courses and have stopped buying too many souvenirs as is just stacks up at home.
Many of the Proshops have similar merchandise and even though it is tempting to get 1 item from each place as a memory from all the courses, I have decided to let this blog and pictures be my ultimate souvenir.
driving range
Next stop the driving range, which Ed had already warned me was nothing special and it is difficult to disagree with him. The driving range and clubhouse is where you see the difference to some of private clubs where they invest more money is creating nice facilities.
After 20 balls on the range I went to the first tee and practiced my putting.
1st tee is organized well and you are expected to be there 20 minutes before your tee time where you line up and wait for the starter to call your tee time. It is especially good as you get a view of everybody teeing off on the first hole and a chance to get the compulsory picture below…
It was tee off time and I decided to play from the white tees even though it was tempting to go Blues together with one of my playing partners that was a regular on the course and a 2 hcp. As expected I would realize during my round that the white tees are difficult enough…
The course
I hit a good drive down the fairway and left myself a 6 iron approach shot which I unfortunately missed right into the green side bunker. Really good bunker shot and what should have been an easy putt that I missed. There is limited break on the greens and even though you see a break it is better to hit it inside the hole as I found out on the 1st green. I did not believe it was straight and missed it.
great par 3 hole 3 at bethpage black
The 3rd hole is a good looking par 3 where you do not want to go long. I found the front side sand trap and made bogey.
best par 5 on bethpage black
This is a really good par 5 and where I found out how difficult the course can play. I hit my drive just a bit too long and ended up in the rough. Decided to hit an iron over the big bunker to give myself a wedge to the green. Good plan, but I did not get good contact from the heavy rough which meant going into the bunker. Poor bunker shot that came up short into the next bunker and my first but not last double bogey of the round. Needless to say that the rough is as difficult as you hear and in many cases you just have to play out and see it as a penalty.
A good looking dogleg right where you drive is as important as ever. I hit a good drive, but just missed the fairway and being in the rough I couldn’t get in on the green and made bogey.
A really good drive will take you down the bottom of the hill on 6th, but there really no need to take that risk as it is a short par 4 and it is better to be on the top of hill with a full shot in my opinion. I hit the sand trap on the right side of the fairway and got on the green in 2 shots – made par.
dogleg par 5 hole 7 at bethpage black
A severe dogleg right, where I was pleased to get the line from my playing partners. I hit a good drive just left of the trees and was in the fairway with 220 yards to the green.
Missed the green, but got a par anyway. It is a good birdie opportunity, especially if your tee shot is placed well.
It was playing 165 yards downhill and hit a 7 iron to the middle of the green. Only hole with water in play.
A relatively short par 4, but almost 90 degree dogleg left where the fairway is definitely preferable as on all holes for Bethpage Black.
I found the fairway with my drive and was left with 170 yards to the green and another pin where you couldn’t see the bottom of the pin. Did not hit my approach shot well and went in the bunker. Another bogey and out in 42 shots which was reasonable as I didn’t feel like I had played well.
the back nine at bethpage black
One of the longer par 4s, but a straight forward drive – however quite narrow fairway. I went in the lefthand rough and into the front green bunker, which left myself below shot.
As you can see a deep bunker and a good time to hit my best bunker shot of the day that ended up 1m from the hole. Very rewarding par on this hole.
Another blind tee shot where I thank my playing partners for the line. I hit my drive over the bunkers and in the fairway. I hit a good second shot that was in the fringe. Managed to get my par on a difficult par 4.
course maintenance at bethpage black
13th is the last par 5 and one of the more generous fairways on the course. The second shot is more tricky and preferably go over the bunker and leave a short pitch to the green. I hit the fairway but missed my second left of the bunker in the fairway. Got on the green and made par.
Short par 3 with a large green. Run off on the back of the green and you do not want to go long. I hit the GIR and 2 putted for par.
tough par 4 hole 15 at bethpage black
A long par 4 dogleg left with elevated green and well bunkered short of the green. Requires 2 good shots to get on the green.
I hit a really poor drive OB left and made par with my second ball for a double bogey – obviously not the way to play it.
A long par 4 where the fairway is a must to give yourself a good chance of reaching the green. I missed it right, but somehow managed to get the ball on the green and 2 putt for par.
Uphill par 3 on a 178 yards. You really need to hit the number to stay on the green. It came up short in the bunker and made bogey.
Even though it is a short finishing hole I really like the design of bunkers in the landing area. You need to decide whether to play safe short and leave a longer second shot uphill to the green or risk the bunkers. I hit my driver left in the bunkers, but got on the green in two and made par.
My experience
I shot 81 with 2 double bogeys and 9 bunker shots. Didn’t play great, but managed to get around in a decent score anyway. Didn’t make any birdies and only really had 1 good chance.
I have been reflecting on my view of the course after playing it a couple of days ago. My expectations where high and I was probably expecting an even better course. Maybe it is because I do not like playing to greens where you can not see the bottom of the flag and prefer links type courses running along the ocean. It is a good course and it was in good shape. I like the way bunkers have been placed and designed to make it both challenging and beautiful, but after playing many courses I have higher overall expectations to the courses.
It is an”easy” difficult course, meaning that if you play well from the tee it is not that difficult to get a decent score. There is only water on one hole and the bunkers are playable, so there are limited problems. The rough is the real penalty and for me also the layout where you can’t see the approach shots makes it more challenging.
