Description: Difficult and extremely challenging, even for the finest, low-handicap players, the Black is noted for its elevated tees, hilly and rolling fairways, dense rough, and tremendous fairway bunkers. The small greens are also surrounded by huge, deep bunkers, and Tillinghast’s inventive use of depth perception makes any shot to the green challenging. The course has always been revered by the local golfing public, and often thought of as a little too tough. The length, even from the middle tees, is Herculean, and the classic sight lines and necessary course management are Tillinghast trademarks.
The incredible bunkering around par-3, 17th green. (photo by Golf Guides USA)
The fairway bunkers are as dramatic as anywhere in the U.S. (maybe with Pine Valley the exception), and many of the small greens are surrounded by deep, fear-inducing sandtraps. It is a true test of golf, along with one’s mental capacity for pain. If you’re a high-handicapper, you might be better served keeping your clubs in the trunk and just reveling in the place where Tiger Woods won his eighth major and Lucas Glover won his first.
Reader Comments: The ultimate golfing experience ... A masterpiece of golf course architecture .... By far the most spectacular round of golf I’ve ever played, be it on a public or private course anywhere in the world ... Humbling ... Heaven for the golf purist ... The first three holes start you off easy, to loosen up, then all Hell breaks loose ... Physically and mentally demanding as errant shots are severly punished; the whole place is just unforgiving ... The truest greens I’ve ever played on, public or private; just like putting on a billiard table ... More than your swing or your putting stroke, your head must be functioning at its highest efficiency to be successfull
Description: The Red has hosted many prestigeous tournaments and hardly a bad word has been said about it. Although easier than the Black -- which curries favor from high- and mid-handicapers -- the Red is far from a pushover. It starts off in impressive fashion with an imposing, uphill 474-yard par-4 that has no bunkers -- and it doesn't need them.
The parkland look of the Red Course at Bethpage. (photo courtesy golf.com)
Noted for its long par-4’s, many of them doglegs, and a grueling stretch on the back nine with 13, 14 and 15, the course requires both length and accuracy in from drives and approach shots. One of the most interesting holes in the whole park is at No. 13, where a bunker complex divides the fairway and makes for a decision into an angled and well-bunkered green. Playing with some holes that are treeless, and some that are tree-lined, makes for an interesting round, and one of the best in the area.
Reader Comments: As a 15-20 handicap, I’d rather play here than the Black ... Never boring ... Always beautifully maintained ... Some of the toughest par-4s anywhere on Long Island ... The greens are flat, but are still interesting.
