Description: The original course at the Bethpage site (then called Lennox Hills Country Club), the Green was designed by Devereux Emmet for the Yoakum family in 1922, then sold to Lennox Hills Corporation to become their country club course, and was eventually touched up by A.W. Tillinghast in when New York State bought the land in the early 1930's.
If that’s not enought to entice you (and it should be), a lot people like to call the Green a miniature Black course, in the fact that after the first hole, they both run under Round Swamp Road and play with the same rolling elevation the land offers. In general, the fairways are pretty open and the greens are small and well-protected. Some greens, most notably at No. 2, are extremely undulating, and seem odd and outdated. Most of the greens are subtle in their breaks, and now that the course is kept in such good condition with all the money brought in by the U.S. Opens, all those breaks are accentuated. The real test comes at the end, with two of the best closing holes anywhere on Long Island. The since-restored pond to the left of the 17th fairway (a 418-yard part-4) now comes into play, and 18 is a 398-yard uphill battle with a falloff to the left of the elevated green.
Reader Comments: My favorite course of the whole Bethpage complex ... It was always fun, but the new conditioning really has brought out the best in what is a great course ... Tremendous closing two holes; gorgeous but brutal.
The approach to 18, with the fountain in front of the clubhouse.
Description: This beautiful and challenging layout is really another page is Steven Kay's portfolio of dramatic and interesting designs. With the intent to test the skills of low-handicap golfers, this aesthetically pleasing and unique routing is also accessible for the intermediate player.
What many like to call "a contemporary design," this Kay track has hills, valleys and creeks meandering throughout the 152-acre site. Water comes into play on eleven of the holes, which makes for an interesting and challenging go-around. (Although, if natural terrain is your preference, then the fountains and pipe-fueled bubbling brooks may not be to your taste.) There are a number of good, short par-4s, as well as some good, longer par-5s. A real nice variety of holes.
The course has what management -- and many people who are regulars -- consider to be the four finest finishing holes on Long Island. The start of which is the 547-yard par-5 15th hole, which plays over and around “Willow Creek” to a difficult elevated green. Like most Kay designs, the bunkers are everywhere and they're great to look at -- as long as you don't end up in one that's halfway off the beaten path.