How to Play Bethpage Black: Surviving the Warning Sign

Near the first tee at Bethpage Black stands one of the most famous signs in golf, warning that the Black is an extremely difficult course recommended only for highly skilled golfers. Take it seriously, but don't let it scare you off. Bethpage Black is a New York State park course that opened in 1936, and it's one of the great public-access tests in the world. In 2002 it became the first publicly owned course to host the U.S. Open, then hosted another in 2009, the 2019 PGA Championship and the 2025 Ryder Cup.

The Black is big, hilly and heavily bunkered, with long par 4s and elevated greens. It's not a course you overpower or outsmart with one clever shot. It's a course you survive with good decisions and a good attitude. If you're a fit mid-handicapper who loves a challenge and wants to measure your game against a championship test at public-course prices, put it on your list.

Before you go

• Book online as early as allowed. New York residents can book tee times up to seven days ahead, while non-residents get five days. Prime slots go fast, so be online the moment your window opens.
• Or try the car line. Bethpage is famous for golfers sleeping in their cars in the parking lot to get a walk-up time. There's an organized system with timed check-ins in the early morning. It's a rite of passage, but check the current rules before you go.
• It's walking only. No carts are allowed on the Black, and the round covers a lot of hilly ground. Bring a light carry bag or push cart, plenty of water and snacks, and comfortable shoes.
• Price it right. Green fees for non-residents are roughly double the resident rate, but still a fraction of what most championship venues charge.
• Choose shorter tees than your ego wants. From the tips the Black stretches well over 7,000 yards. Pick a set where you can reach most par 4s in two with a mid-iron.
• Plan for the weather. Long Island summers can be hot and humid. Fall rounds are cooler and more comfortable for the long walk.

Hole-by-hole strategy

Holes 1–3: Establish your rhythm

The opening holes set the tone: tree-lined corridors, firm demands off the tee and greens guarded by deep bunkers. Use your most reliable tee club rather than driver if your driver is erratic. Missing fairways at Bethpage means hacking out of thick rough, and that's how big numbers start. The 3rd is the longest par 3 on the course. Most mid-handicappers should aim for the fat part of the green and take bogey off the table by avoiding the deep bunkers.

Hole 4: The great par 5

The 4th is the front nine's par 5 and a showcase for the bold, sprawling bunkering the Black is known for, with the green sitting above you at the end. It's a genuine three-shot hole for everyday golfers. Plan the second shot carefully: the goal is to finish on a level part of the fairway at a distance that leaves a full wedge. Trying to advance it as far as possible often leaves an awkward uphill pitch over sand.

Holes 5–9: Long and demanding

This section asks for solid ball-striking. At the 2009 U.S. Open, the 7th played as the longest par 4 in Open history up to that point. Whatever your scorecard says, treat it as a three-shot hole for an everyday golfer and walk off happy with a five. The 8th is a par 3 with a pond in front, and the green now comes right up to the water. Take enough club to carry comfortably and aim toward the middle or back of the green. Through this stretch, it pays to think in terms of bogey golf on the toughest holes.

Holes 10–14: The back nine opens up the challenge

The 10th is a long par 4 that demands a good drive; be content to lay up short of greenside trouble if you're not in position. The 13th is the back nine's only par 5 and a big one. Again, plan three shots, and keep the ball out of the deep bunkers that line the route. Many of the greens on the back nine sit above the fairway, which makes judging distance harder; when in doubt, take an extra club, because short is where most of the sand lies.

Hole 15: The beast

The 15th is historically one of the toughest holes on the course. The green sits roughly 50 feet above the fairway landing area, guarded by deep bunkers across the front. Your drive needs to find the fairway; from the rough the approach becomes nearly impossible. On the approach, take at least one extra club for the uphill climb, and aim for the middle of the green. If you can't reach, lay up to a spot where you have a clear, full pitch up the hill.

Holes 16–18: The finishing stretch

The 16th is a strong par 4 that requires a solid tee shot. The 17th is a par 3 with an hourglass-shaped green that's partly hidden from the tee, surrounded by bunkers. Play to the larger section of the green and trust your number. The 18th isn't especially long, but bunkers flank both sides of the landing area and the green is elevated. Hit the club that finds the fairway, then take enough club to clear the front bunkers. A par here after a long day on the Black feels like a victory.

Scoring tips for mid-handicappers

• Fairways are gold. The rough is thick and the bunkers are deep. Sacrifice distance for accuracy off the tee on almost every hole.
• Take extra club to elevated greens. Uphill approaches play longer than their number, and short is where the trouble lives.
• Play bogey golf on the hardest holes. Treat several of the longest par 4s as par 5s. A two-putt bogey beats a double every time.
• Get out of the bunkers in one. Many bunker faces are steep. Aim for the safest part of the green rather than the flag.
• Manage your energy. The walk is long and hilly. Eat and drink regularly, especially on the back nine when fatigue affects your swing.
• Set realistic goals. Add several strokes to your normal handicap as a target. Beat that number and you've genuinely conquered the Black.

Bethpage Black is a challenge in the best sense of the word. Respect the warning sign, choose your tees wisely and keep the ball in front of you, and you'll have a day of golf at one of America's great public courses.