Bethpage Black Course

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Lore & Background

Opened in 1936, Bethpage Black was designed by Bethpage State Park superintendent Joseph H. Burbeck, who also designed the park's Blue and Red Courses in the mid-1930s, with brief consultation from noted golf architect A. W. Tillinghast. In 1972, Mal Galletta Jr. set the course record with a 65. Club pro Rick Hartmann tied that record in 2001 during the second round of the Metropolitan Open. The record was broken in 2019 by Brooks Koepka, who fired an opening round 63 during the PGA Championship. Ryan Siegler tied the course record during the second round of the 2022 Metropolitan Open. The 2002 U.S. Open was won by Tiger Woods, the only player to break par for the tournament. It was seen as one of the most difficult and exciting U.S. Opens in history, breaking attendance records and creating a more boisterous atmosphere. Prior to 2002, all U.S. Opens had been staged at private venues or resorts; Bethpage being selected as the first publicly owned and operated course to host the tournament was seen as an egalitarian move by the USGA.

In Their Own Story

The 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black was fraught by continuous rain that resulted in multiple suspensions of play. It was won by Lucas Glover. 2002 winner Tiger Woods was never a realistic contender and left the park within ten minutes of sinking his final putt. After completing his round, Phil Mickelson declared he would be taking significant time off to tend to his ailing wife, Amy, who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Media coverage of the relationship between the New York gallery and Mickelson was one of the tournament's major headlines. The most memorable moment occurred following his tee shot on the short par-3 17th hole, where he was met by thunderous chants of "Let's Go!" as he approached the green. Though his birdie putt came up short, he later commended the New York golf fans and suggested a Ryder Cup played at Bethpage Black would give U.S. players "a big advantage." The USGA teamed up with World Golf Tour and co-hosted a 2009 Virtual US Open tournament, attracting hundreds of thousands of players from more than 180 countries.

Reader's Guide

Visiting Bethpage Black during a tournament is an experience defined by raw energy and historic atmosphere. The 2019 PGA Championship was played at the Bethpage Black Course from May 16 to May 19. Brooks Koepka won the tournament by two strokes at 8 under par. The 2025 Ryder Cup was played at the Bethpage Black Course from September 26 to 28. Bethpage was selected to host the 2024 Ryder Cup in 2013 along with the 2019 PGA Championship. The Ryder Cup was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to its original cycle of being played in odd years. The European Ryder Cup Team won the event 15–13, becoming the first away team to win the event since 2012. The annual Barclays tournament, the first of FedEx Cup playoff events, was played at Bethpage State Park in 2012 and again in 2016. In 2016, Patrick Reed won by a stroke over Emiliano Grillo and Sean O'Hair, moving from seventh place to first in the standings. The tournament was the last qualifying event for the eight qualifying places for the American team in the 2016 Ryder Cup.

Did You Know?

• The warning sign at the first tee was placed in the 1960s.
• In its July 2008 list, Golf Digest ranked Bethpage Black No. 26 overall and No. 5 of America's greatest public golf courses.
• The course record was set by Mal Galletta Jr. in 1972 with a 65, then broken by Brooks Koepka in 2019 with a 63.
• The 2002 U.S. Open was the first U.S. Open held at a publicly owned and operated golf course.
• The 2025 Ryder Cup was the first away team victory since 2012, with Europe winning 15–13.