Designed in the mid-1930s to be 'the public Pine Valley,' Bethpage Black became the darling of the USGA in the early 2000s. The course was designed by Joseph H. Burbeck, who was assisted by golf architect A.W. Tillinghast, and the Tillinghast-designed Black course opened to great acclaim in 1936.
This is not a course for the faint of heart. It is the most difficult of Bethpage's five courses and has a famous warning sign at the first tee that reads 'WARNING The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers'. The brutality is real: the Slope Rating, which measures relative playing difficulty, is 155 - the maximum, and the Course Rating for scratch golfers is set at 78. The course features treacherous bunkers, thick rough, and an expansive routing over hilly and forested Long Island terrain.
Yet for all its punishment, Bethpage Black holds an almost mythical place in American golf. The course has hosted a number of important tournaments, including the 2002 U.S. Open, 2009 U.S. Open, 2019 PGA Championship, and 2025 Ryder Cup. "The People's Country Club," as it became known after becoming the first public facility to host a U.S. Open, is a beacon for municipal golf in America. For a group of skilled golfers, a pilgrimage to Bethpage Black is non-negotiable.
The flagship course—a brutal championship layout with maximum slope rating (155), narrow fairways, treacherous bunkers, and elevated greens.
The second-best course in the park, balancing artistry and challenge; a strong alternative for those avoiding the Black.
A Tillinghast design offering moderate difficulty and excellent routing through the park.
Bethpage's oldest course (absorbed in 1932), known for wider fairways and large greens—the most forgiving of the five.
Added in 1958, this is the easiest layout with flat terrain and fewer bunkers—perfect for mid-range players.