Honestly, standing on the first tee at Bethpage Black is a weird mix of adrenaline and pure, unadulterated dread. You’ve probably seen the sign. The one that tells you the course is "extremely difficult" and only for "highly skilled golfers." It’s not just marketing. It’s a legal waiver for your ego.
Most people look at the bethpage black golf course scorecard and see a par 71 that stretches over 7,400 yards from the tips. They think, "Okay, it's just long." But that is a massive understatement. The Black isn't just long; it's a relentless, uphill, bunker-riddled slog that will expose every single flaw in your swing by the time you reach the 4th hole.
If you're planning a trip to Farmingdale or just trying to win a bar bet about the hardest course in New York, you need to understand how this scorecard actually works. It's a tale of two courses: the one the pros play for the Ryder Cup or the PGA Championship, and the one you'll face on a random Tuesday.
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The Brutal Numbers: Slope, Rating, and Yardage
Let's talk about the Blue tees. These are the championship markers. If you decide to play from here, the USGA has rated the course at 78.0 with a slope of 155.
That is basically the ceiling for difficulty.
For the "regular" high-skill public golfer, the White tees (often called the Regulation tees) are much more common. Even then, you’re looking at a 74.0 rating and a 145 slope at about 6,684 yards. Most local courses don't even hit those numbers from their furthest back boxes.
The scorecard breaks down into a strange rhythm. You start with two par 4s that are actually under 400 yards—Hole 1 at 397 yards and Hole 2 at 389 yards. You might think, "Hey, I can handle this."
Wrong.
The 2nd hole is a sharp dogleg left that plays severely uphill to a green that falls off like a cliff on the left side. If you miss your drive, you're hitting a long iron into a green you can barely see. By the time you reach the 4th hole, a 517-yard par 5 that climbs nearly 50 feet in elevation, the reality of the Black starts to sink in.
Hole-by-Hole: The Gauntlet
The front nine is a par 36, and it’s arguably the more "scenic" side, but don't let the views fool you.
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The Outward Half (Front 9)
- Hole 1 (Par 4, 430/397 yards): An elevated tee shot where you have to avoid the trees on the right. If you leak it right, you're dead.
- Hole 3 (Par 3, 230/210 yards): This is one of the hardest par 3s in the country. The green is narrow and angled. The bunkers on the left are so deep you’ll need a ladder to get out.
- Hole 4 (Par 5, 517 yards): Iconic. The "Great Hazard" bunkers are massive. It’s a birdie hole for the pros, but for us, it's a "please don't card an 8" hole.
- Hole 7 (Par 4/5, 524 yards): This is where the scorecard gets confusing. For the public, this is a par 5. For the pros (and the 2025 Ryder Cup), it’s a monstrous par 4. It’s one of the longest par 4s in existence.
The Inward Half (Back 9)
The back nine is a par 35 for the pros, totaling a par 70 for major championships. For the public, it's usually played as a par 71.
- Hole 10 (Par 4, 502 yards): Just a straight, long, soul-crushing par 4.
- Hole 12 (Par 4, 516/473 yards): Another "is this a par 5?" moment. It requires a massive carry over bunkers just to find the fairway.
- Hole 15 (Par 4, 477 yards): The walk up the hill to this green is legendary. It’s a 180-yard approach shot that plays like 210 because of the incline.
- Hole 18 (Par 4, 411 yards): A beautiful finisher with a narrow fairway pinched by bunkers.
Why the Scorecard Lies to You
The yardage on the bethpage black golf course scorecard doesn't account for the "Bethpage Factor."
First, there’s the rough. It’s not just long; it’s thick, "velcro" ryegrass. If you miss the fairway by five yards, you aren't hitting the green. You’re hacking a wedge back into play.
Second, it’s walking only. No carts. Ever. By the time you reach the 13th tee, you’ve walked about four miles, mostly uphill. Your legs are heavy, your focus is shot, and then you see the 13th is a 608-yard par 5. It’s a physical test as much as a mental one.
Third, the greens are actually surprisingly "flat" compared to somewhere like Augusta, but they are incredibly fast and well-protected. A.W. Tillinghast, the designer, didn't need crazy undulations because getting to the green is so hard that just being on the putting surface is a victory.
The Ryder Cup Adjustments
When the Ryder Cup or a Major comes to town, the setup changes. The par 7 par usually gets dropped from a 5 to a 4. The rough is grown to "unplayable" levels for the average person.
For the 2025 Ryder Cup, the course was set at 7,352 yards as a par 70. This version of the scorecard emphasizes driving distance and long-iron proximity. If you can't carry the ball 280 yards in the air, several fairways are basically inaccessible.
How to Actually Play It (and Survive)
If you're brave enough to book a tee time, don't play the Blue tees. Seriously. Unless you’re a plus-handicap, you’ll just be miserable and slow down the pace of play.
- Play the Whites: You’ll still get the full experience, but you might actually have a chance to reach a few par 4s in regulation.
- Aim for the middle of the green: The pins can be tucked behind those "yawning pits of sand" (as the locals call them). Take your two-putt and run.
- Hydrate: You are walking 7 miles. The elevation changes are no joke.
- Accept your fate: You will lose balls. You will hit into a bunker that takes two shots to exit. Just smile and remember you're playing on the same dirt as Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka.
The bethpage black golf course scorecard is more than just a piece of paper; it's a testament to the "People's Country Club." It’s a public course that treats everyone—from the plumber to the pro—with the same level of beautiful, agonizing disrespect.
Next Steps for Your Round: Check the official New York State Parks reservation system exactly 7 days in advance at 7:00 PM sharp. If you miss that window by even 30 seconds, you aren't getting a tee time. Once you secure it, start walking on a treadmill at a 5% incline for at least thirty minutes a day to prep your legs for the back nine climb on Hole 15.