Having played it a few times, it's worth every penny. I've done the sleeping in the parking lot to being VERY lucky and scoring a tee time online and getting a good night rest in a hotel. As for cool stories, I have a few but their personal :) Not sure if you're playing on spending the night in the parking lot or taking your chances online but if you do the parking lot, it's a great experience to do it at least once. As for what time to get there, the first time I got there around 9 a.m. the day before we were gonna play. That was a little too early b/c I didn't see another car in the lot until 4:30 p.m. The next time we did it, got there around 2-3 p.m. but went with a bigger group and got the first spot. Only one person needs to stay by the car so the other one can play the other courses if you wanted to.

The only advice I'll give is to avoid the roughs if you can. It's no joke. Enjoy!

I’m a Bethpage regular and play the black around 30-35 times a year. I’d love to meet up with some team titleist members and play with you guys! I love playing it with first timers and watching them experience all that it has to offer. I have lots of cool stories to share from personal experiences to the people I’ve played it with, as well as the history of the place and the changes and improvements that have been made over the years (they just redid the cross bunkers on 4), experiences from the US opens and PGA that I attended etc...Some advice or tips I’d give about Bethpage would be to make sure you eat breakfast before you play the black, but nothing too heavy, get there EARLY and check in at least 1 1/2 hours before your tee time, get to the starter at least 30 mins before your tee time because they can get grumpy with non locals who rush to the tee box late, you can’t hit driver on the range, wear comfortable shoes, make sure your sand game is SHARP, play less break on the greens then it appears, pack light but pack extra balls because many can get lost in the thick rough, make time during your trip to play the Red course if possible, it’s well worth it also (just don’t walk both courses on the same day, you’ll die lol), get a burger and especially get the chicken wings on the back deck behind the 18th green after your round...the wings are amazing! Most importantly, just have fun, try not to focus too much on your score and focus more on the first time experience of playing that amazing course. That course can beat up the very best of elite golfers who are too hard on themselves. I’ve got lots more to share and would love to join you guys if interested. Send a friend request and I can give you my email. I can answer any questions you guys have anytime. Stay safe up there, I’m hoping they start to open Mass also because I have some gear and balls on order at Titleist’s Mass plant.

Thanks for sharing Speedy! Sounds good David, we're always looking for others who share our love for the game and love hearing some good stories. I'm hoping MA opens soon too, was excited to join a private club for the season now that I'm graduating college and can get a full season out of a membership.

I played once. My wife somehow got an 11am tee time in October 2 years back. Warm day but rain in the forecast. We got there and the sky got darker and darker. We pull up and there is only a few cars in the lot (I heard stories about people sleeping in the parking lot so was a bit confused). We went to check in and they were telling us that most people canceled bc of the torrential down pour coming, so if we wanted to try to play go out now...like right now! Wife and I made it 3 holes and light rain started...then when we were as far out from the clubhouse as we could be sheets of rain fell from the sky. Couldn’t even putt on some greens from standing water coming so fast! We were soaked to the bone (you can only walk so couldn’t make a quick escape) and figured our daughter was being watched for the day and may never get the opportunity to play there again so we kept playing. It was crazy, but nice as we were out there alone. We went back in and changed and had a meal. Great time had and look back and laugh!

As a former NYS resident I'm bummed that I never made the long 5 hour trek south to play at Bethpage...from what I understand the other courses are also nice!

Id love to play it and compare it to Torrey Pines South..Battle of the Munis!

Torrey Pines South is not nearly as intimidating at the Black Course. The sign is well-known at the Black but for the faint of heart, it is even more of a concern to see behind the sign that there is only about 8 yards from the red tees to the black tees on the first tee. No rest for the weary.

Having played both, I find them both excellent for different reasons.

Torrey Pines is an excellent course, you cannot beat the views of the Pacific. Compared to the black, it’s fairly flat and doesn’t have the fescue like the black does, but Torrey has a similar length of the black. I think for the average player, Torrey is far more playable.

Bethpage Black is a great experience. I played there in July a couple of years ago and was paired with two locals who couldn’t have been nice. The driving range isn’t anything to discuss as you hit off of mats but the staff and course is amazing. The elevation changes, especially going up to 15 and off the tee of 16 are awesome.

Sean

Prior to the Renovation I played there with my brother in law.
The course was playing firm and fast except for the slow and very drunk 4 ball in front of us...they were really backing up play on every hole...on the back nine the par 3 14th we witnessed greatness...the guys were approached by course marshals which were park police...three of the players were hauled away in hand cuffs while the 4th was left to carry in all their bags...pace of play picked up quickly for the remainder of the round...we all had a good laugh.

Cheers,
Dr. K

Hahaha I don't think I've ever witnessed anything like that before. Don't know why they thought it'd be a good idea to play the Black course drunk but at least you got some entertainment out there and the pace picked up for the closing holes.

I echo all previous comments. I started at the Black in the late 70's (not to date myself) prior to all the enhancements and changes. Greens are pretty much the same. Always knew back then it was a Open course. Saw it started to change in the early to mid 80's when Chuck Workman, Club Pro back then, was able to get a metropolitan PGA tournament there and that's when this course started to improve with conditions. They used to have mats at the tees back then and whatever you didn't drink from the water fountains as it tasted like the dump near by. Tee times when I started there was $9.00 on weekend. IMO I feel this is the best course I have seen. I have worked 20+ tournaments (US Opens and PGA) and I rank this 1st if not 2nd.
If you get out have fun and enjoy!