Bethpage Black is a New York State park course on Long Island, about 30 miles east of Manhattan. It has hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009, the PGA Championship in 2019 and the Ryder Cup in 2025. Even so, a non-resident pays less here than at many ordinary resort courses. The sign at the first tee warns that the course is extremely difficult and recommended only for highly skilled golfers. Take it seriously. The hard part of a visit is getting a tee time, not paying for it.
Bethpage Black green fees and tee times.
All five Bethpage courses are booked through the New York State Parks online reservation system. Residents get the longest window. Several golf publications report that non-residents can book five days ahead, from 7 pm, against seven days for state residents. They also report that you can book the Black only once every 28 days. Check both rules in the system when you register. Each player pays a US$5 reservation fee. Cancelling within six hours of the tee time, or not showing up, costs US$15 per player. Golf media have long reported that the first hour of tee times each morning is first come, first served, with golfers queuing overnight in their cars for a ticket.
INDICATIVE GREEN FEE · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026From US$140
Non-New York State resident, weekday 18 holes; US$160 weekends and holidays; twilight US$88/US$100. US$5 reservation fee per player. From the state’s fee sheet dated February 2025. Prices change by season and booking route, so confirm the current rate with the operator. Official rates ↗
The round, in perspective.
A.W. Tillinghast designed the Black in the 1930s, along with the Red and Blue courses, when the state turned the Lenox Hills Country Club into Bethpage State Park. The Black is long and hilly, with large, deep bunkers cut into the slopes, thick rough and raised greens. You often carry the ball over sand and up to a green you cannot fully see. Many holes are long par fours. The rolling terrain and bunker-filled hillsides of the 4th and 5th are the best-known images of the course. It is a tiring walk, and carts are not allowed. Be realistic about your fitness and your handicap.
Make the trip work.
In 2026 the Black is open from 15 April to 15 November, and it is closed on Mondays except holidays. First tee times move between 7 am and 8:30 am through the season, and the last tee time is 3 pm to 5 pm. Pull carts can be hired for US$7. Senior and junior discounts are only for New York State residents. If you cannot get onto the Black, the Red Course is a strong Tillinghast course too, at US$90 for non-residents on weekdays.
LaGuardia (LGA) and JFK are each about 40 to 60 minutes away by car, depending on traffic. Long Island MacArthur (ISP) is closer. By train, the Long Island Rail Road runs from Penn Station or Grand Central Madison to Farmingdale, and the park is a short taxi ride from there. A car makes very early starts easier.
Where it is.
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Somewhere to settle in.
There are no hotels inside the park. Farmingdale, Melville and Plainview have business hotels within 15 minutes, which work well for a dawn start. Some visitors stay in Manhattan and take the train out. That is fine for a mid-morning tee time, but not for the overnight queue.
Make a trip of it.
Bethpage has four other courses. The Red is the pick, and the Green, Blue and Yellow are easier. Montauk Downs State Park, near the eastern tip of Long Island, is another public state course. Combine a Bethpage round with a few days in New York City, or with the North Fork wineries and the Hamptons beaches.
Find your season.
May, June, September and October bring the best conditions. July and August can be hot and humid. The Black opened on 15 April and closes on 15 November in 2026, and it is closed in winter. Bethpage will host the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and the PGA Championship returns in 2033.
Yes. It is a public state park course. Non-residents book through the New York State Parks reservation system with a shorter advance window than residents, reported as five days, and pay US$140 on weekdays or US$160 at weekends.
Can you use a golf cart on Bethpage Black?
No. Carts are allowed on the Red, Blue, Green and Yellow courses but not on the Black, so every round is walked. Hand pull carts can be hired for US$7.
When is Bethpage Black open?
In 2026 the Black is open from 15 April to 15 November, weather permitting, and closed on Mondays except holidays. The first tee time ranges from 7 am to 8:30 am depending on the time of year.
How do I get to Bethpage Black from Manhattan?
Take the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station or Grand Central Madison to Farmingdale, then a short taxi ride to the park. By car it is about 30 miles, roughly 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic.
Last checked 4 October 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
