Bethpage Black Course
Encyclopedia
The Bethpage Black Course is the most difficult of the five golf course
s at Bethpage State Park
on Long Island
. In 2002 the Black Course became the first publicly owned and operated course to host the U.S. Open. It also hosted the 2009 U.S. Open. Bethpage Black is set to host the first week of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Barclays, in both 2012 and 2016.
The Bethpage Black is one of the featured courses in the video game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12
, by EA Sports
.
, being the only golfer to score under 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 for the U.S. Open. It was this event that the 17th hole became comparable to that of the 16th hole of the Phoenix Open due to the "Amphitheatre" atmosphere of the hole. This was partially caused by the giant stands erected parallel along both sides of the green, with a natural hill behind the green, creating a giant horseshoe of spectators.
Prior to 2002, all U.S. Opens had been staged at private golf or country clubs or at privately owned resorts that, while open to the public, were very expensive for the public to play, with greens fees of several hundred dollars per round. The USGA's
choice of Bethpage was seen as an egalitarian move.
won the 2009 U.S. Open.
The course was hit heavily by continuous rain throughout the week and weekend. This resulted in multiple suspensions of play. It was this U.S. Open that Phil Mickelson
declared that this would be his last tournament before taking significant time off to tend to his ailing wife, Amy, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer
. Tiger Woods was never a legitimate factor in this U.S. Open. After he sank his final putt of the 2009 U.S. Open, it took him no more than 10 minutes to leave Bethpage State Park.
Like the 2002 U.S. Open, the media coverage of the relationship between the New York gallery and Mickelson was one of the major headlines of the entire tournament. The most memorable moment was Mickelson teeing off on the short par-3 17th hole. As Mickelson walked down the path, toward the green he was met by thousands of spectators with thunderous chants of, "Let's Go Mickelson!" Mickelson came up short, but commended the New York golf fans and suggested a Ryder Cup
should be played at Bethpage Black because, "We would have a big advantage."
The USGA wanted to capture the entire venue that year at Bethpage Black for the 2009 US Open, so that the public could also experience every bunker, break, and ridiculous cut of rough during the real life tournament. So the USGA teamed up with World Golf Tour
and co-hosted the 2009 Virtual US Open tournament that ended the day after the US Open tournament champion received his trophy. The winner of the virtual tournament won a trip for two to the next years live event in Pebble Beach. The Virtual U.S. Open attracted hundreds of thousands of players from more than 180 countries.
ranked Bethpage Black #26 overall, #6 in the state of New York
, #6 of America's
50 toughest courses, and #5 in its list of America's greatest public golf courses. It is also the top-ranked course in the Golf Digest list that is operated by a governmental entity.
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s at Bethpage State Park
Bethpage State Park
Bethpage State Park is a New York state park on the border of Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island. The park contains tennis courts, picnic and recreational areas and a polo field, but is best known for its five golf courses, including the Bethpage Black Course, which hosted the 2002...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. In 2002 the Black Course became the first publicly owned and operated course to host the U.S. Open. It also hosted the 2009 U.S. Open. Bethpage Black is set to host the first week of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Barclays, in both 2012 and 2016.
The Bethpage Black is one of the featured courses in the video game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is a golfing simulation video game in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts...
, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 is a golfing simulation video game in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in North America on June 8, 2010 for the PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 and iOS. The game is the first in the series to support the...
and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters is a golfing simulation video game in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in North America on March 29, 2011 and was released in Europe on April 1, 2011 for the PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360,...
, by EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
.
2002 U.S. Open
The tournament was won by Tiger WoodsTiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, being the only golfer to score under 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 for the U.S. Open. It was this event that the 17th hole became comparable to that of the 16th hole of the Phoenix Open due to the "Amphitheatre" atmosphere of the hole. This was partially caused by the giant stands erected parallel along both sides of the green, with a natural hill behind the green, creating a giant horseshoe of spectators.
Prior to 2002, all U.S. Opens had been staged at private golf or country clubs or at privately owned resorts that, while open to the public, were very expensive for the public to play, with greens fees of several hundred dollars per round. The USGA's
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
choice of Bethpage was seen as an egalitarian move.
2009 U.S. Open
Lucas GloverLucas Glover
Lucas Hendley Glover is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He is best known for winning the 2009 U.S. Open.-Amateur career:...
won the 2009 U.S. Open.
The course was hit heavily by continuous rain throughout the week and weekend. This resulted in multiple suspensions of play. It was this U.S. Open that Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson
Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
declared that this would be his last tournament before taking significant time off to tend to his ailing wife, Amy, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Tiger Woods was never a legitimate factor in this U.S. Open. After he sank his final putt of the 2009 U.S. Open, it took him no more than 10 minutes to leave Bethpage State Park.
Like the 2002 U.S. Open, the media coverage of the relationship between the New York gallery and Mickelson was one of the major headlines of the entire tournament. The most memorable moment was Mickelson teeing off on the short par-3 17th hole. As Mickelson walked down the path, toward the green he was met by thousands of spectators with thunderous chants of, "Let's Go Mickelson!" Mickelson came up short, but commended the New York golf fans and suggested a Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
should be played at Bethpage Black because, "We would have a big advantage."
The USGA wanted to capture the entire venue that year at Bethpage Black for the 2009 US Open, so that the public could also experience every bunker, break, and ridiculous cut of rough during the real life tournament. So the USGA teamed up with World Golf Tour
World Golf Tour
World Golf Tour ' is an online multiplayer virtual golf game. WGT is played virtually on actual golf courses from around the world, using a patented 3D photorealistic georeferencing technology....
and co-hosted the 2009 Virtual US Open tournament that ended the day after the US Open tournament champion received his trophy. The winner of the virtual tournament won a trip for two to the next years live event in Pebble Beach. The Virtual U.S. Open attracted hundreds of thousands of players from more than 180 countries.
Rankings
In its July 2008 list of America's greatest golf courses, Golf DigestGolf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
ranked Bethpage Black #26 overall, #6 in the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, #6 of America's
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
50 toughest courses, and #5 in its list of America's greatest public golf courses. It is also the top-ranked course in the Golf Digest list that is operated by a governmental entity.
Major tournaments hosted
| Year | Tournament | Winner | Score | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
277 | −3 |
| 2009 | U.S. Open | Lucas Glover Lucas Glover Lucas Hendley Glover is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He is best known for winning the 2009 U.S. Open.-Amateur career:... |
276 | −4 |