Bethpage State Park
Encyclopedia
Bethpage State Park is a 1476 acres (6 km²) 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
and 2009 U.S. Open Golf Championship
s.
.
Following this name change, the hamlet originally called Bethpage resisted suggestions that it merge with the new Bethpage, and got approval from the post office to change its name to Old Bethpage, though it did not have its own post office until 1965.
Bethpage State Park remained so named, leading some to mistakenly believe that the park is located mostly in Bethpage.
to name the park "Bethpage State Park" after the 15 square miles (38.8 km²) tract of land purchased
by his ancestor Thomas Powell in 1695 from three Native American tribes.
The Long Island State Park Commission
opened the park in 1932 after the State of New York acquired the Benjamin F. Yoakum Estate. The Green Course, then known as the Lenox Hills Country Club, designed by Devereaux Emmet, was completed in 1923 as part of the Lenox Hills subdivision at the northern edge of Farmingdale Village. By 1936, three more courses opened, designed by A. W. Tillinghast
under contract to the Park Commission; a fifth (the Yellow Course) was designed by Alfred Tull and opened in 1958. The park has picnic facilities, bridle paths, playing fields, a polo field, tennis courts, cross-country skiing trails, and hiking and biking trails including one leading south to Massapequa, but it is best known for its golf
facilities.
became the first publicly owned and operated course to host the U.S. Open
. The tournament was won by Tiger Woods
, being the only golfer to score under par for the tournament. The Tournament was seen as one of the most difficult and exciting U.S. Opens in history, breaking attendance records and creating a boisterous atmosphere for the U.S. Open. Bethpage Black also hosted the 2009 U.S. Open
, which was won by Lucas Glover
.
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; as of 2010, Bethpage Black's weekend price for 18 holes was $75 for New York State residents, and $150 for non-residents. There are a number of ways for golfers to secure a round on the always popular Black Course. To register for a tee time, guests must have their driver's license on file with the park's reservation system. Note that New York residents can reserve a tee time seven days in advance, while out-of-state residents can only reserve tee times starting at 7:00 pm Eastern Time
two days before the intended date of play. Walk-ups are also accepted, although this option often requires that golfers wait in line in the parking lot through the night.
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. The PGA
lists Bethpage Black as one of its top ten 'World's Most Beautiful Courses' list.
and the finals were played at Bethpage State Park.
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...
state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
on the border of Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
and Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
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...
. 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
Bethpage Black Course
The Bethpage Black Course is the most difficult of the five golf courses 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...
, which hosted the 2002
2002 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 2002 United States Open Championship was the 102nd U.S. Open. The event was held between June 13 and June 16 at Bethpage State Park in New York. The tournament was won by the American golfer Tiger Woods, his second U.S. Open victory and eighth major championship win of his career...
and 2009 U.S. Open Golf Championship
2009 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 2009 United States Open Championship was the 109th U.S. Open, and was played June 18-22 on the Black Course of Bethpage State Park on Long Island, New York. It was won by Lucas Glover with a 4 under par score of 276....
s.
Geography
The park is located almost entirely within the hamlet of Old Bethpage. In 1936, the adjacent hamlet of Central Park changed its name to BethpageBethpage, New York
Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...
.
Following this name change, the hamlet originally called Bethpage resisted suggestions that it merge with the new Bethpage, and got approval from the post office to change its name to Old Bethpage, though it did not have its own post office until 1965.
Bethpage State Park remained so named, leading some to mistakenly believe that the park is located mostly in Bethpage.
History
The late Jesse Merritt of Farmingdale, Nassau County Historian, convinced Robert MosesRobert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
to name the park "Bethpage State Park" after the 15 square miles (38.8 km²) tract of land purchased
Bethpage Purchase
The Bethpage Purchase was a 1687 land transaction, in which Thomas Powell bought more than in central Long Island, New York for £140 from local Indian tribes, including the Marsapeque, Matinecoc, and Sacatogue....
by his ancestor Thomas Powell in 1695 from three Native American tribes.
The Long Island State Park Commission
Long Island State Park Commission
The Long Island State Park Commission was created in 1924 by the New York State Legislature to build and operate parks and parkways on Long Island. Governor Al Smith appointed as its first President, Robert Moses, who had drafted the bill creating the Commission and who served until 1953...
opened the park in 1932 after the State of New York acquired the Benjamin F. Yoakum Estate. The Green Course, then known as the Lenox Hills Country Club, designed by Devereaux Emmet, was completed in 1923 as part of the Lenox Hills subdivision at the northern edge of Farmingdale Village. By 1936, three more courses opened, designed by A. W. Tillinghast
A. W. Tillinghast
Albert Warren "Tillie" Tillinghast was a noted American golf course architect. Tillinghast was one of the most prolific architects in the history of golf; he worked on no fewer than 265 different courses....
under contract to the Park Commission; a fifth (the Yellow Course) was designed by Alfred Tull and opened in 1958. The park has picnic facilities, bridle paths, playing fields, a polo field, tennis courts, cross-country skiing trails, and hiking and biking trails including one leading south to Massapequa, but it is best known for its golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
facilities.
Golf at Bethpage State Park
The park has five eighteen-hole golf courses, named (in increasing order of difficulty) the Yellow, Green, Blue, Red, and Black Courses. In 2002 the Black CourseBethpage Black Course
The Bethpage Black Course is the most difficult of the five golf courses 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...
became the first publicly owned and operated course to host the U.S. Open
2002 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 2002 United States Open Championship was the 102nd U.S. Open. The event was held between June 13 and June 16 at Bethpage State Park in New York. The tournament was won by the American golfer Tiger Woods, his second U.S. Open victory and eighth major championship win of his career...
. The tournament was won by 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...
, being the only golfer to score under par for the tournament. The Tournament was seen as one of the most difficult and exciting U.S. Opens in history, breaking attendance records and creating a boisterous atmosphere for the U.S. Open. Bethpage Black also hosted the 2009 U.S. Open
2009 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 2009 United States Open Championship was the 109th U.S. Open, and was played June 18-22 on the Black Course of Bethpage State Park on Long Island, New York. It was won by Lucas Glover with a 4 under par score of 276....
, which was won by 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:...
.
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; as of 2010, Bethpage Black's weekend price for 18 holes was $75 for New York State residents, and $150 for non-residents. There are a number of ways for golfers to secure a round on the always popular Black Course. To register for a tee time, guests must have their driver's license on file with the park's reservation system. Note that New York residents can reserve a tee time seven days in advance, while out-of-state residents can only reserve tee times starting at 7:00 pm Eastern Time
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
two days before the intended date of play. Walk-ups are also accepted, although this option often requires that golfers wait in line in the parking lot through the night.
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. The PGA
Professional Golfers' Association of America
Founded in 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and is made up of more than 28,000 men and women golf professional members...
lists Bethpage Black as one of its top ten 'World's Most Beautiful Courses' list.
Major tournaments hosted
| Year | Tournament | Winner | Score | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 2002 U.S. Open Golf Championship The 2002 United States Open Championship was the 102nd U.S. Open. The event was held between June 13 and June 16 at Bethpage State Park in New York. The tournament was won by the American golfer Tiger Woods, his second U.S. Open victory and eighth major championship win of his career... |
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 2009 U.S. Open Golf Championship The 2009 United States Open Championship was the 109th U.S. Open, and was played June 18-22 on the Black Course of Bethpage State Park on Long Island, New York. It was won by Lucas Glover with a 4 under par score of 276.... |
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 |
Polo
The Polo Grounds at Bethpage State Park offers a 900 ft x 400 ft field with bleacher seating. The field was built in 1934 and has seen both high and medium goal polo. Polo at the Park is hosted by Country Farms Polo Club at Bethpage State Park. Polo is played every Sunday from June through September. The 1994 U.S. Open Polo Championship was hosted by the Meadowbrook Polo ClubMeadowbrook Polo Club
The Meadowbrook Polo Club is the oldest continuously operating polo club in the United States. It was first established in 1881 and was home to the 1994 US Open Polo Championship.-History:...
and the finals were played at Bethpage State Park.
External links
- New York State Parks: Bethpage State Park
- LongIslandGolfNews.com: Bethpage State Park Golf
- Golf Club Atlas: Bethpage Black Course
- NY-NJTC: Bethpage State Park Trail Info'
- Polo: Polo at the Park'