Bethpage State Park (Black Course)

Course Type: Public

Client Course Description

Bethpage State Park, a mecca for public golf featuring five 18-hole regulation golf courses including the world-renowned Black Course which was the site of the United States Open in 2002 and 2009. Bethpage State Park was developed from an estate owned by the Yoakum family and other properties. The Yoakum family leased their estate to the Lenox Hills Corporation which subsequently used the property to build the Lenox Hills Country Club.

Designer Notes

Design Role: Redesign 1998, 2008

Co-Designer(s): Greg Muirhead

A major restoration of the course was undertaken in preparation for the 2002 U.S. Open. Work included the construction of championship tees, the repositioning and/or restoration of all fairway and greenside sand bunkers, and green surface expansions, or reductions, on select holes. Subsequently, Rees Jones, Inc. made additional design improvements to the Black Course in preparation for the 2009 U.S. Open.

Tournaments

• The Barclays: 2012
• U.S. Open: 2002, 2009

Awards

• Golfweek: First in New York, Best Courses You Can Play 2010
• Golfweek: First, Municipal Courses (2008-2009)
• Golf Magazine: Top 100 Courses in the World and U.S.
• Golf Digest: America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses
• Golfweek: America's Best Classical Courses
• Golf Digest: America's 100 Greatest Public Courses
• Golf Magazine: Seventh, Top 100 Courses You Can Play
• Golf Magazine: Tenth, Top 45 Courses Since 1959

News

Video: Rees Jones Interview

Video: Creating An Open Course

Audio: Rees Jones On The First Word With Gary Williams Show

Video: Touring Bethpage Black With The New York Times' Bill Pennington