Recent headlines of spectator price rises for the hosting of the 2025 Ryder Cup took my mind back a good few years and the day we were extended the invitation to tee-up on the famed host Bethpage Park Black course.
Actually, it was just over six years ago the PGA of America generously arranged a media outing in August 2018 ahead of the 2019 PGA Championship, and when Brooks Koepka was handed the Rodman Wanamaker trophy for a second straight year.
I had taken photographs from the outing that I found filed and untouched in my lap-top, so I thought it high-time I put together a feature article on next year’s host Ryder Cup course and while the ole grey matter was still working reasonably well (smiling).
Bethpage Park is located on Long Island, about an hour’s drive north-east of downtown New York and on the outskirts of the town of Farmingdale.
It might surprise many that Bethpage Park actually features five 18-hole regulation golf courses but it was not till the hosting of the 2002 US Open that the Black course debuted on the major championship rota while the course had hosted the 2009 US Open and the 2012 and 2016 Barclays (I was in attendance) along with the 2019 PGA Championship while the club eagerly now awaits a first hosting of the Ryder Cup.
Bethpage Park Golf Course. Back in August 2018 when the USA flag was being flown at half-mast following the passing of Senator John McCain. (Image – GolfByTourMiss)
Aussies out in force at Bethpage Park with Bernie (centre) joined by Ben Everill (left) and Evin Priest.
As pointed out in the photograph above the USA flag was at half-mast on this day in August 2018 in honour of Senator John McCain, who had died on the Saturday just four days shy of his 82nd birthday, and who I had met and got an autograph on an in-flight menu during a flight to Germany but that is very much another story.
And talking of menus, no sooner in walking into the clubhouse and we were asked to join our fellow guests for splendid cooked breakfast, and also each presented with a commemorative 2019 PGA Championship shirt and with me happily accepting the gift wearing the 2018 and 100th anniversary PGA Championship shirt.
2019 PGA Championship merchandise.
Image – GolfByTourMiss
After a formal introduction and news of the format for the day we began to make our way out to the golf course side of the clubhouse and here was the sight of the Rodman Wanamaker and Ryder Cup tropheys on display in front of one the more-famed signs in golf.
After the few snaps (see below) it was then onto the renowned host Black Course.
Bernie in great company – the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship trophies overlooking the Black Course at Bethpage Park – and standing also in front of one of the more famed ‘advisory’ signs in golf. (Images – GolfByTourMiss).
I have been fortunate to play Augusta National, not once but twice, though to tee-up on this famed Tillinghaust-designed course located around an hour’s drive from downtown Manhatton was pure!
It was a glorious morning and with the sun starting to light-up the course, so that it looked a postcard at every turn as we drove out to the 15th tee ahead of the shot-gun start
My three playing partners were very welcoming, including then Newsday’s renowned Mark Herrman who I shared a buggy. I would often ‘bump into’ Mark during the course of reporting on the PGA Tour and the US-based majors, so we went back a long way.
Heading off down the first ahead of our shotgun start at Bethpage Park Black. Image GolfByTourMiss
Our Bethpage Park Black fourball – Mark (left) and Bernie (right)
Our starting hole was the par-4 15th that is the No. 2 index hole, and from checking the scorecard online the hole was among seven of 11 pars 4s over 400-yards.
However, any fear teeing-off the second hardest hole at Bethpage Park Black was, and as I can remember, dispelled by just the pleasure of this glorious opportunity to experience such a famed golf course.
The hooter sounded and no sooner later we were in the golf carts and headed down the 430-yard, par-4 15th
Now tell me, what esle would you wish to be doing on a great Monday morning?
Bethpage Park Black – The par-4 15th hole. Image -GolfByTourMiss
The par-3 17th hole Bethpage Park Black – Image GolfByTourMiss
Bernie on the 18th tee at Bethpage Park Black. Image GolfByTourMiss
Bethpage Park Black – Image GolfByTourMiss
The par-3 third hole at Bethpage Park Black – Image GolfByTourMiss
What a golf hole! There is the par-4 11th hole somewhere in all that sand at Bethpage Park Black.
I contributed two pars, yes just two pars to the team score. The first at the par-4 second hole and to my enormous pleasure at our final hole for the outing and that being at the par-3 14th, and the 18th index hole.
Worth the price of admission! A par at the last hole of our day – The par-3 14th at Bethpage Park Black. Image GolfByTourMiss
In heading back to the clubhouse we relaxed in the buggy and with Mark and I speaking of the delight in being afforded an invitation to play a fantastic championship golf course as Bethpage Park Black. Yes, the experience had left our golf games clearly battered and bruised but I guess it was always to be expected, and we were warned and here thinking of ‘that’ sign on the first tee.
However, here I am over six-years later reklining so many fond memories of that day.
And then arriving back to the clubhouse was this great-looking late lunch, including ‘JR’ standing over a bar-b-que of great-smelling hotdogs
Looking good in the clubhouse
And JRs got the hot-dogs all sorted and ready.
Special thank you again to Julius Mason and his superb team at the PGA of America and also thank you to Bethpage Park.
Wishing everyone well in the lead-up to the 2025 Ryder Cup and look forward to seeing you next year in September.
