On a whim, whipped up the idea of playing Bethpage Black while on family vacation to the big apple.
My wife decided that she wanted to go to New York specifically Central Park for her birthday trip. Chris Tomlin was playing a concert in their Summer Series. She planned it all out and gave me the dates. About a month out I pondered "Hay maybe I'll go play Bethpage". I play a lot of golf, er well used to. The sign has always intrigued me. WARNING," reads the placard, which is fixed to a fence behind the 1st tee. "The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers."
Then a few weeks out I started researching how to get a tee time. Only to learn its not just difficult is damn near impossible. If you like podcast or are a fan of NLU then episode 945-The Mystery Behind Why Bethpage is Always Booked. Then there's the sleeping in a car method, which I was out on as well as I had no car. So, I hatched a plan..... with no idea if it would even work. Or if it was at all even a good plan.
Id leave Maddison Square Gardens on the 1st train out to Farmingdale. 1st train time 5:16. We are staying a 16 minute walk away. Don't want to be late, and need to learn the station layout. Thus I must leave the hotel no later than 4:40. Have to leave time to get ready and get coffee. So up no latter than 4:10, excitement had me up at 3:15, thats 2:15 Texas time for those keeping track. Time line solidified.
Now getting to the Bethpage golf course. The train station in Farmingdale is about 1.31 miles away, it cost $10.75 to ride the train from MSG to Farmingdale. Ill just walk, it says 27 min; I walk fast I'll make it in under 22. Google maps said Id be at the clubhouse at 6:41. I made it by 6:35. I took a few pictures on my stroll in as there were so many signs to advise you'd made it to Bethpage.
On July 8th Bethpage went to a walk up only, no reservations system with tee time only between 830-1230. No 7 days out online booking for residents and 5 days out for Nonresidents. Strictly walk up, this is why I thought I had a chance.
Upon entering the clubhouse, there's a queue. Digital boards displaying all the courses (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow) and the one I was eyeing BLACK. A1040 tee time was the earliest available. Ill take it. I had given myself a noon at the latest cutoff as tonight was concert night, the whole reason we took the trip. I even poked and asked "Theres nothing earlier?" I got a New York "No!"
Now I had 4 hours to kill. I paced, I walked through the tiny clubhouse. Had a breakfast sandwich drank some more coffee (This will come in to play later, not what you're thinking). Then at 830 the 1st tee times start. I took a seat on a bench and proceeded to watch 4some after 4some go off. All hitting driver to the front of the fairway or wide right into the rough or wide left before the grandstands placed for the Ryder Cup. I had a plan, bang it up the left side and have a good angle into the green.
I started talking to a young group of 5 golfers from the area, they had slept in thier car. They arrived at midnight and a Bethpage employee came around at 445 and gave them thier ticket. They had a sigle at 950 and a 4 some at 10. I didn't think anything of it as, Well the shop probably filled up the other 3 spots.
This is where things get interesting! They said to check in 20 minutes prior to your tee time. Well I'm sitting at 1 in my crocs, my clubs are at the front of the clubhouse. I have 1 hour and 10 minutes to my tee time when 930 rolls around. They call the kids name from the 950, we'll close. They call Brandon his name is Brennon. They call it again. So he says Im Brennon?! The starter, who we find out later is a real gem, says "yeah I've been calling you up". So now the 930 is a 2some. No one else. The guy holding the 930, tells a guy on the bench, who he'd been talking to. "Hey ask if you can join up". The starter allowed. SO, I run up and say "Can I join them as well."
He goes full New York on me" Why haven't you checked in? Where were you when I was calling names?" I've been sitting over here all morning, you shoulda asked sooner!" Whatever, I made a mad dash to get my clubs, no warm up no practice. Clip on my golf shoes. He then hits me with, "No rush take your time, catch your breath." Turns out about 4 tee times now just became OPEN! But not open to be filled, only to buy more time and get less play. 4 coveted tee times slip away, gone forever. Turns out the guy that had the 930 walked up at 6AM and the guy he was talking to and ask to pair up with had a 1010 but was there before the guy with the 930 time,WTF sounds like a messed up system. Upon further questioning all 3 singles asked the same question, are you sure there's not something sooner a sigle can join.
Remember all the coffee, we'll now I've got the caffeine shakes. I had planned on drinking some water hitting balls and having another hour to prepare. Nope just the shakes, I'm not even nervous. I tee it up from the tips <Blue tees> and hit it way up the left side into the rough what seems like 50 yards passed where the rest of the moring field ended. I've never played 3" fescue rough and my 8 iron into 1, well it went about 100 yards & 45 degrees right. The rough had grabbed my club, spun it open and slapped about a gallon of water on the face. WELCOME TO BETHPAGE BLACK.
Id never been beat up by a course, this one did that time and time again. We took just over 5 hours and while it felt like a long time it also felt like we were playing "fast".
My wife decided that she wanted to go to New York specifically Central Park for her birthday trip. Chris Tomlin was playing a concert in their Summer Series. She planned it all out and gave me the dates. About a month out I pondered "Hay maybe I'll go play Bethpage". I play a lot of golf, er well used to. The sign has always intrigued me. WARNING," reads the placard, which is fixed to a fence behind the 1st tee. "The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers."
Then a few weeks out I started researching how to get a tee time. Only to learn its not just difficult is damn near impossible. If you like podcast or are a fan of NLU then episode 945-The Mystery Behind Why Bethpage is Always Booked. Then there's the sleeping in a car method, which I was out on as well as I had no car. So, I hatched a plan..... with no idea if it would even work. Or if it was at all even a good plan.
Id leave Maddison Square Gardens on the 1st train out to Farmingdale. 1st train time 5:16. We are staying a 16 minute walk away. Don't want to be late, and need to learn the station layout. Thus I must leave the hotel no later than 4:40. Have to leave time to get ready and get coffee. So up no latter than 4:10, excitement had me up at 3:15, thats 2:15 Texas time for those keeping track. Time line solidified.
Now getting to the Bethpage golf course. The train station in Farmingdale is about 1.31 miles away, it cost $10.75 to ride the train from MSG to Farmingdale. Ill just walk, it says 27 min; I walk fast I'll make it in under 22. Google maps said Id be at the clubhouse at 6:41. I made it by 6:35. I took a few pictures on my stroll in as there were so many signs to advise you'd made it to Bethpage.
On July 8th Bethpage went to a walk up only, no reservations system with tee time only between 830-1230. No 7 days out online booking for residents and 5 days out for Nonresidents. Strictly walk up, this is why I thought I had a chance.
Upon entering the clubhouse, there's a queue. Digital boards displaying all the courses (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow) and the one I was eyeing BLACK. A1040 tee time was the earliest available. Ill take it. I had given myself a noon at the latest cutoff as tonight was concert night, the whole reason we took the trip. I even poked and asked "Theres nothing earlier?" I got a New York "No!"
Now I had 4 hours to kill. I paced, I walked through the tiny clubhouse. Had a breakfast sandwich drank some more coffee (This will come in to play later, not what you're thinking). Then at 830 the 1st tee times start. I took a seat on a bench and proceeded to watch 4some after 4some go off. All hitting driver to the front of the fairway or wide right into the rough or wide left before the grandstands placed for the Ryder Cup. I had a plan, bang it up the left side and have a good angle into the green.
I started talking to a young group of 5 golfers from the area, they had slept in thier car. They arrived at midnight and a Bethpage employee came around at 445 and gave them thier ticket. They had a sigle at 950 and a 4 some at 10. I didn't think anything of it as, Well the shop probably filled up the other 3 spots.
This is where things get interesting! They said to check in 20 minutes prior to your tee time. Well I'm sitting at 1 in my crocs, my clubs are at the front of the clubhouse. I have 1 hour and 10 minutes to my tee time when 930 rolls around. They call the kids name from the 950, we'll close. They call Brandon his name is Brennon. They call it again. So he says Im Brennon?! The starter, who we find out later is a real gem, says "yeah I've been calling you up". So now the 930 is a 2some. No one else. The guy holding the 930, tells a guy on the bench, who he'd been talking to. "Hey ask if you can join up". The starter allowed. SO, I run up and say "Can I join them as well."
He goes full New York on me" Why haven't you checked in? Where were you when I was calling names?" I've been sitting over here all morning, you shoulda asked sooner!" Whatever, I made a mad dash to get my clubs, no warm up no practice. Clip on my golf shoes. He then hits me with, "No rush take your time, catch your breath." Turns out about 4 tee times now just became OPEN! But not open to be filled, only to buy more time and get less play. 4 coveted tee times slip away, gone forever. Turns out the guy that had the 930 walked up at 6AM and the guy he was talking to and ask to pair up with had a 1010 but was there before the guy with the 930 time,WTF sounds like a messed up system. Upon further questioning all 3 singles asked the same question, are you sure there's not something sooner a sigle can join.
Remember all the coffee, we'll now I've got the caffeine shakes. I had planned on drinking some water hitting balls and having another hour to prepare. Nope just the shakes, I'm not even nervous. I tee it up from the tips <Blue tees> and hit it way up the left side into the rough what seems like 50 yards passed where the rest of the moring field ended. I've never played 3" fescue rough and my 8 iron into 1, well it went about 100 yards & 45 degrees right. The rough had grabbed my club, spun it open and slapped about a gallon of water on the face. WELCOME TO BETHPAGE BLACK.
Id never been beat up by a course, this one did that time and time again. We took just over 5 hours and while it felt like a long time it also felt like we were playing "fast".
