Bethpage black questions

gregkeller · March 6, 2019

I know that Bethpage recently changed the reservation system, allowing non-residents to make reservations up to 5 days in advance. Did they change any of the other stuff regarding walk ons?

I am thinking with my buddies of trying to be the first group out this season when they open up again after the PGA. On their website they mention saturday may 25th as the date they plan to open, so we were thinking of camping out friday night and being first group out, but then read that "there's no need to camp out anymore because everyone can make tee times." I just wanna make sure that they still hold that first hour for walk ons before I drive out to long island to sleep in my car.

jjmurry · March 6, 2019

I played a few months ago and had to camp out - I doubt that they just let everyone on as long as they're there by the 5am wake up call. I would give them a call to double check that that is the case. Additionally, for the first day it's being reopened following the PGA you may want to get there a bit earlier than Friday evening should you need to actually camp out still. You and every other Northeastern wrx'er are going to want to get on there that day!

gregkeller · March 6, 2019

Yeah, that's kinda what I figure. I'll probably head over right after I get out of work on friday.

chas521 · March 6, 2019

Bethpage live phone: 1-516-249-0700.

sailfishchris · March 6, 2019

Play it before they shut it down for the PGA. It will be pristine. After the tourney greens will be shot, the grounds will be destroyed from all the foot traffic. I've played before and after both the Open's and the Barclay"s. It's always better before and the course will be pretty close to tournament set up.

chas521 · March 6, 2019

Agreed. But just remember this also, the best growing season has not happened yet. June is when the Black is at its toughest and best shape.

sailfishchris · March 6, 2019

Agreed. But just remember this also, the best growing season has not happened yet. June is when the Black is at its toughest and best shape.

I'l agree to disagree September is IMO best time to play. It rains to much in June -course is soggy. It's as tough as grounds crew make it

WillMK5 · March 6, 2019

Bummed that so many of the other courses will have modified tees. Hopefully it's not too much of a hassle to play them.

Biermug · March 8, 2019

https://www.golfonlongisland.com/teebox/2019/03/tentative-opening-dates-announced-for-bethpage-state-park-golf-courses.html

gregkeller · March 8, 2019

Yeah, I had seen that mentioned somewhere else. I had originally thought playing before it shut down would be best, but then saw the date of 4/28. Thats so early in the season around here that conditions can be garbage, so figured a week after, close to memorial day the grass would be growing nicely, everything greened up. I hadn't thought about all the crowd and infrastructure damage to the course. Maybe i'll just wait until mid-june and go on a weekday morning when we won't have to be crazy early to get out in the first group and we get primo conditions.

Even · March 13, 2019

Play it before they shut it down for the PGA. It will be pristine. After the tourney greens will be shot, the grounds will be destroyed from all the foot traffic. I've played before and after both the Open's and the Barclay"s. It's always better before and the course will be pretty close to tournament set up.

They're not opening it before the PGA. It will remain closed until May 25th.