Bethpage Black is an American treasure.
—
The par-4 18th hole at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y., host of the 2025 Ryder Cup.PGA of America via Getty Images/Gary W. Kellner
“ThePeople’sCountryClub,”theycallit.Butit’sonlymeantforpeoplewhoare“highlyskilled”atgolf.Afamoussignbythe1stteeevensaysso.Thatdemographic– single-digithandicapsandbetter– wasthegroupA.W.Tillinghasthadinmindwhenhedreamedupwhatwouldbecomethecountry’smostreveredmuni.Hewantedtobuildabrute,apublic-accessanswertoPineValley.HisworkatBethpageStateParkonNewYork’sLongIslandfreedhimuptodojustthat.
BythetimetheBlackCourseopenedin1936,Tillinghasthaddesignedthreeofthefouroriginalcoursesinthepark.Becausethoseotherlayouts,theBlueandRed– bothbyTillinghast– andtheGreen,wereuser-friendly(afifthcourse,theYellow,openedin1958),thearchitecthadlicensetocreateabruiser,a“mankiller,”tousehisterm.
Forgenerations,theBlackliveduptoTillinghast’sambitionsforit– atestbothbeautiful
