Funding the Bethpage restoration

[Joel_Stewart]

Going back to the USGA $3 million dollar funding of Bethpage, was that the only source of money or did they receive public or private funding as well?


 Seems to me $3 million isn't that much.
The Black fell into disrepair, though, in the 1960s and 1970s. Rocks in bunkers were numerous, grass in fairways sometimes sparse. That changed in 1982 when John Sheridan, general manager of the Long Island State Parks Commission, spearheaded a massive restoration project.
[/color]Word reached the U.S. Golf Association, which made the daring decision to hold its crown jewel, the U.S. Open, on the ultra-public facility. Bolstered by a lavish TV contract with NBC, the USGA funded a $3 million renovation. Just like that, the Black became a major destination and its image was transformed, presumably, forever.

[Mike Sweeney]

Say what you will about John Feinstein's writing style, he is a good researcher and he has the number at $5.0 million:


Seven years later, after the USGA had spent $5 million to revitalize and renovate the golf course, Fay’s dream came true. And no one played a more important role in making that dream reality than Catalano.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/pga-championship-2019-the-unsung-hero-dave-catalano-who-helped-turn-bethpage-black-from-overgrown-muny-to-major-championship-darling


Once again, sand based courses have a huge drainage advantage. I can't believe how well Bethpage played this past weekend with the rain leading into the tournament.