Walking on THE OTHER Bethpage courses

[Gene Greco]

Shivaschmidt called up last year asking me whether or not it was worth playing the Black while he was in NY and I urged him at all costs to try to get on.

That's like me calling the Pope and asking if I should give to the poor...What did he do next, call up Huntley and ask if he should play Pebble when he is coming to Monterey..

   Good morning, John.

There have been and will be US Open venues which may not warrant playing at all costs.

Dave was pressed for time during his stay here on Long Island and was simply inquiring as to the architectural worthiness of The Black. He wasn't up for a back breaking slog playing 500 yard par 4s devoid of character.

[John Kavanaugh]

Gene,

If someone spends years on this site and needs to know if Bethpage is worth his time, not to mention being a long hitting college golfer and rater...he is plain ignorant..Shivas ain't ignorant.   Bethpage in not Torrey Pines.  I'm sure I don't know the whole story.

[Kyle Harris]

I understand the "Little Sister" syndrome the Red suffers from. It's hard not to stand on the 4th green of the Red and see the Black Course spread before you and not be a little envious.

I find that goes away back on the 5th green though.

[Gene Greco]

John:

    Shivas isn't shy either.

If he wanted to play someplace else other than BB he would have asked.

[John Kavanaugh]

John:

    Shivas isn't shy either.

If he wanted to play someplace else other than BB he would have asked.

I agree...I think it's great that we have created a resource where a guy can call up a friend and see if one of the greatest course of all time is really just a bunch of hype and not worth his time...It wouldn't be the first time it ever happened.  There might be guys out there that would ask the same thing of Hazeltine or Torrey Pines.  I was wrong once again and apologize.

[Gene Greco]

John:

    Shivas isn't shy either.

If he wanted to play someplace else other than BB he would have asked.

I agree...I think it's great that we have created a resource where a guy can call up a friend and see if one of the greatest course of all time is really just a bunch of hype and not worth his time...It wouldn't be the first time it ever happened.  There might be guys out there that would ask the same thing of Hazeltine or Torrey Pines.  I was wrong once again and apologize.

John:

   Bethpage Black wasn't always thought of as "one of the greatest courses of all time."

For example, it ranked in the #90-#100 range for many years on the Golf Digest 100 Greatest list and fell off the list altogether at one point.

Of course, the exact point and course I was alluding to with regard to a frame of reference is, as you noted, Torrey Pines, which although seaside and esthetically pleasing is not an architectural behemoth like The Black and may not be worth playing at all costs if pressed for time.

[M. Shea Sweeney]

Shea, you're right about Monday, I meant to say come on a weekday.  The point is you can walk up on a weekday very easily as a single or even a twosome and get out really quickly.  Just like all golf myths, the myth of Bethpage being this "you can only camp out from 6pm the night before to get on" or the "secret Black Course mafia" are exaggerated to increase the aura.  My college buddy Chucky seemingly plays the Black every time reach for my morning coffee, its uncanny.  


 

Jay-
 your absolutley right, there are many times in the week when you can walk up to the window and see a few good single times left on the computer screen. But if your planning a trip to the Black, why not garuntee yourself a tee time by parking out?

[Jay Flemma]

Hey shea...you're right that lots of guys revel in the idiom of being a hardcore golf fan, which I do respect.

Some of the people/golf fans I respect most are actually psyched to camp out and cookout and comeraderize all night and thats really great.

 My prob is I play better with a good nights sleep and a  back/shoulder that's not barking at me.  Remember...its a six hour WALK ONLY with your clubs on your back.  I'm starting to get older and my back and shoulder have both been injured and sleeping in my car means I'll be creaking and cracking my bones and trying to loosen really tight muscles...not the way to tackle the murder, mayhem and triage the black can quickly devolve into if you're not sharp.  But I did promise my buddy Mike ringwood I'd camp out with him once...but if you think for one second I'm gonna camp out on a weekend with three other guys and MISS playing the Black and end up slumming it (and I choose that word with precision) on one of the other courses, I'll go shopping with my girl instead!

The red or blue?  I'd rather be dragged over carpet tacks and dipped in rubbing alcohol.

[Kyle Harris]

Jay,

Not to mention the Black Course is a schlog to walk, regardless of how much time you take.

I've played it twice, and have never had a round over 4:20. Granted, my first time, I was in the first group.

Both times, I stayed in the car overnight, too.

[Jay Flemma]

Kyle you are the first person I ever heard of that got through in less than five hours...seemingly the fastest I ever played...on a wednesday...in april...

I dont mind the walk...its actually pretty easy.  It may sound corny, but I actually get inspired to walk when I play there and feel a warm glow...except on 15...thats brutal, but 16s all downhill and 17/18 are ok.

Try walking a Colorado Jim Engh course like lakota or redlands...see how you feel after that!  Can you say "altitude sickness?"

[Adam_F_Collins]

So, if one plans to go down, how far ahead can tee times be booked by non-residents?

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Two days (i.e. Thursday night, at 7:30 pm for that Saturday; Friday night, 7:30 pm, for Sunday, etc.)  

Also, right before midnight is a good time to find cancellations for the following day(s).  

[Dave Bourgeois]

If calling for the Black course 7:00pm is when those times open up.  For any of the others you would call around 7:30pm.  As a NYS resident you are allowed one reserved time per month at the Black course.  I was able to grab a 10:00-1:00 time each time I was persistent.  Believe it or not I wasn't always able to fill up my slots!  When I have slots this year I'll post them since I know most here appreciate the Black.