Andrew W.
Yelp
Golf heaven on the East Coast. Though much has been written about the black course in this space, what many don't know is that there are 4 other courses here, all of which I have played and like. Due to the notoriety the black course has given Bethpage, the resources and know-how have also benefitted the other courses, especially the Red, which rival all but the finest private courses. Given the variety of courses, players tend to somewhat self-select to courses based on skill level, which is a nice thing for a muni.
Here are my throughs on the courses I've played, each of which is a small step down in quality from that which precedes:
THE BLACK - About 6700 yards from the regulation tees (nearly 7,500 if you dare the tips), this course may destroy your soul and your will to play golf. There's a reason this course has a warning label on it. Water only on one hole (a par 3) and you might not ever lose a ball, but there's nothing easy otherwise about it. You have to be long and accurate off the tee to give yourself a chance and need to be able to both fade and draw the ball as nearly all fairways are angled. There's sand everywhere and greens are challenging to hit. They roll fast with subtle breaks. For just $80, New York State residents can play a course which has hosted U.S. Opens, PGA tour events and a future PGA championship and Ryder Cup. Still, I wouldn't recommend anyone over a 20-handicap play this course. Even those in the single digits will get very frustrated at times by the sand and deep rough. It is surprisingly accessible if you're willing to play later than the early morning, especially on weekdays. It'll take you at least 4.5 hours to play and you must walk the course, which has a lot of hills. You'll be wiped by the end of your round. Consider the expense of a caddy ($80/bag plus $40 tip) if you're making it a special event.
Red - Almost 7,000 yards from the tips and could be made even further with a couple tee boxes not used. If not for the black, this place would be a star and many tournaments are played here. Both the opening and closing holes are killer. You have to be long to be successful here, but the course is forgiving of misses. Greens are very large, fast and have a lot of subtle breaks so be prepared to hit a lot of putts. There are many long dogleg par 4's which can inflate scores of those who don't drive accurately, but you can score on the par 3's and 5's.
Blue - The front 9 is absolutely killer on this course, but the back is much more forgiving. For this reason, they often flip the course for outings and tournaments. Unlike the Red, you have to be very precise or you will be punished, but still need to be a decent hitter at 6,500 yards. Be prepared to do a lot of walking up and down hills. Often the tee boxes and greens are elevated, but what's in the middle is not. I've found the longest rounds are here because of its low cost and high difficulty.
Green - A short course with a few holes that I find boring (14 and 16), but the green complexes give this course its bite. You have to be thoughtful with your approach shots and prepared for some really hard putts. Like the black, the green course goes across the street and is by a gun range, which provides a unique distraction. The lack of length bails you out a lot, so this course is favored by senior players. There are many hills as well, but most often to climb up to the tee box. Most holes play downhill or flat and don't require long hitters to lay up. Take what the course gives you and stay out of trouble on the difficult holes (particularly 17 & 18) and you'll be fine.
Yellow - Forgiving warn-up course in the morning, leisurely 9 hole course in the afternoon. Featuring light, rolling hills and wide open fairways, the Yellow course is fantastic for beginners. Unlike the Green and the Red however, if you miss too far off the fairway, you could easily lose your ball in high grass, woods or an adjoining hole. I find the greens to be second only to the Black in rolling true and fast. You'll feel good about your play here and rounds are among the quickest of the five because of the short length and relative ease.
The range is a definite weak area as you can't hit woods and have spongy matts that give you a false sense of quality ball striking. There are a number of practice greens at Bethpage, but no chipping area. Wait until your first back-up (often on the second tee box) and you can hit a couple around the tee box.
Most of the staff is very nice. The pro shop is always worth a visit and the food in the restaurant is always pretty good.
A last note, you must walk the black course and Bethpage has a strong walking culture. It's a five minute walk to a second concession area to pay/pick-up carts. For this reason, unless you have a disability, I wouldn't recommend getting a cart in good weather as you'll probably end up waiting behind a walking group.
