# A golf story V. Bethpage Black **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [July 1, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914 "2008-07-01T19:31:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OneFastMonkey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onefastmonkey/32/7241_2.png) [@OneFastMonkey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OneFastMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/1 "2008-07-01T19:31:07Z")
Sorry for the long read. CLIFFS AT BOTTOM As some of you might know the US Open was held at Bethpage State Park on Long Island in 2002 and is returning there next year for the 2009 US Open. Well about a year ago I read [this](http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=2ENQk_6JpE0C&dq=inside+the+ropes+at+bethpage&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=aDoOBmPn55&sig=iUflyjNetC9P3iCi2c6aP3UT3hI&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result) book, Inside the Ropes at Bethpage Black in which John Feinstein described what went in to bringing the Open to the first public course ever. Six months ago the plan really took off and this past weekend we went and played “The Black.” Here is my timeline: 6/21/08 – 12:05 AM – After registering my license number with the New York State Parks department I tried to make a tee time for Friday 6/27/08 but the earliest I could get was 4:30 PM. Since that tee time sucked we decided that we were going to do what all true golf fans do and go to the golf course and camp out in order to get a tee time the day we want. 6/26/08 – 12:15 PM – I left work on my way to Jersey City to pick my cousin up who flew in from Phoenix to play Bethpage. 6/26/08 – 8:00 PM – Hung out for about in hour or so and decided to head towards Long Island because I was nervous that there would be a bunch of cars camping out to golf on Friday. The Holland Tunnel pretty much sucks even at 8 at night so it took a while to get across but once we did it was smooth sailing out to Long Island. 6/26/08 – 9:00 PM – Arrived at Bethpage State Park and took about ten minutes to find the designated parking spots for people to camp out in order to get a tee time the following day. These parking spots were at the extreme end of the parking lot so no wonder we couldn’t find them. We pulled up just as the first car was parking so we ended up being in spot #2 and that meant that at 4:30 AM we would have second choice of tee times for Friday. 6/26/08 – 6/27/08 – 9:30 PM – 3:30 AM – Turns out that the guys in spot #1 went to high school with my cousin so we ended up shooting the shit with them all night and between the two groups ended up drinking a ton of beer. Numerous shenanigan ensued such as a Nassau County Sheriff ordering us a pizza, some asshole smashing into a telephone pole and knocking out power to all of Bethpage, and a Bethpage employee telling my buddy to get is fucking had off his truck. All in all it was a great night but knowing that at 4:30 they were going to hang out wristbands I knew it was time for sleep. 6/27/08 – 4:30 AM – After about 25 minutes of sleep a truck pulled up and it was the guy handing out bracelets and bakery tickets which would equal our spot in line at the tee time office. The four of us jumped in the car and headed over to the office just as they were calling our number. We got in there and made a 7:18 AM tee time. Thank god that part of the trip was over. 4:45 AM – 6:45 AM – We had some time to kill so we walked around a little bit, had some breakfast and washed up in the bathroom before it was time to head out to the course. 7:18 AM – We teed off for one of the most grueling rounds of golf I have ever played. The rough was long, the fairways were tight and by 8:00 AM it was 90 degrees out. The round took us about 5 hours and it was an amazing experience. I shot a 96 and made a birdie on the 606 yard par 5. **CLIFFS:** **Camped out to play Bethpage Black where they play the US Open.** **Stayed up all night, played at 7 AM and shot a 96.** Here are some pics: ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/101_0021.jpg](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/101_0021.jpg) ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/101_0023.jpg](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/101_0023.jpg) ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/101_0034.jpg](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/101_0034.jpg) ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/101_0036.jpg](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/101_0036.jpg) ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1898.jpg](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1898.jpg) ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1909.jpg](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1909.jpg) ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1918.jpg](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1918.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/2 "2008-07-01T19:49:55Z")
Ahhh Bethpage black. Never played it, but have been chased out by lawnmowers when passing through to get to some mountain bike trails. Also, the course is so hilly that it makes GREAT sledding/snowboard jump spots in the winter months. That place is beautiful though. My grandparents worked there during the US Open in 02 and raved about the event. ---
**Author:** ![Tevenor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@Tevenor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tevenor)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/3 "2008-07-01T19:51:57Z")
Damn beautiful course. Nice write up. ---
**Author:** ![ineedacar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@ineedacar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ineedacar)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/4 "2008-07-01T20:04:40Z")
looks like fun, too bad i’d probably shoot a **1** 96 if I went golfing somewhere like that. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/5 "2008-07-01T20:07:34Z")
I would guess a 96 is pretty good for a first time on a US Open course. Nice. I can see only the first picture. ---
**Author:** ![eclipsed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@eclipsed](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/eclipsed)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/6 "2008-07-01T20:33:30Z")
well done! what a cool trip :tup: ---
**Author:** ![FBodyMadnezz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fbodymadnezz/32/7433_2.png) [@FBodyMadnezz](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/FBodyMadnezz)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/7 "2008-07-01T21:25:49Z")
looks like a nice course! better than anything ive ever played ☹ ---
**Author:** ![97Ranger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97ranger/32/7342_2.png) [@97Ranger](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/8 "2008-07-02T01:26:56Z")
how much did it cost to play there? ---
**Author:** ![OneFastMonkey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onefastmonkey/32/7241_2.png) [@OneFastMonkey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OneFastMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/9 "2008-07-02T04:28:42Z")
It cost $50 for NYS residents and $100 for out of staters. That was on Friday. On the weekend I think it goes up like $10 or $20 bucks. When we left the course at like 1 on Saturday there were at least 15 cars lined up to camp out for Saturday so I am glad we played when we did. ---
**Author:** ![Jagermeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jagermeister](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jagermeister)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/10 "2008-07-02T04:46:52Z")
Nice Pat. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/11 "2008-07-02T05:36:12Z")
this is the first time in my life i have actually heard anything remotely interesting about golf. cool post. ---
**Author:** ![Geoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geoff/32/6104_2.png) [@Geoff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geoff)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 5:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/12 "2008-07-02T05:49:47Z")
the black course is on my list :tup: ---
**Author:** ![OneFastMonkey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onefastmonkey/32/7241_2.png) [@OneFastMonkey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OneFastMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/13 "2008-07-02T05:51:41Z")
Def go play it, it was so worth it. You can tell from the pics that we started playing the blues but by like 15 we said screw it I cant walk the extra 50 yards, lets just play the whites. I am really looking forward to next year when I can say, oh ya I was in that rough. ---
**Author:** ![OneFastMonkey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onefastmonkey/32/7241_2.png) [@OneFastMonkey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OneFastMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 9:20am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/14 "2008-07-02T09:20:10Z")
Sorry I forgot the most important picture. ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1889.jpg](http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1889.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ineedacar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@ineedacar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ineedacar)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 9:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/15 "2008-07-02T09:41:53Z")
> [@OneFastMonkey](#): > > Sorry I forgot the most important picture. > > ![http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/Onefastmonkey/Bethpage/IMG_1889.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/5/a/5adf232d31faa9cff6dccc7537992d6de380978d.jpeg) whoa be careful out there. lol ---
**Author:** ![OneFastMonkey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onefastmonkey/32/7241_2.png) [@OneFastMonkey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OneFastMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 8:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/16 "2008-07-03T08:35:12Z")
Ya we were dont worry. ---
**Author:** ![OneFastMonkey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onefastmonkey/32/7241_2.png) [@OneFastMonkey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OneFastMonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/17 "2009-06-15T05:58:24Z")
Bump, practice rounds start today. Open is this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Geoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geoff/32/6104_2.png) [@Geoff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geoff)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/18 "2009-06-15T06:01:52Z")
:tup: ---
**Author:** ![chino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@chino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/chino)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/19 "2009-06-15T06:29:05Z")
> [@boardjnky4](#): > > Also, the course is so hilly that it makes GREAT sledding/snowboard jump spots in the winter months. lol my mother grew up in bethpage and she said the same thing… she never realized it was much of a golf course be she sled on it all winter 😛 ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914/20 "2009-06-15T06:32:04Z")
haha yeah it’s VERY popular to sled there, although, the park workers do make their rounds and yell quite a bit. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/a-golf-story-v-bethpage-black/50914.md?page=2)