Bethpage Black Need Advice

[wing seeker]

Summer Trip

Three brothers from the deep south are going to the beautiful state of
NY this August for a few days of travel and golf. HOW DO WE INSURE
that we get to play the BLACK COURSE. We can play the course on
Tuesday, Wednesday or a Thursday. Any tips or tricks other than camping
out ALL NIGHT. I know that you can request a tee time two days prior
(for an out of stater) but from what I understand that is pot luck at best.
Has anyone ever paid someone to hold a spot during the night? If so
can one person hold a spot for the other 2 or 3 guys in a foursome? Played
a lot of nice courses but never had to camp out before. As anyone ever
traveled and rotated during the night (in other words, one guy stay three or
four hours then change with another guy)? Is that doable? HELP.

[JAF3]

Shouldn't really need to camp out if your playing on a Tue, Wed or Thurs. Getting there around 4:45-5:00 am should get you out at the latest 9:30-10ish. Especially in August.

 

Let me know the dates when it gets closer. If I'm free and you need a fourth, I'll meet up with you all, local knowledge goes a long way there...

 

Joe.

[Onebulldogs]

Shouldn't really need to camp out if your playing on a Tue, Wed or Thurs. Getting there around 4:45-5:00 am should get you out at the latest 9:30-10ish. Especially in August.

 

Let me know the dates when it gets closer. If I'm free and you need a fourth, I'll meet up with you all, local knowledge goes a long way there...

 

Joe.

 

How is it in the Spring? I am thinking of taking a Wednesday off in Late April/Early May as Single.

[CivEngr08]

I played the Black 3 times last summer when I was living in NJ. First time was on a Thursday, Dad and I got to the course around 9:00 am and got a tee time around 2:30 pm. The second and third times I got to the course (as a single) around 6 am and got a 10-10:30 tee time. You will probably have a later tee time with a 3some, but it shouldn't be too bad if you get there early enough.

 

Never needed to camp overnight in the car.

[flognut]

To me, it's hit or miss. i live 10 miles from there and played all 5 courses many times. i have gotten down there on a weekday at 5am as a single and gotten out by 7:30, and at other times the 1st opening for a single was 11am. as a threesome, i would get on the car line no later then midnight for the middle of the week. check the forecast also. they dont hesitate to close the black for inclement weather, especially with the open only 10 months away( from august that is). keep in mind that by the time the guy comes to hand out the bakery tickets usually about 4:30am, all in your group have to be present in the car to receive the bracelet that they put on your wrist. this is how they guard against people paying others to wait all night. the course is worth it, so take all the precautions to insure you get on.

[coopizzez]

I've never played any of the courses, but a group of us were planning to try this year...May or June. I'm guessing we'd need to spend the night. Is it possible to get 2 or 3 foursomes if you get there early enough? Is Saturday morning (Friday night) the toughest time to get a tee time?

 

I can't wait....I think it will be fun. Are they cool with grilling out and drinking a few beers when you camp out?

[flognut]

for saturday or sunday play you have to get on the car line even earlier. the 1st 5 or 6 tee times are for walkups and then there is only 1 walk up time per hour. the rest are for reservations, which if are not all taken then there are more openings for walkups. the car line is essentially the same as walkups. if you have 3 foursomes and you want to play back to back, then i would get there at noon on friday for a sat morning play. i know it's a long time to spend but it will insure pretty much being cars 1,2 and 3. and having a large group will make passing the time more fun. just remember that someone has to stay with the cars at all times. by this i mean 1 person per vehicle. and watch the weather, it would suck to stay there all that time and they not open the course due to rain. ( think back to 2002 when Roger Maltbie went thru the car line routine with an RV. it poured all night and they didnt open the course that day.

 

good luck and enjoy

[thehobbit]

people from NY can hold Tee times there. I think there is a service that holds tee times for $10 somewhere. Four things. 1. range stinks, its hitting off concrete, so no need to hit more than 10 balls. 2. Its a long day, last year played 2 times both rounds were 5 and a 1/2, mucho walking. 3. play the Red Course the afternoon before, its an enjoyable vacation type round on a good track. 4. Get a Caddie, they have a stable of pretty much local guys who more or less professionally caddie there, each guy will take 2 bags for around $150 or $200 for the day. Well Well worth it, I play at or about +1 and in marathon shape and I was exhausted looping my own bag by the 12th whole. Between the sun, hills, and waiting, a caddie is the only way to go.

 

As for the course; par, par, par, par start three times in a row, and the rest is blurry b/c after that it feels like someone has thrown a brick in your face. One hole on the back hit a drive 300+ and was left with 220 to a green 60 feet above me where I just had to jack a ball into the rough enbankment and was happy to take a 6 on a par 4, hole just drains whatever life you have left in you out, ridiculous.