Headed to Bethpage next week...any advice for out-of-staters???

[dochamgoiu]

I'm part of a 4-some headed to NY and would like to play Bethpage Black on Monday or Wednesday. (We called and saw where it was hosting a tournament on Tuesday and would be open on Monday - June 24 - because of the tournament on Tuesday.) We have our registration info in the system to call for times to try that option. Any advice on that? We also thought about getting on one of the other courses, first; then, try getting our car in line that afternoon for a shot at the next days early tee times. Any advice of any kind you can throw our way would be greatly appreciated! (We will be staying about 8 miles from the course.)Thanks!

[mricks83]

Getting a tee time for a 4-some is going to be tough, but chances are it will require a lot of waiting on your part. Since you're out-of-state I believe you can only make a tee time 2 days in advance or wait in line.

If you can't get on Black, play Red. It's the 2nd best course of the bunch.

[dochamgoiu]

Thanks for your info!

[Bullysonzx10r]

I went this last weekend and it went down like this --

Drive up, and as soon as you enter the park after the long road there is a parking lot on your right hand side that has numbered parking spots. You want to be within the first few spots (I was number 5 and I got there at 6pm) At 6:30 a guy came by and handed out wristbands to the people in the car, he took your name, license plate, and gave you a wristband.

At that point your car should probably reside in that spot for the rest of the night, but if you have two cars, you can pretty much do whatever you'd like to until 4am. At 4am(ish) the gentleman comes back and hands out numbered wristbands to the rest of the people in the car (All of you need to be in that car)

Once you get your wristband, you drive up to the main clubhouse and they call out numbers, You go inside and book your tee time.

So basically as long as you have one person in the car in a low numbered spot at 6-630ish, and all of you are in the car at 4am, you can do whatever you'd like before 6-630 or between that time and 4am.

Good luck, the course is in insane condition, don't worry about hitting it long, just keep it in the short stuff!

[dochamgoiu]

We really appreciate that info...thanks!!!

[petercybulskipp]

if your going during the week you can arrive at the course say 6 am and you will probably get out before 8.
while its not advertised, they keep the tee times for the first hour of play on black available for walk ups
since you will be given wristbands at check in all four of you will have to be present.
They also keep 1 tee time every hour throughout the day for walk ups on all courses . so if its really busy you will prob be able to get a time btwn 9-12 at latest, meaning you can go back to yr hotel and rest up , youll need it!
Played red yesterday and it is in fantastic conditions, greens are near perfect , better than black in fact...
also if your on the island for a few days , i would recommend heading outto montauk downs , a bit of a trek , prob 2 hrs but well worth it , re tee times same applies and bpage for out of towners
good luck and let me know how you get on

[dizong]

[quote name='dochamgoiu' timestamp='1371654735' post='7281716']
I'm part of a 4-some headed to NY and would like to play Bethpage Black on Monday or Wednesday. (We called and saw where it was hosting a tournament on Tuesday and would be open on Monday - June 24 - because of the tournament on Tuesday.) We have our registration info in the system to call for times to try that option. Any advice on that? We also thought about getting on one of the other courses, first; then, try getting our car in line that afternoon for a shot at the next days early tee times. Any advice of any kind you can throw our way would be greatly appreciated! (We will be staying about 8 miles from the course.)Thanks!
[/quote]

You will get a tee time as a 4-some, I almost guarantee it, especially since you are seeking a weekday time which increases your chance of success exponentially. Do not underestimate the number of last minute cancellations made; use that to your advantage to book a tee time a couple days or night before. I can't tell you how many times I've showed up for my round (after successfully making a reservation) and seeing multiple slots available on the tee time screen (including 4-somes) for that morning on a beautiful summer Saturday. If you don't get one, try again 2 minutes later. Keep trying. Camping out should be last resort.
I am 6 for 6 so far as an out-of-stater, 3 times as part of a 4-some.
Good luck!

[schwaz19]

I totally agree. Each of you should have registration number and should call every 5-10 minutes. It worked for me and ended up with 9 am tee time as an out of stater.

[JB85]

As others have said, camping out the night before for a weekday tee time should be a last resort. By the time you can get into the phone system as an out-of-stater, the black will probably be pretty full. That being said, keep calling throughout the day right up until the night before. You might get lucky with a 4 some cancellation and get in through the phone system that way.

If you're not able to get a time, you could just camp out the night before, but you could also show up early the day of. If you arrive at the course early, you'll at the very least be able to lock down a middle of the day / early afternoon time of the black. When my buddies and I do that, we play a quick warm up 9 on the blue, putt for a bit, grab a bite to eat and then warm up to play the black.

Best advice...enjoy it, it's a great test! Oh...and make sure you're driving it straight and your long irons are on

[thammons]

I'll be heading with him so thanks for all the advice! Hopefully we can get on!

[Chilidog]

I played there 2 weeks ago on a Wednesday and when we were on the 17th at 2:00 we noticed that there was no one on #1. When we finished we sat out on the patio and ate and no one teed off during that time either. It was quite dead in fact.

[CAT GOLFER]

My summer intern is from NY and I think he and I need to have a "teambuilding" day...at Bethpage black. LOL

[JB85]

[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1371825333' post='7297016']
I played there 2 weeks ago on a Wednesday and when we were on the 17th at 2:00 we noticed that there was no one on #1. When we finished we sat out on the patio and ate and no one teed off during that time either. It was quite dead in fact.
[/quote]

I seem to remember last time I played on a Saturday there were also a few times in the 2 - 4 PM time frame. I guess with a 5+ hour round and 8:30 sunset you're starting to cut it pretty close at that point.

[dochamgoiu]

Thru phone reservation I got a 4pm tee time on Black for Monday. Think we will b avle to finish?

[schwaz19]

No. Keep calling if everyone in group is registered keep calling every 10-15 minutes.

[Anser]

I'm in this group too

Thanks for the advice fellas

[schwaz19]

If each of you calls every 10 min you really only making one call every 40 minutes

[Anser]

We ended up getting a much earlier tee time

We are pumped

[JB85]

Congrats! Hope you guys get a great weather day and enjoy the course.

[schwaz19]

Awesome. Bring Gatorade with you as there is only one turn shack

[Merion11]

[quote name='mricks83' timestamp='1371663203' post='7282978']
Getting a tee time for a 4-some is going to be tough, but chances are it will require a lot of waiting on your part. Since you're out-of-state I believe you can only make a tee time 2 days in advance or wait in line.

[b]If you can't get on Black, play Red. It's the 2nd best course of the bunch.[/b]
[/quote]

The Red is a really good golf course! The toughest hole at the complex may be on The Red.....

[schwaz19]

How did it go?

[FLGOLFJUNKIE]

Note to self: Don't ever plan a trip to Bethpage Black

[Anser]

[quote name='schwaz19' timestamp='1372248547' post='7326508']
How did it go?
[/quote]

It went well - the course is everything it's said to be and easily the most difficult I've ever played. I usually am somewhere in the low to mid 80's and shot 95 and was estatic to break 100. I made lots of pars but several doubles in a row on the back. The rough is THIIIIIIIIICK and was basically a 1/2 shot penalty.

I was not prepared for the walk too well either lol Every hole is uphill I think and it was ridiculously hot/humid. A mid round 20 minute rain delay saved me and allowed a refresh of sorts

[dochamgoiu]

Things went according to Hoyle (a.k.a WRX-advisors...lol). We didn't need to camp out...started out with a 4pm tee-time; then, kept calling back and moved up to a 1:36 start...we then decided to venture to the golf course on Monday morning around 9am. As we checked in, the screen had an 11:56 4-some available. So when we asked about that, the great lady at the counter told us a 10:54 had opened up and asked if we wanted that one. We jumped on that one immediately. What a thrill it was to step on that 1st tee! Yep, the course gave me a couple of black-eyes...lol...but it was well worth it! I'm looking forward to making this trip again! Hopefully, I'll play the course much smarter/better! (We were able to get on the Blue for a Tuesday round. We were hoping to get on the Red for Tuesday, but the times didn't work out.) THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THEIR ADVICE...WE APPRECIATED IT GREATLY!

[Joe26]

If the course is open on a non holiday Monday would we have a better shot at a tee time or finishing a twilight round compared to a Friday?

[Chilidog]

You'd have a better shot at getting off on St. Andrews as the Black is closed on Mondays.

[Joe26]

[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1372769208' post='7369782']
You'd have a better shot at getting off on St. Andrews as the Black is closed on Mondays.
[/quote]

I called and its open the first 3 Mondays in july

[Kuz013]

Heading down this weekend, have a tee time for the Red on Friday and black on Saturday. Anyone have recommendations on where to stay/eat?

[Joe26]

Do they charge to change your tee time if you keep calling and can move it to earlier in the day?

If you have multiple people from your group calling can all of us use one code or should we each have our own?

Thanks.