OT. Bethpage golf

[ucjoet]

This summer my youngest son and I are looking to play at Bethpage Black. My wife and other son will also be coming but not playing golf. We are looking to make this a 4 to 5 day stay. Probably going Mid August. We have been in the area about 6 years ago when my son was playing in a junior golf tourney at Bethpage. He played the Red course, but we are looking to get off on the Black course when we go down there this summer. So I am looking for help / ideas in the below areas. Any help would be appreciated.

(1) Heard there is a new phone system to get tee times on Black course. Does anyone know how it works.
(2) Places to stay. ( Towns, Hotels, houses for rent ?)
(3) My wife and other son are looking to go into the city or to the beach. What is the best way to get around ( Train or Car)
(4) Any other public courses we should try to play besides Bethpage.
(5) Any other things we should look to do during our stay.

 

[uconnfan68]

This summer my youngest son and I are looking to play at Bethpage Black. My wife and other son will also be coming but not playing golf. We are looking to make this a 4 to 5 day stay. Probably going Mid August. We have been in the area about 6 years ago when my son was playing in a junior golf tourney at Bethpage. He played the Red course, but we are looking to get off on the Black course when we go down there this summer. So I am looking for help / ideas in the below areas. Any help would be appreciated.

(1) Heard there is a new phone system to get tee times on Black course. Does anyone know how it works.
(2) Places to stay. ( Towns, Hotels, houses for rent ?)
(3) My wife and other son are looking to go into the city or to the beach. What is the best way to get around ( Train or Car)
(4) Any other public courses we should try to play besides Bethpage.
(5) Any other things we should look to do during our stay.

Sorry, no answers, but I do have a couple questions. Is it true you need to be a USGA 6 or lower to play the Black? If not, do the they have tees for mere mortals (and old ones at that)? I actually lived nearby (Levittown), but we moved to CT when I was 6 (in 1955), so my local knowledge is limited to occasional trips to cousins houses, and for funerals. I would have to say a car would be handy.

 

[progrocks]

You do not need to be a 6, and there are different tees, though I have a friend who plays around 90 and is short off the tee and can not reach the fairway on several holes. It is a monster.

 

[LIUCHusky]

This summer my youngest son and I are looking to play at Bethpage Black. My wife and other son will also be coming but not playing golf. We are looking to make this a 4 to 5 day stay. Probably going Mid August. We have been in the area about 6 years ago when my son was playing in a junior golf tourney at Bethpage. He played the Red course, but we are looking to get off on the Black course when we go down there this summer. So I am looking for help / ideas in the below areas. Any help would be appreciated.

(1) Heard there is a new phone system to get tee times on Black course. Does anyone know how it works.
(2) Places to stay. ( Towns, Hotels, houses for rent ?)
(3) My wife and other son are looking to go into the city or to the beach. What is the best way to get around ( Train or Car)
(4) Any other public courses we should try to play besides Bethpage.
(5) Any other things we should look to do during our stay.

You would want a car to get to the beach. I would recommend Jones Beach, a beautiful public beach only about 15 minutes from Bethpage. The Long Island Rail Road is the easiest way to get into Manhattan. The LIRR gets you to Penn Station (underneath Madison Square Garden). I grew up on Long Island and first started playing golf on the Bethpage courses. I haven't played golf on LI for 40 + years. There are 3 public courses at Eisenhauer Park in the Westbury area but I don't know what condition they are in. I think I would stick to the 5 Bethpage courses if you have no entry to any of the private courses on LI. There is a nice Marriott in Uniondale, off of the Hempstead Turnpike right next to the Nassau Coliseum. From there it is only about 15-20 minutes to Bethpage and less than 15 minutes to Jones Beach (assuming no heavy traffic). Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[sutomcat]

You would want a car to get to the beach. I would recommend Jones Beach, a beautiful public beach only about 15 minutes from Bethpage. The Long Island Rail Road is the easiest way to get into Manhattan. The LIRR gets you to Penn Station (underneath Madison Square Garden). I grew up on Long Island and first started playing golf on the Bethpage courses. I haven't played golf on LI for 40 + years. There are 3 public courses at Eisenhauer Park in the Westbury area but I don't know what condition they are in. I think I would stick to the 5 Bethpage courses if you have no entry to any of the private courses on LI. There is a nice Marriott in Uniondale, off of the Hempstead Turnpike right next to the Nassau Coliseum. From there it is only about 15-20 minutes to Bethpage and less than 15 minutes to Jones Beach (assuming no heavy traffic). Good luck and have a great trip.

Good info. A couple of other things: 1) the LIRR has a station very close to the Bethpage complex. Maybe 2 miles from it. 2) they do not permit golf carts on the Black Course. You can use pull carts. It is quite hilly....be prepared to get a good workout walking the course. 3) not sure about the call in number change but it is hard to get tee times on the Black. You can call in and reserve a tee time or show up early (as in the night before) and wait in line to get one of the tee times they reserve for walk up traffic each day.

Good luck.

 

[ucjoet]

Thanks for all the info. I greatly appreciate it. My son wants to play from the back tees ( I think he is nuts) but i am going to play from a set of tees that are more reasonable ( maybe the womens). Anyone else have info, please feel free to comment. Thanks again.

 

[Danzz]

This summer my youngest son and I are looking to play at Bethpage Black. My wife and other son will also be coming but not playing golf. We are looking to make this a 4 to 5 day stay. Probably going Mid August. We have been in the area about 6 years ago when my son was playing in a junior golf tourney at Bethpage. He played the Red course, but we are looking to get off on the Black course when we go down there this summer. So I am looking for help / ideas in the below areas. Any help would be appreciated.

(1) Heard there is a new phone system to get tee times on Black course. Does anyone know how it works.
(2) Places to stay. ( Towns, Hotels, houses for rent ?)
(3) My wife and other son are looking to go into the city or to the beach. What is the best way to get around ( Train or Car)
(4) Any other public courses we should try to play besides Bethpage.
(5) Any other things we should look to do during our stay.

This summer my youngest son and I are looking to play at Bethpage Black. My wife and other son will also be coming but not playing golf. We are looking to make this a 4 to 5 day stay. Probably going Mid August. We have been in the area about 6 years ago when my son was playing in a junior golf tourney at Bethpage. He played the Red course, but we are looking to get off on the Black course when we go down there this summer. So I am looking for help / ideas in the below areas. Any help would be appreciated.

(1) Heard there is a new phone system to get tee times on Black course. Does anyone know how it works.
(2) Places to stay. ( Towns, Hotels, houses for rent ?)
(3) My wife and other son are looking to go into the city or to the beach. What is the best way to get around ( Train or Car)
(4) Any other public courses we should try to play besides Bethpage.
(5) Any other things we should look to do during our stay.

It has been awhile since I've played Bethpage but I believe that there are about 5 courses there. The famous Black course does not allow carts and as Uconn68 mentioned their may be a handicap qualification to play it.I think I played the Blue course and it was a nice layout.
They have the most obnoxious staff you will find anywhere; big surprise it is in New York after all. There are not a lot of options in Long Island. In fact, Bethpage was famous for golfers sleeping in their cars to get a weekend starting time and many Long Island golfers travel to Jersey or Connecticut to play but you shouldn't have a problem if you play during the week.
Hotels are expensive on Long Island. It has been awhile but I used to stay in a Best Western in Woodbury that was reasonable at the time.
It is hard to find a bad restaurant on Long Island because of all the competition. Enjoy your vacation!

 

[mauconnfan]

It has been awhile since I've played Bethpage but I believe that there are about 5 courses there. The famous Black course does not allow carts and as Uconn68 mentioned their may be a handicap qualification to play it.I think I played the Blue course and it was a nice layout.
They have the most obnoxious staff you will find anywhere; big surprise it is in New York after all. There are not a lot of options in Long Island. In fact, Bethpage was famous for golfers sleeping in their cars to get a weekend starting time and many Long Island golfers travel to Jersey or Connecticut to play but you shouldn't have a problem if you play during the week.
Hotels are expensive on Long Island. It has been awhile but I used to stay in a Best Western in Woodbury that was reasonable at the time.
It is hard to find a bad restaurant on Long Island because of all the competition. Enjoy your vacation!

Ever play Granite Links in Quincy MA'?? You want obnoxious?....go figure it's near Boston!!

 

[Danzz]

Ever play Granite Links in Quincy MA'?? You want obnoxious?....go figure it's near Boston!!

You don't have to travel outside of Connecticut, try Pine Valley in Southington. They are really impressed with themselves for no reason I could ever figure out.But Bethpage is in a league of their own.

 

[FrostyNuggets]

Might want to consider Bridgerport ferry to Port Jeff.

 

[Northbound]

I used to play out there pretty regularly when I played. Be prepared for a LONG round. It's a tough course to get any rhythm going and if you don't have a decent group in front of you forget it. It's hit, walk, wait and maybe wait some more, hit - that's a tough pull for me. The first tee is the big mind screw - between the sign, the other groups milling around waiting to tee off and watching you and the carry to the fairway it's really easy to make yourself look like an ass off that tee (I've had both the good and bad experience). If your doing Bethpage, take another day and go out east to Montauk Downs (NYS public course), it's a Trent Jones Sr. course and a good track as well.

 

[BlueDolphin]

The Hilton in Melville is supposed to be 5 minutes from the course. We had our 50th HS reunion there a few years ago - excellent hotel - may be a bit pricey.

Link

 

[mauconnfan]

You don't have to travel outside of Connecticut, try Pine Valley in Southington. They are really impressed with themselves for no reason I could ever figure out.But Bethpage is in a league of their own.

Jack M still there? I know Rich DiBiaso left for Dick's Sporting Goods a while back right? Used to play there quite often, still wondering why??

 

[ucjoet]

The Hilton in Melville is supposed to be 5 minutes from the course. We had our 50th HS reunion there a few years ago - excellent hotel - may be a bit pricey.

Link

That is were we stayed when my son played his junior tourney at Bethpage. Liked the hotel and it was relatively close to Bethpage. Just was wondering if there were other / better options. Thanks again for everyone's input. What is chances of house / condos being available to rent. I would think it might be unlikely, but I figured I would ask.

 

[ucjoet]

Jack M still there? I know Rich DiBiaso left for Dick's Sporting Goods a while back right? Used to play there quite often, still wondering why??

Jack M is still there. He was one of the best Connecticut PGA golfers in his day. Still very competitive, but mostly plays senior events.

 

[uconnfan68]

Jack M is still there. He was one of the best Connecticut PGA golfers in his day. Still very competitive, but mostly plays senior events.

And still a gentleman.

 

[ucjoet]

And still a gentleman.

I always liked and enjoyed speaking to Jack. Once you get to know him he has a great sense of humor. Same thing with Rick D.

 

[mauconnfan]

I always liked and enjoyed speaking to Jack. Once you get to know him he has a great sense of humor. Same thing with Rick D.

Jack was always a good guy and yes a gentleman. DiBiaso was a bit strange but okay. A guy I played (still do) a lot of golf with went to Mattatuck CC with him and they had a trip south together (baseball and golf team traveled together) and got to know each other. Yet every time we played at PVCC Rich would check his bag for beers he was trying to sneak on the course (which of course made it difficult to do so), acting like he was having fun but to me it wore out its welcome.

Liked the track when I was younger but grew tired of the opening short doglegs and the inability to use driver a lot. Haven't been there in 4-5 years and we play all over CT/MA/RI.............

 

[uconn1999]

This summer my youngest son and I are looking to play at Bethpage Black. My wife and other son will also be coming but not playing golf. We are looking to make this a 4 to 5 day stay. Probably going Mid August. We have been in the area about 6 years ago when my son was playing in a junior golf tourney at Bethpage. He played the Red course, but we are looking to get off on the Black course when we go down there this summer. So I am looking for help / ideas in the below areas. Any help would be appreciated.

(1) Heard there is a new phone system to get tee times on Black course. Does anyone know how it works.
(2) Places to stay. ( Towns, Hotels, houses for rent ?)
(3) My wife and other son are looking to go into the city or to the beach. What is the best way to get around ( Train or Car)
(4) Any other public courses we should try to play besides Bethpage.
(5) Any other things we should look to do during our stay.

 

[uconn1999]

Don't know about the new phone system but I've played the Black course 3x's and each required an overnight stay in the parking lot to get one of their walk up times.
I seem to recall arriving mid day the day prior to playing and then camping out in the car.
Around 4am they come around and handout numbers and then you go in and get an available time.
There was like one walkup foursome per hour.
Our times were usually late morning, A LONG 2 days for an incredible round of golf.

Seemed even the locals camped out as they could not get through on the phone.
I think there was a bit of croonyism or payolla occurring.

The Red course is terrific as well.

 

[nycscooby]

You don't have to stay on LI. If you have a car, stay in the City and book a hotel in the East 30's (Murray Hill). This one is good and pretty reasonable: http://www.affinia.com/New-York-City-Hotel.aspx?name=Shelburne-Murray-Hill

I don't know about the phone system but if you're lucky to get a tee time. Depending on time of day and day of the week you can drive out to Bethpage in about 45 minutes.

Rather than Jones Beach, go to Nickerson Beach or even Long Beach.

As for food, there's a lot of mediocre food on LI. Good that's close to Bethpage are the following: West East Bistro (Hicksville), Market Bistro (Jericho), Brasserie Cassis and Red Fish Grille (both Plainview) come to mind.

 

[Danzz]

Jack was always a good guy and yes a gentleman. DiBiaso was a bit strange but okay. A guy I played (still do) a lot of golf with went to Mattatuck CC with him and they had a trip south together (baseball and golf team traveled together) and got to know each other. Yet every time we played at PVCC Rich would check his bag for beers he was trying to sneak on the course (which of course made it difficult to do so), acting like he was having fun but to me it wore out its welcome.

Liked the track when I was younger but grew tired of the opening short doglegs and the inability to use driver a lot. Haven't been there in 4-5 years and we play all over CT/MA/RI.............

The course isn't bad but that area on the front 9 is like a shooting gallery where a bunch of holes come together.

 

[SubbaBub]

You don't have to travel outside of Connecticut, try Pine Valley in Southington. They are really impressed with themselves for no reason I could ever figure out.But Bethpage is in a league of their own.

Have you ever tried shoehorning 300 golfers onto 18 holes? That's quite impressive

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[ucjoet]

Have you ever tried shoehorning 300 golfers onto 18 holes? That's quite impressive

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Again everyone, I greatly appreciate your help. I will definitely consider all your recommendations.