When I was growing up in Long Island, five public courses at Bethpage State Park felt like a home. From junior tournaments to Monday rounds in the infamous black course while I was at St. John University in New York, I have played them all more times than I can count. Each course has a memory associated with it. Red soon became my favorite, yellow gave me my first round under 80, and black … black was usually just disappointing.
Only in time for the Ryder Cup in Bethpage from September 23 to 28, Stretch has issued new data that means my disappointment (and that of almost anyone else who has experienced it). For average golf player, black is not just difficult; Almost almost unbearable.
Sign out says all: “The black course is an extremely difficult course that we recommend only for many skillful players.” The target data data indicates that they are indisputable.
Half of the right roads are out of reach
In Bethpage Black, average golf Cannot reach half the right ways when playing from professional tees. The data show that seven of the 14 holes of the car are inaccessible to most players, with an average driving distance of 204 yards.
Almost each of those holes is a par-4 still, for an amateur, they effectively become par-5s. You’re hitting your driver and one more shot to reach the highway. Then you face a long approach to a green that is well preserved.
Fifth hole is statistically the most difficult hole to Stretch users. Out of 100 attempts, only seven The players hit this green in the regulation.
The seventh hole can destroy a score card
The goal data shot It shows that the seventh is one of the most punitive holes for amateurs. From the rough, the average golf playing more than one stroke and, from sand scrubland, is essentially the game.
- Left loss → +1.2 stroke in par.
- Miss right ++ 1.5 strokes in par.
- Fairway → –0.3 strokes to foresee
If you don’t find the way here it will damage your score regardless of where you are moving away from.
The 11th hole leaves no room for error
If you are going to lose a green in Bethpage, do not allow it to be 11th. Shot Scope users record their worst rates up and down here thanks to the false front, steep bunkers and a green that slopes away. Miss Long, and you’re going down. Miss Short, and your ball is rotating back on your feet. Miss left or right, and you are facing a deep bunker blow.
The definition of “difficult” for amateur players.
Final thoughts
There is a reason Bethpage Black comes with a warning sign. The data is clear.
This is what makes the Ryder Cup of 2025 so convincing. For the best players in the world, Bethpage Black is a PAR-70 that requires accuracy but rewards power. They can reach those way out, attack the PAR-3, and turn the course into a true test of strategy and nerve. I still think it will be difficult.
office Bethpage Black always beat me, but this goal of the shot make me feel better first appeared in MygolfSSS.
