Before any golfer in Farmingdale, New York, even contemplates stepping onto the hallowed, albeit notoriously difficult, grounds of Bethpage Black, they`re greeted by a blunt, almost confrontational warning sign. It declares, with unapologetic frankness: `WARNING — Bethpage Black is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.` This isn`t merely a friendly piece of advice; it`s a statement of intent, a challenge etched into the very essence of one of America`s most singular golf courses. As the 2025 Ryder Cup descends upon this legendary venue, the looming question isn`t just which team will emerge victorious, but rather, who among the world`s elite can truly tame the Black Monster?
A Public Course with a Championship Pedigree
Bethpage Black holds a rare and fascinating distinction: it’s a publicly owned municipal course, one of five within Bethpage State Park. This seemingly prosaic detail is, in fact, its defining characteristic. Unlike many championship courses meticulously manicured for the professional circuit, Bethpage wasn`t conceived with the need to be “super playable” for daily members seeking a gentle round. Instead, its creators were liberated to sculpt a relentless test of golf, a course where strategic foresight often outweighs raw power – though, naturally, a healthy dose of both never hurts. This democratic accessibility combined with an almost elitist difficulty is a paradox that makes it utterly unique.
Rees Jones, the acclaimed golf course architect who has overseen multiple significant redesigns of Bethpage Black over the past two decades, succinctly captures its spirit. “There`s a lot of thinking players have to do, especially off the tee,” he notes. “That`s not the case for some of these championship golf courses, where they`ve taken out the trees and widened the fairways to 50 yards. Quite often, courses are penal. This is a penal golf course, but there`s also a lot of strategy.” This strategic imperative will undoubtedly be the crucible for both Team Europe and Team USA as they clash for glory.
The Ryder Cup Adjustment: Birdies and Drama
While Bethpage Black is infamous for its severity, the 2025 Ryder Cup promises a subtly different, perhaps slightly less masochistic, flavor of challenge. Unlike the grueling U.S. Opens previously hosted here – where even Tiger Woods` victorious 2022 performance was an epic of endurance – the match play format encourages a setup that`s “a little more gently.” The organizers, understanding the spectacle, aim for excitement, dramatic birdies, and significant swings in momentum. This implies roughs might be marginally less punitive, and pin positions strategically placed to tempt daring shots rather than merely punishing every minute miscalculation. It`s a calculated distinction, designed to showcase heroic golf and head-to-head brilliance rather than just stoic survival.
An Insider`s Journey: Conquering Bethpage Black, Hole by Hole
Hole 1: The Opening Gambit (Par 4, 397 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “The format will change things. In foursomes, I think they`ll be careful. In four-ball, I think one player will go for it.”
The Ryder Cup commences with a modified first hole. The customary sharp dogleg is somewhat softened, presenting players with a crucial early decision: unleash a bold drive over the trees for a shorter approach, or play it safe with an iron or hybrid to navigate the dogleg. It`s a strategic overture, hinting at the diversity of play to come.
Hole 2: Early Birdie Temptation (Par 4, 389 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “They`ll probably lay up with a hybrid or fairway wood because they might want to hit a full shot into the green.”
Another immediate birdie opportunity, this short, straight par four features an elevated green. Players are likely to opt for a lay-up with a hybrid or fairway wood, prioritizing a full, controlled shot into the unseen green. Avoiding the right rough is paramount, as side-hill lies are notorious for disrupting spin control.
Hole 3: The Extended Precision Test (Par 3, 210 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “They will probably have one of the few days they`ll have the pin in the back left. The organizers may have that on a day when they want the birdies.”
Significantly lengthened for championship play, the third par three now demands precision with a longer iron. Ryder Cup organizers, in their quest for excitement, might utilize back-left pin positions to encourage dramatic birdies, a strategic move designed to reward skill and tempt aggressive play.
Hole 4: The Paradoxical Par (Par 5, 517 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “It`s the hardest hole or the second hardest hole for the everyday player at Bethpage and it`s the second easiest hole for the pros when they play the events on it.”
Perhaps the most ironic hole on the course, this par five (which plays like a par four for the pros) is an amateur`s nightmare due to a deep glacier bunker guarding the second shot. For the elite, however, it transforms into an almost guaranteed birdie opportunity. Their ability to effortlessly fly the bunker and manage the front-to-back sloping green offers a brief, welcome respite amidst Bethpage`s relentless demands.
Hole 5: Where Bethpage Shows Its Teeth (Par 4, 478 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “If you hit it left, you`re going to be blocked out, so you have to flirt with that sandy area.”
Here, Bethpage Black truly begins to flex its muscles. Patterned after Pine Valley`s formidable 16th, this hole demands a tee shot that flirts aggressively with a massive sandy area on the right, as missing left means being utterly blocked out by trees. The elevated, heavily bunkered, and undulating green further complicates matters, making par a truly commendable score.
Hole 6: The Strategic Drop (Par 4, 408 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “They can decide to go through the slot, leaving a little flip shot into the green. But if they keep it on top, they`ll have a 170 to 180-yard shot.”
This deceptively short par four is entirely dictated by the drive. A substantial drop-off around 280 yards presents a classic dilemma: lay up on the ridge for a longer approach, or challenge the bunkers to gain a shorter, delicate flip shot into a green entirely encircled by sand. It`s a textbook risk-reward scenario that demands careful consideration.
Hole 7: The “Whining” Hole (Par 4, 524 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “I said the players are going to really whine about it because the trees come in on the right… He said that`s really good because if they whine about this hole, they won`t whine about the whole course.”
Infamously converted from a par five to a par four for the 2002 U.S. Open, this sharp dogleg often elicits complaints from players due to encroaching trees on the right. Jones recalls then-USGA director David Fay`s wry observation about its purpose: “if they whine about this hole, they won`t whine about the whole course.” Players must aggressively flirt with the tree line to shorten their approach, demanding utmost precision off the tee.
Hole 8: The Lone Aquatic Challenge (Par 3, 210 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “This hole is going to play very differently every day. When Keegan wants birdies, they`ll probably put the pin in the middle.”
The only hole on the course featuring water, this downhill par three offers varied challenges based on pin placement. A back pin demands a precise release shot to avoid overshooting, while a front pin risks spinning the ball back into the drink. Its dynamic character ensures that club selection will be paramount each day.
Hole 9: Guarded Green, Demanding Drive (Par 4, 460 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “The players will have to hit it a long distance and hit it over that fairway bunker just to have the easiest shot into a well-protected, low-profile green.”
Another significant dogleg, this hole requires a powerful, accurate drive over a massive bunker on the turn to access the ideal landing area. The green itself is a low-profile target, heavily protected by numerous bunkers, rendering the approach shot a true test of nerve and skill.
Hole 10: Sergio`s Infamous Faux Pas (Par 4, 502 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “That`s the day that Sergio Garcia gave the crowd the finger, but it wasn`t hittable. The fairway wasn`t hittable for shorter hitters.”
This formidable par four is etched in golf lore, particularly for Sergio Garcia`s frustration at the 2002 U.S. Open when the fairway was deemed almost unhittable. While since modified, its fairway remains bracketed by bunkers, demanding a tough, strategic tee shot. It marks the commencement of “the meat of the golf course,” a brutal four-hole stretch that often defines a round.
Hole 11: The Shifting Sands of Strategy (Par 4, 435 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “This is a hole where it`s got a little angle to it, so they can change its character on any given day, any given match of the Ryder Cup by moving the pin around.”
Following a change in direction from Hole 10, this hole`s character can dramatically shift with prevailing wind conditions and clever pin placements. Its angled design allows organizers to manipulate its difficulty, making precise approaches critical, particularly to the elevated back section of the green. Adaptability is key here.
Hole 12: Driver`s Only Domain (Par 4, 496 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “No. 12 is the only hole that requires the driver to hit the ball 280 yards off the tee over the bunker.”
This is arguably the only hole on the course where a driver is virtually non-negotiable, demanding a robust 280-yard carry over a sprawling cross bunker. Though modern professionals are less intimidated than their predecessors, a pulled shot can still find sand, underscoring the necessity for raw power tempered with precise control.
Hole 13: A Strategic Breather (Par 5, 608 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “It`s a fairly simple green. You`ll see a lot of birdies on this hole.”
After the preceding gauntlet, Hole 13 offers a welcome, if strategic, birdie opportunity. Despite its considerable length, a cross bunker short of the green is largely out of play for professionals, making it a prime chance to regain momentum. Jones anticipates many birdies here, a crucial pivot point in any closely contested match.
Hole 14: The Easiest, with a Catch (Par 3, 161 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “It`s a short par three with a bunker on the front and on the left… I hope they use it one day because it`s very hard to access.”
Dubbed the “easiest hole” on the course, this short par three conceals a treacherous front-left pin position on a narrow tongue of green. While generally birdie-friendly, challenging that specific placement demands extreme precision. Otherwise, players will wisely opt to play safe to the middle and putt.
Hole 15: Bethpage`s Ultimate Test (Par 4, 477 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “No. 15 is the hardest hole in the golf course. It has the most contoured green… The second shot is critical and it`s a very small target.”
The undisputed hardest hole on the course, #15 features the most contoured green and conspicuously no fairway bunkers, inviting a powerful drive. However, the second shot is paramount, aimed at a small, elevated, two-tier green protected by three substantial bunkers. Missing right leads to a steep slope and a brutal recovery – a genuine match-decider in the making.
Hole 16: A Visual Deception (Par 4, 539 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “You want to hit it left; you don`t want to come in over those two bunkers, especially if the pin is tucked to the right.”
This lengthy par four plays clever tricks on the eye. The green is heavily guarded by two large bunkers on the right, compelling players to hit their drive left, often against their natural visual inclination. An ideal left-side drive ensures the best angle of attack, particularly when pins are tucked to the right, demanding precision and unwavering trust in one`s strategic plan.
Hole 17: The Muscle-Tightener (Par 3, 179 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “It`s a two-tier green with a lower area on the right and an upper area on the left, heavily bunkered, and it`s not that deep… If the matches get to that point, this is when the muscles tighten.”
A dramatic and truly wonderful par three, #17 is where “muscles tighten” as matches near their climax. Its two-tier green, heavily bunkered and not overly deep, penalizes both short and long shots with unforgiving consistency. Even with spectator stands influencing its playing length, its psychological pressure remains immense – a true Ryder Cup moment waiting to unfold.
Hole 18: A Decisive Finish (Par 4, 411 yards)
Pro tip from Rees Jones: “Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have stated this is the kind of hole they like to play.”
The closing hole offers a tantalizing birdie opportunity, but it’s far from straightforward. Bracketed by numerous bunkers, players will likely eschew the driver to avoid the formidable long left bunker, opting instead for a strategic lay-up. The elevated, heavily bunkered, and small green demands a precise approach. This strategic final flourish is precisely why champions like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy find it particularly appealing – it rewards thoughtful execution under the most intense pressure imaginable.
As the 2025 Ryder Cup unfolds on Long Island`s fabled Bethpage Black, the world will watch with bated breath as two teams grapple not just with each other, but with the course itself. It`s a strategic chess match played out on pristine fairways and demanding greens, a powerful testament to golf course architecture that unapologetically prioritizes challenge and cerebral play. The iconic warning sign at the first tee serves not merely as a deterrent, but as an audacious invitation – an invitation to witness golf at its most compelling, where every shot carries immense weight and every hole promises a new chapter in sporting lore. The Black Monster awaits, poised to carve out new legends in the annals of golf history.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely