Worldgolfer's Golf Course Reviews

Designer: A.W. Tillinghast (1935, Original Blue Course holes), Alfred Tull (1958, Redesign)

Location: Farmingdale, New York

History: Bethpage State Park is the largest government-owned golf complex in America, with five courses sprawling out from a central clubhouse. The Yellow Course is the newest of the group, combining some of the original A.W. Tillinghast Blue Course holes with a redesign from Alfred Tull in 1958. The course is generally considered the easiest at Bethpage.

Conditions: 7/10, Like the Green and Blue courses, Bethpage Yellow is in overall good shape but a bit rougher around the edges with slower greens than the Red and Black.

Value: 9/10, Like all Bethpage courses, the Yellow Course is a great deal at $43 to walk weekends and further discounts for weekdays, twilight, and 9-holes. New Yorkers and out-of-staters pay the same price here, unlike the Red and Black.

Scorecard:

Tee                     Par         Yardage         Rating          Slope

Back                  71            6310                69.6               120

Middle              71            6022               68.6               118

Forward           71            5332                72.0               122

Hole Descriptions: I always wanted to play the entire Bethpage quintet, but Bethpage Yellow eluded me for quite a while before finally seeing it last summer. The reason for this is two-fold: 1.) It is just as hard to secure a teetime at the Yellow as it is for the other courses at Bethpage and 2.) Whenever I’d show up as a single, the urge to play the Black Course, one of my all time favorites, was always too great to pass up. Besides, the Yellow is known as the beginner, easiest course at Bethpage and really didn’t seem amazing from what I’d heard. After playing here, I was very pleasantly surprised and wish I had seen it sooner.

While it is the shortest and likely easiest course on property, it is still a very fun play featuring similar great land movement as the other courses at Bethpage and a number of strong individual holes such as the famous Tillinghast “Reef” 12th. Obviously, it doesn’t compare to the Black or Red courses, but I think it makes a strong argument for the 3rd best course at the complex and is somewhat under-appreciated when discussing Long Island public golf as a whole.

Despite being the shortest course on property, Bethpage Yellow begins with somewhat of a difficult stretch starting with the 393 yard 1st hole. Featuring a semi-blind teeshot, this dogleg right par 4 features a generous fairway containing a large central bunker around 210 yards. After this point, the fairway narrows with trees down either side and trundles downhill and to the right towards a Redan-like, circular green.

The Yellow Course and Blue Course border each other and are very similar in many aspects. Both of their 2nd holes run parallel in the same direction as tough, long par fours. At 398 yards, this number 1 handicap features an uphill teeshot over a valley to a tight, tree-lined fairway. This green slopes slightly back-to-front and is flanked by bunkers.

The 3rd hole turns back around in the opposite direction as a 390 yard double dogleg par 4. This teeshot is again semi-blind and starts out down the right before turning back to the left with a speed slot and downhill approach. This back-to-front sloped green sort of sits in a hollow and is well-defended by bunkers left, long, and right.

The 4th hole is Bethpage Yellow’s first par 3 and it’s a nice one at 166 yards. Playing slightly uphill, this one-shotter features a big green with a false front and a fall-off on the right and is surrounded by bunkers on either side. At 322 yards, the 5th hole is one of the best looking holes on the course as a straightaway par 4. From an elevated teebox, this hole runs uphill with steep slopes of rough on either side and an awesome approach to an elevated, back-to-front sloped putting surface defended by deep bunkers short and right.

The 6th hole is the first par 5 on the course at 487 yards and plays as a dogleg left. The dogleg here occurs at only about 220 yards, at which point there’s a speed slot and steep downhill slope. This feature makes this hole reachable for even modestly long hitters. This large putting surface slopes mostly back-to-front with a pair of bunkers short on either side.

The 7th hole is another nice par 3 playing slightly uphill at 174 yards. This green slopes both right-to-left and back-to-front with a false front and bunkers short on either side.

The 8th hole is a straightaway 360 yard par 4 with a very simple teeshot to a generous fairway with no hazards. The intrigue on this hole comes on the approach, which must be aerial over a pair of deep bunkers to a tricky Maiden green complex lined by a bunker long as well. Bethpage Yellow closes its front 9 with a 386 yard semi-blind, dogleg left par 4. This teeshot plays steadily uphill to a fairway that starts to turn left around 210 yards. Tall trees down the left necessitate a right-to-left ballflight to find the fairway. This is another cool green that plays somewhat like a punchbowl with bunkers on either side.

At 524 yards, the 10th is the longest hole on the course and certainly one of the toughest. A double dogleg par 5, this hole features an intimidating teeshot with OB left the entire way, fescue down the right, and a pair of fairway bunkers on the right around 180 yards. This fairway remains tight the entire way and snakes back to the left on the approach to an elevated, slightly back-to-front sloped green lined by bunkers long and right. The 11th hole is another moderately challenging hole as an 188 yard par 3 featuring a relatively flat green lined by two intimidating and large bunkers.

Originally the 5th hole on Tillinghast’s Blue Course, the par 4 12th is perhaps the most famous hole at Bethpage Yellow. This 313 yard risk/reward par 4 is technically a “Reef” template but unfortunately has lost some of its teeth over the years. Today, the hole plays straightaway and is driveable for the longest hitters. Those looking to lay-up need to contend with a mound and large crossbunker down the left around 200 yards and mounds of rough on the right. This green is flanked by bunkers on either side and also plays somewhat like a punchbowl.

At 429 yards, the 13th hole is the longest par 4 on the course and easily the most difficult hole in my opinion. This muscular dogleg right starts to bend right around 230 yards with a giant and very penal bunker down the right stretching from 165 to 225 yards. Those who find the fairway will be left a long approach into a relatively flat green lined by bunkers right and short left. Par is a great score here. The 14th hole is Bethpage Yellow’s most memorable par 3 at 188 yards. This pretty hole plays over a valley to a severely back-to-front sloped green lined by large, deep bunkers left, right, and long.

The 15th hole is a fairly forgettable 363 yard straightaway par 4 featuring a tree-lined fairway and back-to-front sloped green defended by a pair of left bunkers. There’s really not much to this hole. The 16th hole runs parallel in the other direction and is a bit more interesting at 353 yards. This medium-length par 4 is also tree-lined but features a skinnier fairway lined by a left bunker at 255 yards as well. This approach plays slightly downhill to a fairly flat green lined by bunkers right and short left.

The 17th hole is a fun short par 5 at 485 yards and features probably the most memorable teeshot on the course with a fairway rising out of a valley and trees down either side. With about 150 yards remaining, this fairway starts to turn to the left and continues uphill towards a long, flat green flanked by bunkers.

Bethpage Yellow closes with somewhat of a weaker par 4 as a 366 yard dogleg right. While there’s some fescue to the far right, this hole is essentially wide open and golfers can swing away here with little risk. This green is off to the right and plays as a punchbowl with a bunker short left. This hole offers golfers a good chance to end with a birdie.

General Comments: The Bethpage complex is huge, but practice facilities are rather lacking with a matted range and several small putting greens. While riding is allowed at the Yellow, this is likely the easiest walk of the five courses. Like all Bethpage courses, pace of play can be very slow on this busy course.

Verdict: Considered the easiest of the Bethpage courses, Bethpage Yellow was a pleasant surprise and offers some memorable holes and strong land movement at a great value. While it can’t compare to the Black or Red courses, it makes a strong push for 3rd best course at the complex and is worth a play.