Bethpage shines among public options

With the U.S. Amateur this week at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey, fans have their latest in a string of opportunities to see the work of Hall of Fame architect A.W. Tillinghast. After about a century — and with some celebrated restorations — many of these tracks still provide stern championship tests. As with most of Golfweek’s Best top classic courses, they stir something in the soul.

And although most of Tillie’s gems are behind private gates, public golfers need neither highfalutin connections nor deep pockets to experience the old genius’ nuances.

First among options is the cathedral of municipal golf, Bethpage State Park on Long Island. Bethpage has the highest concentration of publicly available Tillinghast holes anywhere. All five courses on the property have at least some Tillie holes. While the major-championship mainstay Black Course garners most of the attention, the state park as a whole offers a comprehensive view of Tillinghast’s ability to design holes for players of all abilities across varying topography.

Bethpage Black Course

No. 4 of Bethpage Black Course in New York (Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)

Much has been written about Black, host of two U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship and the 2025 Ryder Cup. With its vast climbs, deep rough, forced carries, reverse-cambers and relentless fairway bunkering, the longest of the Bethpage courses can be a kick in the teeth even to low single-digit handicappers. The legendary warning sign on the first tee may be a bit over the top, but not by much. It’s been lengthened and toughened significantly to host big-time events. One could argue it’s become a bigger bite than Tillie originally intended.

Golfweek’s Best ranking: No. 1 among public-access courses in New York; No. 10 on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list for the entire U.S.
Green fees: New York state residents $44-80; non-state residents $88-160

Bethpage Red Course

No. 18 of Bethpage Red Course in New York (Courtesy of Bethpage State Park)

Perhaps the heart and soul of Tillinghast’s work, from the point of view of recreational golfers. It’s a slightly miniaturized version of Black, especially with the steep elevation. The yardage is shorter and the fairways are wider, but the rough is still penal and the greens have more undulation than Black. It’s a brilliant routing across ridges and through natural corridors. Some have…