BETHPAGE STATE PARK GOLF COURSE
🇺🇸 Farmingdale, NY, USA
Designed by A .W. Tillinghast
Bethpage Black’s infamous reputation often overshadows its equally challenging, albeit less talked about, sibling: Bethpage Red. Carved into the rolling terrain of Farmingdale, NY, Red offers a demanding test of golf on a course that, while sharing the same state park roots, boasts its own distinct identity.
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast during the Golden Age of golf architecture, Bethpage Red presents a parkland layout characterized by strategic bunkering, subtly contoured greens, and demanding approaches. While not as relentlessly punishing as its more famous counterpart, Red requires precision and strategic thinking, rewarding thoughtful play rather than pure power. A particularly interesting feature is how Tillinghast cleverly integrates water hazards into the design, demanding accurate tee shots and calculated risk assessment to avoid the drink.
Although it hasn't hosted the same major championships as the Black Course, Bethpage Red remains a vital part of the Bethpage State Park experience and New York golfing lore. The club and its setting has been a staple of generations of public golfers from NYC and Long Island looking to cut their teeth on a classic test of golf without the pretense found at private clubs.
Reviews
Similar to black, but not as long and tough.
Top tier value for a public course IF you can get a tee time
Bethpage Red is my home course. The best value in golf, play Red for $53 walking prime time. Overall the course is always in great shape and has its difficulties throughout. It is a par 70 so it definitely plays long! If I could play only Bethpage red for the rest of my life, I would be a happy man!
Always living in the shadow of its big brother the black course the red course is a true hidden gem. Without the black course right by its side im a firm believer this course would be seen as a top 5 public course in the state. Same thoughtful routing done by the legendary A.W Tillinghast it’s hard not to compare the 2 tracks. While the black is much longer and sits on a much more dramatic side of the property the red course is way more playable and many find it to be the most fun course at Bethpage. Thought provoking par 4s, scorable par 3s, and incredibly fun par 5s make this course a must play. The red is by no means a walk in the park. While being a par 70 it still sits at around 6500 and has very similar green complexes to the black course. While the black is maintained to perfection the red course is not far behind and this is only because it sees more less experienced golfers on a day to day basis. The red is the perfect place to warm up for the black course or can also be the perfect closer following a tough test at the black. While many flock to Bethpage for the championship test on black, they would be remiss to skip an incredible loop on the red. Don’t miss out on this hidden gem.
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FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Red at Bethpage State Park Golf Course has a Course Vaults score of 7.9 out of 10 based on 123 explicit golfer ratings.
Red was designed by A .W. Tillinghast.
Yes. Red at Bethpage State Park Golf Course is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Red is 70.
Red plays 7,092 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Red is 135.
