Red Course
Farmingdale, NY, USA
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.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Unranked
Best in USA
Unranked
Best in NY
Public: #11
Golfers say Bethpage Red offers exceptional value and quality, often overshadowed by its famous Black sibling but standing as a hidden gem in its own right. Most praise the course's thoughtful Tillinghast routing, interesting shot-making challenges, and excellent conditioning, noting it plays as a demanding par 70 that stretches around 6,500 yards with green complexes similar to the Black. Reviewers find the Red more playable and fun than the Black while still providing a legitimate test, with engaging par 4s, scorable par 3s, and entertaining par 5s. The consensus is that this is top-tier value for a public course at around $53 walking, though some note that securing a tee time can be difficult.
7.9
302 players
Similar to black, but not as long and tough.
Top tier value for a public course IF you can get a tee time
Really like this course, more playable than black and interesting as well.
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.
Public courses closest to Red at Bethpage State Park Golf Course.
Most visitors to Bethpage State Park Golf Course arrive via one of New York's three major airports - JFK International (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), or Newark Liberty (EWR) - each roughly 30 to 45 minutes west by car depending on traffic. The drive east from the city trades the dense urban corridor of the Long Island Expressway for the gradually widening suburban sprawl of Nassau County, eventually delivering you to a surprisingly vast and democratic stretch of public parkland in Farmingdale. There is no grand gate or private airstrip here, only a turn off Quaker Meeting House Road into a sprawling parking lot where the hum of the Expressway fades and the scent of pine and mown fairway takes over. This is Bethpage - hallowed ground made accessible, where the journey ends not at a clubhouse portico, but at the edge of one of America's most storied public golf complexes.
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 127 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.
