By Tom Patri

I remember the first time I walked off the Par 3 third hole at Bethpage Black and made my way down the then very rough rocky path and turned the slight bend to capture my first view of the incredibly dramatic Par 5 fourth hole.

I was either 14 or 15 years old and my jaw almost hit my shoe tops. I had never seen anything that dramatic on a golf course. Keep in mind back in the 70’s Black and for that matter the entire complex was a complete dump. The difference with Black and also Red was the architecture was so damn awesome it allowed a golfer of passion to look past the then horrific conditions. Both then and now people who know I cut my teeth as a youngster playing public golf on Long Island often ask me what is my favorite hole on Black ? That’s easy 1-18!

Bethpage Black 18th Spring 2008

I played in the first NY State Open played on Black just after the first phase of the renovations were complete. 75-75-150 +10, missed the 36 cut by 1 and geeked like I played great! At that juncture it was also the first time that the Rembrandt called Black was ever in any type of playable condition. My love affair only became that much deeper with this grand old jewel. I remember clearly as a kid trash everywhere. Rocks and even broken bits of glass could be seen shimmering on greens as well as in bunkers. In fact the exact place that now is the site of the championship tee on hole number 9 was the resting place back then of an old burned out rusted car. I’m telling you the place was in a rough state.

All that said I remember like it was yesterday saying to my junior golf friends while we played there, “if they would ever put this track in great condition they could play a Major here”! My friends would laugh at me. Guess what they aren’t laughing now. Bethpage Black is without doubt the finest piece of public golf architecture on the planet. There isn’t a close second. If fact I only rate a handful of layouts ahead of Black on my all-time great list. As a golfer public or Private Club Member if you haven’t made a pilgrimage to Bethpage, NY to pay homage then put it at the top of your golf bucket list. If you do so email me, I can steer you to the best Italian food in the Big Apple.

Tune in to the PGA CHAMPIONSHIP and feast your eyes as the best players in the world challenge perhaps the best championship venue ever in Professional Golf! If it were a world championship heavy weight boxing match, I bet on Black over the field in a knock out.

Tune in!