Bethpage Red Course
Everyone knows the Black. Fewer know that the same A.W. Tillinghast built four other courses at Bethpage State Park, and that the Red is the pick of them, a rolling par 70 of classic Long Island golf you can play for a fraction of the price and without the suffering.
Photo: Bethpage Red Course via Google.
The verdict
Bethpage is the great American public golf experiment, five courses on one Long Island state park, and while the Black draws the U.S. Opens and the 2025 Ryder Cup, the Red Course is the connoisseur's choice. A.W. Tillinghast laid it out and it opened in 1935, a par 70 of tumbling fairways, well bunkered greens and the same muscular Tillinghast style that made the Black famous, dialed back to a length and a difficulty ordinary golfers can enjoy.
It is also one of the great bargains in the game. As a New York state facility the green fee is a small fraction of what the resort names charge, the catch being the early morning lines and the parking lot wait for a tee time. For the traveling golfer it is the smart play at Bethpage, a genuine Tillinghast design, a fair test and a fascinating warm up or alternative to the Black just across the property.
Bethpage Red at a glance
- Opened
- 1935
- Designer
- A.W. Tillinghast
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 7,000 yds
- Green fee
- From about $90
Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the state park and course databases. The Red Course plays to par 70 over roughly 7,000 yards; some tee sets list it nearer par 71 at 6,756 yards. Green fees are indicative public rates, around 90 dollars on weekdays for New York residents with higher weekend and non resident rates. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Red shows its Tillinghast pedigree in the green complexes, raised and well bunkered, asking for a precise approach and a steady nerve with the putter. It is shorter and gentler than the Black, but it is no pushover, and the bunkering keeps the second shot honest all the way round.
The land rolls more than you expect for Long Island, and Tillinghast used it well, with uphill and downhill approaches that change the club in your hand and a routing that keeps the round varied. It plays as a proper test from the back tees and a friendly one from the forward sets.
Conditioning on a busy public course will never match a private club, but the bones of the design are first rate, and on a quiet weekday morning the Red gives you a real Tillinghast for the price of a cart at a daily fee track elsewhere.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A public course at Bethpage State Park, open to all golfers, with New York residents paying lower rates than non residents |
| Green fee | Around 90 dollars on weekdays for New York residents, with higher weekend and non resident rates (indicative) |
| Booking | Book through the New York state golf reservation system; tee times can be hard to get, and walk up play means an early start |
| On the day | A large public clubhouse shared across the five courses, range and carts; walking is common and encouraged |
| Getting there | At Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale on Long Island, around an hour east of Manhattan by road |
| Best months | May to October for the best turf and weather; spring and fall are quieter than the summer peak |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Most golfers play Bethpage on a day trip from New York City or from a base elsewhere on Long Island, with a wide range of hotels in Nassau and Suffolk counties within easy reach of Farmingdale.
If the Black is on your list too, building in a night nearby makes the early tee time line far more bearable, and lets you pair the Red with the famous big brother over a couple of days.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Bethpage Red.
Build a New York golf trip
We line up the Bethpage courses with the best of Long Island and the New York metro, navigate the tee time system and sort the hotels. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Bethpage Red questions
What is the par and length of the Bethpage Red Course?
The Red Course plays to par 70 over roughly 7,000 yards from the back tees, with some tee sets listed nearer par 71 at 6,756 yards, a rolling Tillinghast layout that is shorter and gentler than the Black.
Who designed the Bethpage Red Course?
The Red Course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1935, one of his five courses at Bethpage State Park and widely considered the best of the four beyond the famous Black.
Can visitors play the Bethpage Red Course?
Yes. The Red is a public course open to all, booked through the New York state golf reservation system. New York residents pay lower rates, and tee times can be hard to get, so plan an early start.
How much does it cost to play the Bethpage Red Course?
Indicative 2026 green fees run around 90 dollars on weekdays for New York residents, with higher weekend and non resident rates. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.