Bethpage Black Tee Times and Booking
Bethpage Black is the rarest thing in elite golf: a true major venue that anyone can play for a public green fee. The catch is the system, not a gate. You book online through New York State Parks, five days ahead as a non-resident, and the demand is fierce. Here is exactly how to book, when to book, and how to lock in a tee time on the Black.
Photo: Bethpage Black Golf Course via Google, by Martin McCrory.
The short answer
Bethpage Black is a state park course, so booking is open to everyone and runs through the official New York State Parks reservation system. You register an account, log in, and reserve a confirmed time online. Non-residents can book up to five days in advance, while New York residents who hold a Park golf ID can book up to seven days ahead, the small edge the state gives its own taxpayers. A modest non-refundable booking fee applies, and a verification code is emailed to confirm the reservation, one of the measures the park introduced to stop bots from sweeping up the best times.
The thing that catches visitors out is not access but timing and walking. Prime weekend and summer times are claimed the instant the window opens, so the single best move is to be ready to book the moment your five day window starts. The Black is also a walking course, with carts restricted to golfers with a qualifying disability, and it is long and brutally hard, so plan to walk it, ideally with a caddie. Everything below was checked in June 2026 and is indicative, so always confirm the current booking rules, fees and cart policy directly before travelling.
How to book Bethpage Black, at a glance
One system, one window, and a plan for the moment it opens. Here is the booking picture for the Black Course.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where to book | Online through the New York State Parks reservation system; register and log in to reserve a confirmed time |
| Advance window | Non-residents up to 5 days ahead; New York residents with a Park golf ID up to 7 days ahead |
| Indicative green fee | Around 144 dollars weekday and 160 dollars weekend for non-residents in 2026, lower for residents, plus a small booking fee |
| Booking fee and verification | A small non-refundable online booking fee; an emailed code confirms the reservation to deter bots |
| Carts | A walking course; carts generally only for golfers with a qualifying disability. Caddies recommended |
| Cancellation | Online cancellation typically allowed up to a set window, indicatively around six hours before the time |
Booking details verified in June 2026 from New York State Parks reservation information and are indicative. Policies, fees and windows change, so always confirm current arrangements directly before booking. Check Bethpage tee time availability.
When to book through the year
| Season | Demand | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Peak (May to Sep) | Very high, weekend mornings first to go | Be logged in and ready the second your 5 day window opens |
| Shoulder (Apr and Oct) | High but easier midweek | Target a weekday time for the best odds |
| Late season (Nov) | Moderate, weather dependent | Flexible dates and weekdays open up |
The course typically closes for the winter months and through major championship setups. Always confirm seasonal opening, the reservation window and any event closures directly before planning your trip.
How to actually land the time you want
The reservation opens at a set time of day for the date five days out, and the good times vanish in seconds, so treat it like booking concert tickets. Have your account created and verified well in advance, be logged in and waiting a minute before the window opens, and know the exact date and rough time you want before you start. Weekday times are far easier than weekends, and a flexible afternoon is more attainable than a prized weekend morning, so if your trip allows it, aim midweek and you will dramatically improve your odds of playing.
If a fixed date matters more than flexibility, for example you are flying in for one shot at the Black, the surest path is to have a trip planner build the round into a wider New York and Long Island itinerary and watch the window for you, with a backup time on one of Bethpage's other colored courses or a nearby track in case the Black does not come through. The old tradition of sleeping in the car park for a walk up still has romance, but the online system has made it largely unnecessary and far less reliable than booking ahead.
What you are signing up to play
Bethpage Black is an A.W. Tillinghast design that opened in 1936 and was toughened for championship golf, a long par 71 that has hosted the US Open in 2002 and 2009, the PGA Championship in 2019 and the 2025 Ryder Cup. The first tee carries the most famous warning sign in golf, advising that the Black is an extremely difficult course recommended only for highly skilled golfers, and it is not bluffing: deep bunkers, severe carries and relentless length make it a genuine test even from the forward tees. Be honest about your game, take enough club, and consider a caddie to handle the lines and the long walk. For how the holes play, see our guide to the round and the full course profile below.
Plan a New York golf trip around Bethpage
We watch the Bethpage reservation window, build a backup plan, and wrap the Black into a wider Long Island and New York itinerary with the right hotels and tee times. Tell us roughly when and how many are travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Bethpage Black booking questions
How do you book a tee time at Bethpage Black?
You book Bethpage Black by registering and logging in to the New York State Parks reservation system and reserving a time online. Non-residents can book up to 5 days in advance, while New York residents with a Park golf ID can book up to 7 days ahead. A small non-refundable booking fee applies and a verification code is emailed to confirm the reservation, part of measures the park added to stop bots from grabbing times. There is no membership requirement; anyone can play once they have a confirmed reservation. Always confirm the current booking window and fees directly before travelling.
How much does it cost to play Bethpage Black?
Bethpage Black is a public course with state park pricing, so it is a remarkable value for a major venue. Indicative non-resident green fees for 2026 are in the region of 144 dollars on weekdays and 160 dollars at weekends, with lower rates for New York residents holding a Park golf ID. A small non-refundable online booking fee is added, and cart use is restricted because the Black is a walking course. Fees change season to season, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Can you walk on at Bethpage Black?
Historically golfers slept in the car park to claim a same day walk up time, and a limited walk up option can still exist, but the practical and reliable route now is the online reservation system. Booking online 5 days ahead as a non-resident is far more dependable than chasing a walk up, especially in the warmer months when demand is intense. If you want a specific date, reserve it online the moment your window opens rather than relying on turning up.
Do you need a cart at Bethpage Black, and is it hard?
Bethpage Black is a walking course; carts are not generally available except for golfers with a qualifying disability, so plan to walk a long, demanding A.W. Tillinghast layout, ideally with a caddie. The first tee carries the famous warning sign that the Black is an extremely difficult course recommended only for highly skilled golfers, and it has hosted US Opens, a PGA Championship and the 2025 Ryder Cup. Be honest about your game and your fitness, and consider playing one of Bethpage's other colored courses first.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Booking system, windows and indicative fees verified June 2026 against New York State Parks reservation information. Last reviewed June 2026.