Opening weekend at Bethpage Black is wet and wintry, with first tee-time temps barely breaking 40 degrees, but still, the course's Ryder Cup season is officially underway.
The Black Course's 2025 golf year will certainly be unique. Along with the Green and Yellow courses, the Black will close in mid-August and reopen after the Ryder Cup clears out in late September. (Reopening date is October 4.) Red and Blue will stay open a few weeks longer. Overall, thousands of tee times at the height of summer will be spread out around all other Long Island courses and indoor venues.
For a full primer on Bethpage's 2025 season, refer to GOLI's previous post:
What to know about Bethpage course schedules, closures and modifications ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup
On the golf course, players can expect a rare gift ’97 shorter rough. Black Course superintendent Mike Hadley said maintenance crews will keep the rough around the 2 1/4-inch height to be used for the Ryder Cup, which is more forgiving than typical public play (2 1/2 to 3 inches) and far shorter than past majors.
The only offseason modification, according to park staff, involved moving the left-side bunker on #7 closer to the fairway. This follows last winter's updates to the bunkering on #5 and #13.
The Black Course will operate on a normal schedule through the spring. In early July, the course will start limiting daily play ’97 walk-ups only with no tee times after 12:30 p.m. It will close to the public on August 18.
Check GOLI and the above link throughout the season for scheduling updates.