Bethpage Black has already proven itself on golf’s biggest stages, having hosted the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, and the FedEx Cup Playoffs. But in 2025, it steps into the spotlight like never before—welcoming the Ryder Cup for the very first time. Known for its rich history and as one of the most spectator-friendly venues in the sport, Bethpage Black also breaks tradition by becoming one of the rare public courses to host the biennial showdown.

It was originally supposed to host the Ryder Cup in 2024, but the event was pushed back a year due to the pandemic. Now, just days away from the USA vs. Europe clash, anticipation is higher than ever. Beyond the fierce competition, the course itself holds plenty of fascinating details that many fans may not know. Here are five things that make Bethpage Black a truly unique Ryder Cup venue.

Top-5 things about the 2025 Ryder Cup venue, Bethpage Black

Rich history of the course

Long Island has a rich history of golf competitions, boasting a 120-mile-long sandbar that spans four counties and features over 160 golf courses. It offers a range of world-class private membership venues, as well as modest city courses. Over the decades, the course has hosted 10 US Opens, seven US Amateurs, six PGA Championships, five US Women’s Amateurs, four Walker Cups, one Women’s Open, and the first Ryder Cup.

But, out of the long list, Bethpage Black alone hosted the 2002 US Open, which marked the first-ever public course hosting the US Open. In fact, the edition marked the eighth major win of Tiger Woods, cementing a strong reputation from the first event itself. The course again had a chance to host the US Open in 2009, but with greater challenges. The event faced weather adversity, causing it to stretch into Monday, but the winner, Lucas Glover, kept his consistency and clinched the title.

The PGA Championship made its entry then in 2019, but even before that, it hosted the 2012 and 2016 Barclays (FedEx Cup Playoffs).

A public country club

The Bethpage State Park is a five-18-hole layout (Green, Blue, Red, Yellow, and Black) that consists of the Black Course. Spread across 1,475 acres (2.3 square miles), the municipal recreation area is part of the New York State Park System. However, the Black course, which is also known as the “crown jewel,” is the most complicated and most demanding course among the five.

As a public course, it hosts more than 250,000 rounds annually, but still offers green fees at a reasonable rate. The Yellow, Green, and Blue courses have weekend green fees of $43 for state residents and $48 for non-residents. On the other hand, the Red Course is $48 and $100, while the Black Course is $80 and $160.

Continuing the legacy

Bethpage Black carries the legacy of two prominent architects who had a crucial role in developing the property. Albert Warren Tillinghast, 1876-1942, was a golf designer, journalist, and fine amateur golfer who. Having such a profile, his work on the Black course, additionally, earned him a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

After the contribution from Tillinghast, Clifford Charles Wendehack, 1884-1948, a native New Yorker, elevated the art of clubhouse architecture. He designed the Tudor-style clubhouse at Bethpage State Park in 1935-36, which was among the last great works of his career. Though two significant names from the industry contributed with their art form, the course is carrying the legacy forward with new top-level events.

Brutal difficulty

The Bethpage Black is a 7,459-yard course with just one par-3 under 200 yards and one par-4 under 400 yards. But the distance isn’t the only obstacle, as players have to overcome deep roughs, hilly terrain, a fast back nine, and a lot of bunkers to make it a challenging task. It has posed a sign since the 1980s which reads,

“Warning- The Black Course is an Extremely Difficult Course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.”

The course is challenging, according to BlueGolf, with a course rating of 78 and a slope rating of 155, the maximum. With the Ryder Cup bringing some tough rivalries, the course difficulty will make it worth it.

The hole that’ll test the golfers

Even though the course is considered extremely difficult, it has the most challenging test for golfers. The 15th hole is a par-4, 484 yards, which will test the skills. The average score of the hole at the 2019 PGA Championship was 4.36, which denotes how tough it is to stay under par. From the ideal fairway landing area, the green is the most elevated on the course, 50 feet in the air; it is also the most steeply sloped putting surface on the course.

Missing the fairway at the 15th adds 60% chances for bogey. So, for players, the ideal trajectory and implementation are perfect.

With a long history, challenges to overcome, and a public course, there is a lot that fans might not know about the course. Did you know about it before? Share with us in the comments below.