The 2025 Ryder Cup will be played at one of the most difficult golf courses in the United States. It might be a public golf course, owned and operated by the state of New York, but make no mistake about it, the Bethpage Black course can eat a player alive and have them talking to themselves during the round. "The People's Country Club" is not so warm and friendly.
Bethpage Black is as brutal a course as can be found. The course is capable of destroying golfers before they even tee up their first drive.
When approaching the first tee, there is a sign affixed to the metal gate that separates the clubhouse patio from the tee box. The sign itself is very intimidating.
“WARNING: The Black Course is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers,” the sign says. The sign is a rite of passage for first-time players, who take a photo next to the inscribed metal.
Professional golfer Jordan Spieth wanted to suggest an edit to the sign after playing in the Barclays Championship at the Black course in 2016.
"It should say: 'It's a risk, even for really good players," Spieth said. "The course I've played the last two days is up there with the hardest, probably top-5 courses I've ever played in my life."
Due to the Cup being played at the Black Course starting on Friday, Sept. 26, the course has been closed since August 18. The course is owned and operated by New York State Parks. It is open to the public, with special rates for residents of the state.
The Black Course lists par at 71 and measures 7,387 yards from the championship tees. It is definitely one of the most difficult public tracks in the country.
The official course record at Bethpage Black is 64, set by Brooks Koepka during the second round of the 2019 PGA Championship.
The Black Course will host the PGA Championship in 2030. It will mark the second time the course will host the the major championship.
“The Black Course tested the strongest field in golf in 2019, delivering a memorable PGA Championship and promises to do so again in 2033,” Don Rea, the PGA of America president said in a release. “These three Championships will add to our association’s extensive history in the state of New York, and we cannot wait to see the world’s best players compete on Long Island and in Rochester.”