Bethpage Black tightens the screw: new booking rules after the Ryder Cup – Golf & fairway

The most famous New York public course in the United States has just announced a tightening of its access conditions. Bethpage Black, host of the 2025 Ryder Cup, is now requiring two-step authentication for online reservations to combat bots. The measure, which came into force on October 9, 2025, follows the explosion in post-event demand and aims to streamline the reservation process on a route already known for its difficulty.

A demanding course that recommends experienced players

Bethpage Black has never been kind to average players. Its slope rating of 155 from the championship starts makes it one of the most difficult courses accessible to the American public. Length, merciless rough, deep bunkers: everything is designed to punish approximation. Before the Ryder Cup, a recommendation already existed, inviting golfers to have a reasonable handicap index (ideally less than 18). This recommendation remains in force, without strict obligation of verification.

Bethpage State Park management justifies the recent adjustments on two main grounds. First, the preservation of the land. After six months of intensive preparation for the Ryder Cup and three days of competition under the global spotlight, the turf requires rigorous management. Then, the fluidity of reservations. Booking attempts have increased significantly in recent years, creating frustration among regulars and deterioration of the overall experience.

The Ryder Cup effect on attendance

The holding of the Ryder Cup at the end of September propelled Bethpage Black into the global spotlight. The images of the best European and American players competing on this 7,459 yard monster have fueled the desire of thousands of golfers. The New York State Parks reservation site saw a significant increase in booking attempts in the days following the end of the event.

Problem: everyone wants to play Black, but not everyone has the level. Marshals along the route have reported an increase in problematic situations in the past. Balls lost by the dozen, groups taking fifteen minutes per hole, abandonments during the game. The state park therefore chose the hard way with anti-bot measures rather than letting the situation fester.

Concretely, how does it work?

To book a departure at Bethpage Black, you must now go through two-step authentication when booking online: a confirmation code is sent by email. Golfers are encouraged to have a reasonable handicap index (recommended ≤ 18.0), but no systematic verification is required. A check can be carried out on the D-day at the starter, but this is a recommendation and not an obligation.

Violators of booking rules (such as using bots) risk being denied access. Reimbursement is granted in the event of a technical problem. A firm policy which is already raising eyebrows, although access remains open to all public golfers.

Contrasted reactions in the community

The purists applaud. On specialized forums, comments welcome a common sense measure to protect equitable access. Black is not a full-scale driving range. The regulars of the course are breathing. Many had deserted the place over the last two years, tired of the endless rounds.

Conversely, some see it as an elitist drift. Bethpage Black is part of the New York State Public Range System. Its price remains accessible: 70 dollars for residents during the week (140 for non-residents), 80 dollars on the weekend (160 for non-residents). The “golf for all” argument remains valid, as access is not restricted by the index, but the recommendation is intended to improve the overall experience.

Will other routes follow?

Bethpage Black is not the first public course to impose restrictions. Chambers Bay, in Washington state, has recommended an index below 20 since 2017. Whistling Straits, in Wisconsin, has long required mandatory caddy accompaniment for all players, which de facto filtered access.

But an anti-bot measure remains rare for reservations. The New York initiative could become a school if the results are conclusive. Several directors of prestigious public courses are observing the experiment closely. The case of Pebble Beach, private but open to the public for a fee, is different: there, it is the price (575 dollars minimum) which regulates the crowds.

Bethpage Black fully embraces its status as an exceptional course. By tightening reservations, managers are seeking to protect the integrity of a venue that has hosted three U.S. Opens and a Ryder Cup. It remains to be seen whether this strategy will reconcile sporting requirements and public service missions.