Bethpage Black: From Woods’ U.S. Open win to the Ryder Cup 2025

Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y., will host the Ryder Cup this weekend, marking the tournament’s return to the public course after years of planning and scheduling complexity that stretched the timeline beyond the initial announcement. The event’s path to Bethpage has zigzagged through a decade-plus of shifts, including a pandemic-era pause that pushed the calendar off its traditional cadence and a schedule realignment that moved Ryder Cup years to odd numbers in the wake of disruptions after the Sept. 11 attacks. As fans prepare to descend on Long Island, organizers say the week will spotlight Bethpage’s distinctive blend of accessibility and intensity, a combination that has defined the course since its opening.

Bethpage Black opened in 1936 but did not host its first professional tournament until the 2002 U.S. Open. The public course, often described as “The People’s Country Club,” is known for welcoming overnight campers who plan to hit the links again at first light. A warning sign greets players ahead of the first hole, underscoring the course’s reputation: “The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.” The course quickly earned a place in major championship lore with Tiger Woods’ dramatic win on the 18th green in 2002.

Tiger Woods’ victory in 2002 was followed by a 2009 U.S. Open title won by Lucas Glover, another marker in Bethpage’s major history. The course later hosted The Barclays in 2012 and 2016, the PGA Tour playoff event that has since been renamed the St. Jude Championship. Brooks Koepka added to Bethpage’s major pedigree by claiming the 2019 PGA Championship there, reinforcing the venue’s reputation as a true test for the game’s best players.

Bethpage’s role in team competition is equally notable. The Ryder Cup will mark the sixth time Bethpage Black has hosted a major professional event, a lineage that includes a trophy presentation captured in 2016 at the course. As the United States and Europe prepare for the match this weekend, Bethpage is framed as a proving ground for players who must negotiate its length, its thick rough, and its treacherous greens. The event’s scheduling has undergone shifts in recent years, with a pandemic-era realignment that pushed some major dates into new windows, and organizers say Bethpage remains a centerpiece of the golf calendar even as the sport evolves.

Looking ahead, Bethpage has continued to be entrusted with future majors and championships. In a broader schedule update, it was announced last week that the 2028 Women’s PGA Championship will be played at Bethpage, followed by the 2033 PGA Championship. Those announcements underscore Bethpage’s ongoing role as a top-tier venue capable of hosting events across the full spectrum of professional golf. The course’s public accessibility, combined with its track record of hosting major championships, has helped sustain a unique identity: a world-class test that remains closely tied to its local roots.

Over its long arc—from a 1930s course design to a modern major venue—Bethpage Black has remained a rare hybrid in golf: publicly accessible yet capable of delivering the highest-stakes competition. The venue’s nickname, its practice traditions, and its willingness to welcome large crowds have helped maintain its appeal even as the sport has grown globally. For fans and players alike, the Ryder Cup return to Bethpage is a reminder of the course’s evolution and its continuing impact on the sport’s competitive landscape. As this weekend’s competition unfolds, Bethpage will once again test a new generation of players against a course that has repeatedly proven its ability to shape major results and leave a lasting imprint on golf history.