Surviving Bethpage Black the Day After the PGA Championship

There are difficult golf courses, and then there is Bethpage Black.

Back in 2019, Golfweek invited CaddyTips to experience one of golf’s ultimate tests—the day after the PGA Championship had packed up and left town. What I didn’t realize was that the course hadn’t softened one bit for the average golfer.

The warning sign on the first tee famously reads:

“The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.”

The day after a major championship, that’s putting it mildly.

PGA Championship Conditions Are Different

Most golfers see a major championship on television and think, “That doesn’t look too bad.”

Trust me—it is.

The fairways were narrow. The rough was thick, healthy, and absolutely unforgiving. The greens felt like they had been paved overnight. Anything landing without spin or proper trajectory would bounce and release endlessly. Every approach shot demanded precision.

And then there was the heat.

Long Island served up a humid, punishing afternoon that only magnified the challenge. Walking Bethpage Black is already a physical test. Walking it in championship conditions felt more like an endurance event.

When the Course Wins

Our group included three other golfers, all solid players.

By the back nine, everyone was feeling it.

One player in particular was battling the combination of heat, exhaustion, and the relentless difficulty of the golf course. At one point he became physically ill.

Then it happened again.

Twice.

I’ve played a lot of golf courses over the years, but Bethpage Black remains the only place where I’ve witnessed a playing partner throw up twice during a round and still try to finish.

That tells you everything you need to know about what the Black Course can do to a golfer.

Meeting a Local Expert

Fortunately, that unforgettable round produced something far more valuable than a scorecard.

It was there that I met Vinny Russo.

Vinny has spent decades around golf in the Northeast and possesses the type of local course knowledge that simply can’t be found in a yardage book. The subtle wind patterns, ideal angles into greens, preferred misses, and strategic decisions that separate survival from success are details only a true local can provide.

Over the years, that expertise has become an invaluable resource for CaddyTips.

Today, Vinny is a respected member of the Caddy Collective and has helped us develop highly detailed course guides throughout the Northeast. His insights consistently elevate the quality and accuracy of our content, giving golfers access to the same local knowledge normally reserved for members, regulars, and experienced caddies.

Why Local Knowledge Matters

Bethpage Black taught me an important lesson.

Even when you know your yardages, have the latest equipment, and feel confident in your game, local knowledge still matters.

Knowing where not to miss. Understanding how a green really breaks. Recognizing where championship setups create hidden trouble. Those details can save multiple shots over the course of a round.

That’s exactly why CaddyTips exists.

Every guide we create combines strategic analysis with the kind of real-world insight provided by experienced local caddies like Vinny Russo—people who know these courses better than anyone.

Final Thoughts

I don’t remember my exact score from that day.

I do remember the rock-hard greens.

I remember the brutal rough.

I remember the oppressive heat.

I remember watching a fellow golfer battle through conditions so demanding that he got sick—twice.

And I remember meeting Vinny Russo, a relationship that would later help shape the quality of CaddyTips throughout the Northeast.

Some rounds are memorable because you play well.

Others are memorable because they humble you.

My day at Bethpage Black did a little bit of both.

Have you played Bethpage Black? Share your experience in the comments below and let us know how the Black Course treated you.