#5 on this list
Black
Bethpage
Bethpage Black is built for low-handicap golfers looking to test their limits on one of the most punishing courses in the world. Located on Long Island in Farmingdale, New York, within Bethpage State Park, this A.W. Tillinghast masterpiece is globally recognized for the famous warning sign posted beside the first tee: 'The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers.' Every element of Bethpage Black demands power, precision, and endurance. The routing climbs and rolls over expansive glacial terrain, featuring elevated tee shots, massive flashed sand bunkers, and tight fairways hemmed in by deep, tangled fescue rough. The course is walking-only, and walking up and down its rugged inclines with a bag across more than seven miles is a serious athletic endeavor. Small, heavily sloped greens require high, precise approach shots to hold the putting surfaces. The trade-offs here are sheer brutality and booking logistics. The course will frustrate mid-to-high handicappers who cannot routinely carry the ball out of thick rough or cross deep forced fairway carries. Furthermore, securing a tee time remains an infamous challenge, historically prompting golfers to camp in their cars overnight, though digital reservation systems have somewhat modernized the process. **Highlights** - Legendary A.W. Tillinghast design celebrated for strategic penal architecture - Historic host of multiple U.S. Opens, the PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup - Massive, beautifully sculpted bunkers cut deeply into natural dunes and ridges - Exceptional state-park rate structure that represents one of golf's best bargains - Pure walking-only tradition that honors the classic game **Watch-outs** - Punishing rough and length can make rounds demoralizing for higher handicappers - Securing tee times requires navigating a notoriously competitive reservation queue
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#6 on this list
Mountain National
Green
Green Mountain National is aimed at golfers who love mountain solitude, dense northern forests, and dramatic elevation swings. Owned by the Town of Killington, Vermont, and designed by Gene Bates, this scenic layout sits carved into the Green Mountains. It provides an isolated, quiet golf experience where fairways are heavily separated by mature hardwoods, birches, and native stone outcroppings. The course plays as a target-style mountain layout rather than a sprawling links. Extreme shifts in elevation require players to calculate uphill blind approaches and club down on dramatic downhill drop shots. Ponds, wetlands, and mountain runoff streams cross several holes, making course management and conservative iron play from the tee far more rewarding than raw distance. In autumn, when the foliage turns, it offers one of the most visually stunning rounds in New England. The trade-offs are typical of northern mountain designs. Erratic bounces off rock faces or tree lines can quickly derail a good score, and blind landing areas require patience or local knowledge. The playing season is also relatively short, generally running from mid-May through October, with mountain bugs active in the early summer months. At standard rates, however, it remains an outstanding public value. **Highlights** - Dramatic Green Mountain topography with isolated, tree-lined fairways - Stunning panoramic views, particularly during the autumn foliage peak - Strategic target layout emphasizing positional iron play over driver distance - Natural water hazards, rock ledges, and mountain stream crossings - Accessible green fees compared to coastal metropolitan championship courses **Watch-outs** - Several blind shots and sloping lies can frustrate first-time players - Compact playing season due to Vermont mountain winters
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Specs side by side
| Spec | Black | Mountain National |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Farmingdale, New York | Killington, Vermont |
| Designer | A.W. Tillinghast | — |
| Typical Fee | Around $150 (varies by residency) | — |
| Transport Rule | Walking only; no motorized carts | — |
| Major Events | U.S. Open, PGA Championship | — |
| Terrain | Glacial moraine with steep elevation changes | — |
| Course Architect | — | Gene Bates |
| Ownership | — | Town of Killington |
| Estimated Rate | — | Approximately $75 |
| Operational Window | — | Mid-May through October |
| Layout Style | — | Mountain target design |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Black
- Authentic major championship layout accessible to everyday public players
- Masterful A.W. Tillinghast routing with dramatic natural landforms
- Outstanding value for New York State residents given the caliber of course
- Walking-only rule protects traditional golf culture and course conditioning
- Severe rough and forced carries make rounds demoralizing for high handicappers
- Securing weekend tee times requires navigating a fiercely competitive queue
- Significant physical exhaustion can impair performance on the demanding back nine
Mountain National
- Heavily wooded corridors provide distinct isolation for each individual hole.
- Remarkable scenic value and mountain topography at accessible municipal green fees.
- Rewarding tactical routing that emphasizes smart shot placement over pure distance.
- Well-maintained bentgrass surfaces despite harsh Vermont winter conditions.
- Numerous blind shots and sharp slopes can heavily penalize first-time visitors.
- Short playing calendar restricted to roughly mid-May through late October.
- Severe mountain terrain makes walking impractical for the majority of players.
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