Hole 16 at Bethpage State Park (Blue Course)

Par 5 • 501 Yards • Farmingdale, New York

Enhanced Content

Moderate

As one of only three holes remaining fully intact from A.W. Tillinghast's original Blue Course design, the 16th hole represents a pure piece of golf architecture history at Bethpage. This par-5 offers golfers a rare opportunity to experience Tillinghast's strategic brilliance exactly as he intended nearly a century ago.

Tees:

501y490y481y

Green:33y × 32y

Fairway @250y:36y wide

5 Bunkers dogleg

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Bethpage State Park (Blue Course)

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Hole Stats

Par: 5
Yardage: 501 yds
Green: 6408 sq ft
Bunkers: 5
Course Slope: 124
Course Rating: 71.7

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Recommended Gear

A dependable fairway wood can turn this par 5 into a real birdie chance.

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

Position your tee shot between 200-250 yards to take advantage of the consistent 36-yard fairway width in this landing zone, avoiding the bunker at 292 yards that guards longer drives.

approach

From a 250-yard drive, you'll face a 251-yard approach to this par 5 - consider laying up to your comfortable wedge distance rather than forcing a long iron into the elevated green typical of Bethpage's challenging design.

green

Target the center of this generous 6,408 square foot green (33x32 yards) - one of the 'tame' greens at Bethpage that allows for aggressive pin-seeking on your third shot.

hazard warning

Be aware of the greenside bunkers positioned at 469.8 and 484.5 yards from the tee - these protect the putting surface and can catch aggressive approach shots on this elevated green.

train this shot at home

This 501-yard par 5 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

Scoring on par 5s starts with a smart second shot. Laying up to your favorite wedge distance gives you the best birdie chance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can this par 5 be reached in two?

At 501 yards, Reachable in two for longer hitters. Consider laying up short of hazards if going for it is risky.

How difficult is hole 16?

This hole is a good scoring opportunity for most golfers. Key challenges include: heavily bunkered.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 16?

Key hazards include: 2 greenside bunkers. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 16?

The green is fairly large with multiple pin positions. Lag putting becomes important on longer putts.

What's a good score on hole 16?

This hole is a solid birdie opportunity with smart layup strategy. Most golfers can reach in three. Position your layup to leave a comfortable wedge.

Can I practice hole 16 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Bethpage State Park (Blue Course). You can play this exact par 5 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →