Action is underway at the Ryder Cup from Bethpage State Park in New York, but the Black Course, currently hosting the biennial event, once came under intense fire from one Ian Poulter
Ian Poulter branded Bethpage Black “the worst” in 2012(Image: Getty)
Ian Poulter once blasted the course at Bethpage Black the “worst” setup he’s ever played.
The venue, which is currently hosting the Ryder Cup, was the site of the 2012 Barclays. The Black Course at Bethpage State Park opened for play in 1936. It joins Oak Hill as the only New York courses to host a Ryder Cup, with Team Europe and Team USA battling it out on its greens this weekend.
Its tight fairways and tricky par three third are just some of the challenges golf’s elite have had to overcome. But back in 2012, a Ryder Cup legend, Poulter, unleashed on the venue for some structural decisions.
At The Barclays 13 years ago, Englishman Poulter, a five-time Ryder Cup winner, carded a terrible opening 76, with the course’s greens far from smooth. With the average player putting more than 30 times in the round, Poulter issued a scathing statement after finishing his outing.
He posted to X: “The worst course setup I have ever played in 13 years on tour. They have ruined what is a great course, greens like concrete stupid pins.”
He was also caught by Golf Channel as he headed for his car after the opening round of the Barclays, and let his frustrations be known. Poulter stated: “I’ve got to tell you, they [screwed] up today.
Poulter was not a fan of the way the course was set up(Image: Getty)
“Royally [screwed] up. Look at how many guys have had a bad day, and there’s a lot of guys that had a bad day. You know, [hole] eight, especially, is the worst I’ve ever seen on tour. Eight was worse than Shinnecock. How about that? How about that for a statement? They have lost it.
“There’s supposed to be cloud cover, there wasn’t cloud cover. I don’t want to use that as an excuse. Fact is, the greens have barely got double-digit moisture in them. That is borderline unplayable on a golf course that simply plays as the longest course on tour, pretty much. Right?
“Par 71. It’s the longest 71 we play. So therefore you’re going in with even more club than any other course we play. Elevated greens. Rock hard. That is an absolute recipe for disaster. You can quote me on all that stuff.”
The Black Course is known for its difficulty(Image: Getty)
The 49-year-old did make the cut that week, but ended tied for 36th on an even score. The winner, American Nick Watney, only mustered a -10, with Sergio Garcia four strokes behind.
Poulter hasn’t been the only one to critique Bethpage Black. Former Team USA Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has also taken aim, dubbing the course “awkward.”
“This golf course. I couldn’t stand it,” Azinger told Trey Wingo on his podcast. “I played my practice rounds, I did my two rounds and I think I was 18 over for two days there in the U.S. Open.
“The media loved it because it was a public course. What are you gonna do if they play the U.S. Open there every five years? I guess I’ll take every fifth year off.
“I really don’t like Bethpage Black. There’s a lot of awkward angles, downhill tee shots to fairways that angle away, uphill second shots where you can’t see the landing area,” Azinger said. “It’s just hard and you cannot fluke your way around there.”
Watch the Ryder Cup with discounted Sky Sports package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£49
£35
Sky
Get Sky Sports here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the Ryder Cup, saving members £336 and offering all three days of the 2025 competition live with extended coverage.
