I've played the Black numerous times and always find it to be in remarkable condition. Haven't played. Has anyone played both and can lend their thoughts?

i only played pebble one time and that was this past october and ive played the black a bunch of times over the years. the experience of pebble was great, caddies, views, history, etc and topped the black in those areas but i was disappointed in the shape of the course then again they were/are preparing for the 2010 open so take that with a grain of salt

that's like asking which is better....ice cream in the summer or hot chocolate in the winter. Bethpage is a true muni course with $60 greens fees. Pebble is what? $300?? Plus Bethpage has to deal with winter weather.

i wish it was $300 to play pebble

Not even sure what it costs these days...haven't been there in 10 years....I guess I meant for 9 holes?? lol

specials are 375.. norm is ~500

all of the Bethpage courses are in phenominal shape. I hate that the US Open was at bethpage this year with all of the rain we recevied. It has given fans a horrible impression of the golf course, but at least the pros recognize what a great challenge this course can be when it is not underwater. This years rainfall was unreal, we have received almost 3x the normal amount of rain.

As for Pebble Beach, i have no idea

Pebble is much nicer, but for the greens fee's there are a large number of courses in the U.S. that are much better, but I guess you are paying for history. My favorite place to play is Whistling Straits and Bandon Dunes, but being a Florida boy the TPC at Sawgrass always had a soft spot in my heart. I think the rankings are meaningless really just for the fact that Seminole G.C. is considered a top 100 American course on Golf Digests annual list, but that place wouldn't even make my top 50 courses in Florida.

You know, i thought the same thing about Seminole. I've never played it but the photo in Golf Digest really does not give a very good impression. It looks like just about every other course in Florida. Maybe the ocean front property or the fact that its a Ross design. #9 in the US though? Really?? Maybe you just have to play it to understand.

Look at the bright side.............maybe not as many people will make the long trips to play Bethpage and take up your tee times. If I lived in NYC, I'd be happy about that.


BDLz

good point, but my game does not really hold up well under the challenge of the black. I do love playing the red though and if i feel like playing grip it and rip it, the green is a wide open course to really go after it without too much trouble. Of course, the yellow has some real interesting holes to it too, would be up there with the red if it was more traditional. The only one of the five i really don't like is the blue, too many greens on a hill and the model planes get real annoying.

No, it does look that bad, but I guess the fact that it's private helps. I think it's ranking has more to do with it's club membership than the quality of golf that it provides. My favorite oceanside course is Ocean Hammock in Ormond Beach.

It's very hard to keep Pebble in pristine condition all year around being right off the ocean and all the salt in the air.

Bethpage is consistently in better shape.

Come on now...

Pebble is actually closer to $1500. $500 green fee plus mandatory 2-night stay the resort for advance tee times, where the rooms cost about $500.

I've never played Pebble, but I really cant imagine them keeping the Black in better shape than they do, especially considering the weather and the amount of play. The only spots that I've noticed not being pristine are #2 fairway (low lying, in a bowl, surrounded by trees, small landing area, little sunlight, etc), and maaaaaaaaaybe... nope, nothing else.

they do not usually have the greens running very fast, if that counts against it. on the occasional weekend they'll get them going, but i have always found the Black greens to be a smidge slower than the Red course.

ya know, they keep all 5 courses there in the best shape i have ever seen 5 muni courses be in (ok, maybe not counting the Blue course, terrible set-up). so that alone should put them ahead of Pebble. or not.

glad to see i am not the only one who thinks that. I will say the quality of the courses has increased dramatically since they announced the 2002 open was to be played on the black. The open money was used to the benefit of all the courses

Pebble is in a different league of condition. It is amazing. Green are phenomenal, smooth and fast. Fairways are like carpet. Bunkers are a dream.

For the price, of course it should be in better shape...and it is.

The question of value for money is a diffferent issue. I was fortunate enough to be invited there and never paid but I, for one, would never pay that kind of money for a round....even at Pebble. Thankfully, I do not need that debate since I have already played it but I have a hard time with $500 for a round of golf.

On condition, and I have played both, there is no comaprison. Pebble wins every time.

the Blue course is weird, like Green and Yellow, there are some incredible stretches and great holes, but it's nowhere near as consistent as the others. seems like the most slapdash course of the 5. always leaves you feeling a bit "meh" after the round. whereas Green and Yellow improve as the round goes on.

you're right about the conditioning, especially this year. i couldn't believe how amazing the conditions were on Red/Green/Yellow earlier this spring. it was at high-end public course level, except for a few things that cant be helped.