Bethpage Black cracks top 40 in Golf Digest's world course rankings

The Black Course at Bethpage State Park doesn't get any action during the winter season, but it does get plenty of accolades. 

Around the same time that the Long Island Press announced Bethpage as the "Best Golf Course" survey winner for the seventh straight year, Golf Digest put out another of its offseason course rankings, and the Black Course, as usual, was right in the thick of it.

In its February issue, Golf Digest released its first-ever "World's 100 Greatest Courses" listing.  The Black Course made it into the top half with room to spare at #35, just behind South Africa's Fancourt (Links) and one slot ahead of Prairie Dunes CC in Kansas.  Pine Valley in New Jersey topped the list, followed by Cypress Point in Pebble Beach and Augusta National.

A number of Long Island's prestigious private clubs made the list, including top-20 rankings for Shinnecock Hills (#5), National Golf Links of America (#13) and Fishers Island (#17).

According to the Digest, more than 800 panelists and golfers in the U.S. and overseas took part in the survey, rating each course they were familiar with on a 10-point scale.  For a look at Golf Digest's World 100, visit the magazine website.