Citing "unprecedented demand," Bethpage announces changes to reservation system and tee-time policies

Bethpage State Park has heard the ongoing complaints about the fairness and circumvention of its tee-time reservation policies and is now taking steps to address them.

In an email distributed earlier today, Bethpage announced several changes to its reservation system and policies, all scheduled to go into effect next Monday, June 24.  The main change, according to the email, is the creation of a new booking type called "Verified NYS Resident - Bethpage," which will continue to allow tee-time reservations up to seven days in advance.  In order to make this change, the park conducted a months-long audit of its reservation system and removed all duplicate golfer accounts.  Residents in good standing will be automatically reclassified under the new verified booking type.

Starting next week, however, any new registrants, plus golfers who have been locked out due to multiple accounts or violations, will have to verify their resident account by emailing a copy of their NYS driver's license or identification card to the park.

The park cited "unprecedented demand for tee times" as motivation for the system change as well as other policy updates.  Players will now be restricted to eight cancellations in a calendar month to limit the ability to make and transfer tee times.  "Unfortunately, we have seen a trend of many users reserving tee times with no intent of using them, but instead booking for friends, family members and playing partners by trying to coordinate those cancellations," the email said.

Reservations on the Red Course will be limited to one every 14 days, similar to the current restriction on the Black Course, where tee times are limited to one every 28 days.

"We know some of these changes may cause some initial consternation amongst the golfing public," the email said, "but we are hopeful that these changes may allow more users to obtain reservations moving forward."

Comments

[Robert Kenneth Hiler]

The changes haven't helped. Impossible to reserve tee time at 7pm start. All slots taken by 07:00:01.

[Salvatore Messina]

I agree with Mr. Hiler

I think Bethpage should appoint someone to analyze each individual booking for an entire week
That person should randomly call each person who booked
I think the system has my email address
The system should also require a phone number & physical address

Once the phone numbers become part of the sustem the appointed person/s can contact the booker

Salvatore Messina NY State resident

[Anthony]

Yeah nothing has still changed as someone from Bethpage you would think I can golf there all the time but sadly never even close

[George]

The system stinks.

[Tom]

It’s a joke, even when a tee time is available, you get a pop up that says sorry that time is no longer available. Somehow there’s a scam, just pissed I can’t get in on it. How is it that by 7:01 every time is gone. I understand the park isn’t so concerned, all times are sold, so the system works for them. It’s impossible that I’ve tried ten times and haven’t gotten one time. Unfortunately it seems like a waste of time, just gonna cross it off the list.

[Ling]

I finally got a tee time. You have to click and refresh quickly. Having a good internet connection helps. I think there are just too many people competing for the same spots. We are suffering from golf’s popularity!