MINUTE OF FARMINGDALE HISTORY
As a kid growing up in Farmingdale, I was most familiar with the golf courses of Bethpage State Park by way of my Flexible Flyer sled. We knew nothing of golf, or of the deep history embedded in those hills, but we did know the intricacies of the terrain—the slope, the location of the sand traps, and the width of the paths between the trees. Years later, the winter playground of our childhood would take center stage as host to one of golf’s major championships—not once, but twice.
(Photo by Farmingdale Bethpage Historical Society)
Bethpage State Park is situated on land once belonging to three Indian tribes—the Massapequas, Matinecocks and Secatogues. In 1687, Thomas Powell purchased a 15-square-mile tract of land that encompassed the future parkland from these Indian tribes for the sum of £140 (British pounds sterling). In 1907, some 220 years later, a wealthy railroad executive and financier from Texas named Benjamin Franklin Yoakum moved to Farmingdale and purchased 1,360 acres of this original tract of land. In addition to being a business man, Yoakum was a farmer and an advocate for farmers.
After Yoakum’s death in 1929, a battle ensued regarding the sale of the estate. The Long Island State Park Commission, led by Robert Moses, wanted to develop another park, just as it had Jones Beach, but one that could be used year-round instead. However, Yoakum’s estate contained an 18-hole golf course called the Lenox Hills Country Club (now known as the Green Course), designed by Devereux Emmet, that opened in 1923, and the club wished to prevent the sale of the land. Finally, in 1934, Yoakum’s heirs settled on a price of $1 million: $900,000 in bonds issued by the Bethpage Park Authority, also led by Robert Moses, plus $100,000 cash from the state comptroller. In the words of Robert Moses, “It would have been a crime to let this property be subdivided and get away from the State.”
The subsequent development of the land was carried out entirely with Nassau and Suffolk work-relief labor. During the Depression era, 1,800 men were provided employment making improvements to the land, including the building of the new clubhouse and the addition of three golf courses (the Red, Blue, and Black—all designed by A.W. Tillinghast), a polo field, picnic area, bridle paths, tennis courts and play areas.
When the $500,000 clubhouse formally opened on August 10, 1935, it was said to be “the most elaborate and complicated structure ever built with relief moneys (sic) and labor.” It was also more luxurious than “any public and almost any private club in the country.” The main dining room was the pride of the park officials.
As described in the New York Times on the day it opened, “The chairs are Chinese Chippendale and the red, black, and brass lighting fixtures suggest pagodas. The room is two stories high with a ceiling supported by heavy trusses painted a light powder blue. The walls are antique yellow and at each end is a Dutch-tiled fireplace.” All of the clubhouse’s furniture was made in New York City by relief labor. The building’s shutters bore a caddy and bag motif that would be the symbol of the park—a symbol that continues to present day. Dinner at the clubhouse cost $1.25, while lunch was $0.65.
However, it could be said that not everyone was enamored with the park. A letter to the editor of the New York Times dated May 1935 from a somewhat irate reader, took issue with the greens fees which were $2 on weekends and holidays (double the regular weekday price). If such amounts needed to be charged, why was the park purchased in the first place? asked the reader. The money spent on the park could have been put to better use, according to this same reader.
The vision that Robert Moses had for this tract of land was for it to be “the people’s country club.” Moses said that the Black Course, completed in 1936, “will be the equal of any championship links in the country.” What would he have thought then when the U.S. Open was played at “the people’s country club” in 2002 and again in 2009? However, by this time, the original clubhouse was not up to the task of hosting a major championship and underwent significant renovations prior to the 2002 Open—accompanied by a multi-million dollar price tag. The Black Course itself underwent re-design by renowned architect Rees Jones. In addition to the two U.S. Open Championships, Bethpage will again be hosting The Barclays Tournament in August.
Despite the updates made to the golf courses and clubhouse in recent years, Robert Moses would probably still recognize the land that “didn’t get away from the State.” We’re very fortunate that it didn’t and that the vision Moses had for Bethpage State Park and its golf courses was realized.
Serena Brochu is the historian of the Village of Farmingdale and a member of the Farmingdale High School Class of 1983.
