For the pro golfers ready to represent Europe and the U.S, and for the professionals who’ve tended Bethpage State Park to greatness, the road to the Ryder Cup begins on the grounds. As both groups prepare for the 2025 Ryder Cup, we hear from Bethpage’s team – dedicated stewards of the park – as they share details about their day-to-day work to make the park shine.
Tag Archives: Long Island
Preparing for “The Super Bowl of Golf:” Meet the Team Behind Bethpage State Park
Bethpage State Park on Long Island has been known as “The People’s Country Club” for generations. Now hosting the Ryder Cup this September at the park’s famed Black course, fans from around the world will tune in for the biggest event in golf with all eyes on Bethpage.
What does it take to put on a tournament of that magnitude? Bethpage’s current and former park directors, greens specialist, course supervisors and more share their behind-the-scenes preparation ahead of the big week.
Iconic East Bathhouse Project Brings Past and Present Together at Jones Beach
A day spent at the beach or by the pool in the summer is a core Long Island experience. There’s nothing better than a dip in the water to cool off from the heat, and a trip to Jones Beach State Park has it all: sun, sand and, soon, a new safe place to have fun in the water!
In summer of 2026, the iconic 1930 Jones Beach East Bathhouse will be reimagined for a new generation to enjoy. As part of Governor Hochul’s NY SWIMS Initiative to expand access to safe swimming in New York, a $100 million investment was secured for the revitalization. State Parks is overseeing the project in collaboration with the Office of General Services, and construction is currently underway.
How to Break the Grip of the Rip (Current)
For millions, summer on Long Island means time spent in the sun, the sand and the sea. Iconic Jones Beach State Park drew 9.5 million visitors to its expansive sandy shores in 2024, followed by Robert Moses, boasting 3.9 million visitors. After visitors have slathered on the sunscreen, secured their valuables and anchored their umbrellas, what are they thinking about in terms of beach safety?
While sharks might immediately come to mind, lifeguards and park staff use equipment, constant communication, and a trained eye to watch for marine life activity and keep beachgoers safe. Knowing that water hazards like rip currents, however, pose more significant risks to swimmers than sharks, our staff set out to spread the word on how to manage these lesser-known acts of nature.
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Cast a Line at State Parks
From placid lakes and intimate mountain streams to broad rivers and sea-foamed saltwater coast, the state park system offers limitless fishing possibilities and the enticing prospect of “tight lines.” Striped bass, bluefish, salmon, trout, panfish and freshwater bass are but a few of the many popular fish species that can be fished for at state parks, with angling set amidst the backdrop of some of the state’s most compelling and dramatic natural scenery.
While some anglers may prefer the fall striped bass bonanza at Montauk Point, with its festive atmosphere and challenging rock-strewn shoreline, others may find flyfishing for brook and brown trout on the remote hemlock-lined streams of Allegany more to their liking. State parks additionally offer numerous options for recreational boat fishing. Launches for motorized boats are located strategically throughout the state on prime angling waters, along with smaller docks and launches providing lake and river access for canoes, kayaks and the like.
State parks offer anglers premier opportunities on two great lakes, the Hudson, St. Lawrence, Niagara and other smaller rivers, numerous streams and brooks, countless lakes of varying size and setting, and the saltwater shores of Long Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean. If there’s a fish to be angled for in New York State, be it fresh or saltwater, chances are good that it can be found in a state park.
Through I Fish NY, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation helps New Yorkers understand the basics of fishing legally and offers opportunities to try the activity. Our parks often hold fishing programs as well. Read on for our guide to angling at state parks!
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New York State Parks and Historic Sites Blog 