Bethpage Black is the course that tells you to go home before you even start.
The warning sign on the first tee — “The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers” — is the most honest thing any golf course has ever said. And on E6 Connect, Bethpage Black delivers exactly that experience: brutally difficult, unfairly long, and absolutely worth playing.
The good news is that it’s included in the Expanded tier. No premium upsell. No $25 add-on. You pay $600/year and Bethpage is yours.
What Tier You Need
Bethpage Black is part of the Expanded ($600/year) tier. It’s not available in the Basic ($300/year) rotating library. If you’re on the Basic plan, you’ll see it in the course list but can’t play it until you upgrade.
This is one of the courses that makes the Expanded tier worth it. The Basic tier’s rotating selection is fine for casual play, but if you want to play Bethpage Black on demand — which you will, because it’s one of the best courses on the platform — you need the $600 plan.
For a full breakdown of what each tier includes, read the Best Courses on E6 Connect guide.
Why Bethpage Works on E6 Specifically
Bethpage Black is a course defined by elevation changes and punishing rough. E6’s rendering engine handles both well.
The elevation changes are the headline. The Black Course is built on a glacial moraine — the entire property is rolling, undulating, up and down. The 1st hole drops 50 feet from tee to fairway. The 10th hole climbs 60 feet uphill. The 15th hole is a 480-yard par 4 that plays uphill the entire way. E6’s LIDAR-grade scanning captures every ridge and slope. You’ll hit a drive that feels perfect and watch it run through the fairway because the slope carried it an extra 20 yards.
The rough is the other story. Bethpage’s rough is famous — deep, gnarly, fescue-heavy. On E6, it’s rendered as a genuine penalty. Hit it in the rough and your lie is compromised. You’ll have to take a shorter club and swing harder. The ball comes out hot. The E6 version captures the “grab” of real deep rough better than the community-built versions on other platforms.
The greens are large and tilted. Bethpage’s greens are not subtle. They slope back to front, side to side, and they’re fast. E6’s green physics handle the tilt correctly. Putts that look downhill and straight will break 4 feet. You’ll miss a lot of them. That’s Bethpage.
How to Access It
Open E6 Connect. Navigate to the course library. Filter by Expanded tier. Search “Bethpage Black.” Add to your library. Play.
E6 doesn’t make you search by designer name or sort by download count. The closed ecosystem means there’s exactly one Bethpage Black — the official one — and it’s the right one.
What It Actually Looks Like
E6’s Bethpage Black is the best-looking sim version of the course. The textures are sharper than the community builds. The trees have volume. The fairways are the right width.
The 1st tee: The warning sign is there. You’ll see it before you hit. The view from the tee is a downhill par 4 that looks like it goes forever. E6’s rendering captures the scale — the 1st hole is only 430 yards, but it looks like 500 because the fairway drops into a valley.
The 4th hole: The 500-yard par 4. Yes, 500-yard par 4. It’s the hardest hole on the course. E6’s version shows the full length. You’ll hit driver-3-wood and still be short. You’ll make bogey. You’ll feel like that’s a par.
The 15th hole: The 480-yard par 4 that plays uphill. E6’s elevation rendering makes this hole feel like a march. The green is elevated. The approach is blind. You’ll hit a shot that feels good and watch it come up short. The green slopes away. You’ll three-putt. That’s the 15th hole.
The Holes That Shine on Sim
Hole 5 — The par 4 with the cross-bunker: 480 yards, but the cross-bunker at 250 yards is the real defense. On E6, you can see the bunker from the tee. The question is whether to lay up short or carry it. You’ll try to carry it. You’ll find the bunker. The sand is rendered deep enough that you’re hitting a wedge just to get back to fairway.
Hole 10 — The long par 4 uphill: 500 yards from the tips. The fairway is narrow. The green is elevated. E6’s version shows the full climb. You’ll hit two of your best shots and still be putting for par.
Hole 17 — The par 3 over water: 210 yards from the back tees. All carry. E6’s water rendering makes the lake look deep. The green is protected by a bunker on the left. The wind is in your face. You’ll hit 3-wood and still be short.
What I’d Change
Bethpage Black on E6 is very good. The only thing I’d improve is the rough texture visibility. In real life, Bethpage’s fescue is a different color than the fairway. On E6, the difference is there but could be more dramatic. It’s a minor complaint.
The Bottom Line
Bethpage Black is one of the best courses on E6 Connect, and it’s included in the Expanded tier. No extra cost. No premium upsell. Just $600/year and the hardest municipal golf course in America is yours to play anytime.
The fact that this course is included while Pebble Beach and St Andrews cost extra tells you everything about E6’s pricing strategy. The premium courses are the ones with the most famous names. Bethpage is famous but not premium-famous, so it’s in the Expanded library. That’s actually a good deal — Bethpage is more fun to play than Pebble anyway.
For the full list of courses worth playing on E6, read The Best Courses on E6 Connect. Need the full software breakdown? Check the E6 Connect Software Review.