5th Annual US Lacrosse
Open Putting Tournament
June 7 • Bethpage State Park • Farmingdale, NY

Sponsored by:

The US Lacrosse Foundation is proud to announce the 5th Annual US Lacrosse Open sponsored by New Balance was a great success. Nearly 100 players participated in the 2005 event which was held on Tuesday, June 7 at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York. The tournament used a scramble and string format on the Bethpage Black putting green. The winning foursome of the event was Bill Miler, Patrick Miller, Dean Miller and Ryan Miller.

Richie Moran, former men’s lacrosse coach at Cornell University, was the guest speaker for the evening. He spoke of the joy in seeing young girls and boys carrying lacrosse sticks and of the pace that the men and women of the First Sport Society have set. In his closing, he left the crowd with these words, "What’s the game going to be like in 2020? That’s our challenge." All attendees received a copy of A Bend in the Road, poems by Eamon J. McEneaney and special guest Bonnie McEneaney made remarks.

Over the last five years this event has raised over $320,000 in support of US Lacrosse initiatives and the national development of the sport.

Contributions to the US Lacrosse Foundation
If you were unable to participate in this year's tournament but would still like to make a donation to the US Lacrosse Foundation you can mail your donation to:

US Lacrosse Foundation
113 West University Parkway
Baltimore, MD 21210

Thank you for your support!

Annual Event Background
The US Lacrosse Foundation holds this event every year at a prestigious golf course to raise critical funds to fuel the growth of the game and secure its future. Previous events have been held at Baltusrol (N.J.) Country Club in 2001 and Caves Valley (Md.) Golf Club in 2002, Dedham Polo & Country Club (Ma.) in 2003 and Merion Golf Club (Pa.) in 2004.

Previous Putting Tournaments:
2004 — Merion Golf Club • Ardmore, PA
2003 — Dedham County and Polo Club • Dedham, MA
2002 — Caves Valley Golf Club • Owings Mills, MD
2001 — Baltusrol Country Club • Springfield, NJ

History of Bethpage State Park
Until the late 1600's, the land on which Bethpage State Park now stands was under the stewardship of the Marsapequa, Matinecoc and Secatogue tribes of the Delaware Branch of the Algonkian Nation. In 1687, Englishman, Thomas Powell, purchased nearly 15 square miles of land, including the current parklands, from these Native American proprietors for £140 (British pound sterling). Eight years later, October 18, 1695, Mawmee, William Chepy, Seurushung, Sascenin, Ruumpass and Wamussum made their marks on the sheepskin deed. Historians believe that Powell, a devout Quaker, named his new landholdings Bethpage by taking the name from a biblical reference in the book of St. Matthew.

Eventually, Benjamin Yoakum, a wealthy railroad executive, acquired 1,368 acres of these holdings which contained an 18 hole golf course, the Lenox Hills Country Club, designed by Devereux Emmet and opened for play in 1923. In 1931, under the brilliant leadership of Robert Moses, the Long Island State Park Commission made arrangements to lease the property, situated on the border of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, from the Yoakum estate. On April 23, 1932, the course was opened for public play and re-named the Bethpage Golf Club. Since opening to the public in 1932, over 15,000,000 rounds of golf have been played at Bethpage. Finally, the title to Bethpage was transferred from Benjamin Yoakum’s heirs on May 18, 1934, for $100,000 cash and $900,000 in public bonds.

During 1934 and 1935, as many as 1,800 people were employed under the Work Relief Project Act on the construction of the Bethpage facility including the Clubhouse, the redesign of the Green Course (Lenox Hills), and construction of the Blue and Red Courses, which were opened for play on April 28, and May 30, 1935, respectively. On May 30, 1936, the famed Black Course opened for play. The design of the Blue, Red and the Black Courses, and re-design of the Green Course were the artistry of the legendary Albert Warren Tillinghast. In 1958, the fifth and final course, the Yellow, designed by Alfred H. Tull, was opened.

During July 1997, the Black Course underwent an extensive renovation program designed by Rees Jones, often referred to as the Open Doctor. Governor George Pataki and State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro, both driving forces in securing the 2002 U.S. Open for Bethpage, praised Rees not only for his brilliant design accomplishments but also for his generosity in performing his work pro-bono.

It is truly fitting that the "People’s Open" was contested at the "People’s Country Club," on the Black Course, in 2002, 70 years after the first round of public golf was played at Bethpage. The 2002 U.S. Open was so successful that Governor George Pataki and U.S. Golf Association Executive Director David Fay announced the return of the U.S. Open to Bethpage Black in 2009.