June 17 (Bloomberg) -- Planning a visit to Bethpage State Park this week to watch Tiger Woods defend his U.S. Open title? Take the train, says the United States Golf Association.

“Mass transit is certainly the easier way to do it and probably the preferred way,” USGA spokesman Rand Jerris said in an interview. “If you’re coming out of the city, or anywhere along the Long Island Railroad, the train in probably the easier way.”

The USGA is expecting about 42,500 fans per day for the second of golf’s four annual major tournaments, which runs from tomorrow through June 21 on the Farmingdale, New York, park’s Black Course about 35 miles east of New York City. After a late sales burst, the number of fans per day will be about the same as when the course first hosted the event in 2002.

Those traveling by train should take the Ronkonkoma Branch of the LIRR, which runs between New York City and eastern Long Island, exiting at the Farmingdale Station. After passing through security, shuttle buses carry fans for the short ride to the course.

As for those planning to drive, “the traffic is unpredictable,” Jerris said.

There is no general spectator parking near the U.S. Open. Instead, complimentary parking is provided at Jones Beach State Park, which is located off the Meadowbrook Parkway on the south shore of Long Island. Shuttle buses will then carry fans for the roughly 25-minute ride to Bethpage.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 17, 2009 00:01 EDT