Bethpage the Beast Awaits 2009 U.S. Open

Mike Dudurich

Posted 2009-04-20

Seven years ago, the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Long Island became the first municipally-owned golf course to host a U.S. Open. Additionally, at 7,214 yards, the par-70 layout was the longest Open in Open history.

It was a beast, with only one player in the field – Tiger Woods – able to finish 72 holes under par and even he was just three-under par.

Since then, Torrey Pines joined that short list of municipally-owned courses and the course length has also been surpassed – 7,643 yards last year at Torrey Pines.

It is somewhat surprising that when the U.S. Open is staged June 15-21, it will be back in Farmingdale, N.Y., considering it was just seven years since the last Open there. The USGA has a rotation of courses that traditionally host the Open and it’s a rarity when as few years as seven separate appearances in that rotation.

Perhaps the fact that there several fireworks moments during the week convinced the USGA to go against its standard operating procedure and get back to New York quickly.

Things like:

- Sergio Garcia’s infamous run-in with fans. He was going through his “grip and re-grip” phase where he’d do that before every shot. When fans started to get on them, he responded unkindly and painted a large bulls-eye on his back. And that was also the tournament where he whined about Tiger Woods always getting the better draw of tee times and the weather always favored him.
- A torrential Friday rain hardly dampened the spirits of the huge crowds that made the journey to the island.
- The never-shy New Yawkers early in the week decided that Phil Mickelson was going to be their horse for the week and rooted for his every move very vigorously, trying to nudge him to his first major championship.

- And then, of course, there was Woods, seemingly oblivious to all that was going on around him, as he posted rounds of 67-68-70-72. That may have been what it seemed, but Woods said otherwise after the tournament was completed.

"I've never played in front of galleries such as this," Woods noted. "I don't think any of us have. This is completely new to all of us, for them to be this excited, from the first tee to the 18th green." Maybe the answer to the quick return to Bethpage may have come as a result of a consensus of players saying that the setup of the course was arguably the best they had ever played.

So as a reward for praising the USGA on their setup, what should the players be expecting when they get to Bethpage Black in a couple months?

Well, a few more yards, for starters. The course – originally designed by A.W. Tillinghast and then given a major renovation by the “Open doctor” Rees Jones – will be at 7,426 yards. Bunker renovation has been a focus since the 2002 Open.

The greenside traps were done first and the fairway bunkers were addressed over the winter.

Other notable changes since 2002:

- A new tee has been constructed on the par-3 third hole, lengthening it to 232 yards.

- The fairway on the 504-yard, par-4 12th hole has been widened to 26 yards to the right of the fairway bunker to give shorter hitters better angles to the green.

- A collection area at the picturesque par-5 fourth to allow players to go for the green in two, a strategy rarely utilized in 2002.

- The fairway has been brought back on the par-4 sixth, giving competitors the option of using driver off the tee.

And last, but not least, one of the most controversial holes on the course was the 10th, a brutal par 4 that will play 508 yards. In 2002, the carry to reach the fairway with a tee shot was nearly 240 yards. Doesn’t sound like much for the best players in the land, but the wind was in their face almost every day and former U.S. Open champ Corey Pavin couldn’t reach the fairway.

The carry over an area covered in native grasses has been shortened to 224 yards.

If there’s one thing that will be different in the 2009 Open at Bethpage Black, it will be in the flexibility that Mike Davis, the USGA’s senior director of rules and competitions and Jim Hyler, chairman of the Championship Committee, will have in setting the course up for each day’s competition.

"If you look at the two Open setups, we believe there will be more risk-and-reward shots than in 2002," said Davis. "If you look at it and say, ‘OK, what’s going to really be different this time?’ You’ll see things like graduated rough, lots of flexibility on the teeing grounds, which will give players a chance to really think about what they’re going to do, which we didn’t have in 2002."

There may not be a better example of that than the par 3 eighth. From the back tees, it’s a hefty 210 yards to a green guarded by a pond and bunkers. But now the hole has three different tee boxes, allowing it to play as short as 135 yards. Or as long as 230 from the back of the back tees.

The Open at Bethpage Black will be the second of three consecutive to be played on layouts where the public can play (Torrey Pines, Bethpage Black and Pebble Beach next year).

“It’s interesting,” Davis said. “It shows what used to be a stigma between a private and municipal course and this shows how good the municipal courses can be. That’s gone by the wayside.”

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About Mike...
As a sports writer for over 35 years, Mike Dudurich has seen a lot of great things, covered spectacular events, but his passion is, and has been golf. He recently ended a 29-year career at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and will now be a frequent contributor on GolfGearReview.com. Mike hosts a weekly golf radio show on 1250 ESPN in Pittsburgh from the beginning of April through the end of August. The show airs Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. and can be heard online at http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1250/show?showId=insidepghgolf - Listen to Mike Here!.

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