Bethpage Black Pictures

[tokyokish]

Just played the Black on the weekend while there on business. What a beast. I loved the simplicity of the routing and design. I'd post my pics but they're basically the same as the one's to start the thread.

Played from the tips, struck the ball at an average of a B+ or A- all day, which at my home course would have been par or better, and crawled home with an 83.

At most, local knowledge would have saved me 3 or 4 shots (again, at most), but it is just a demanding course. Your approach shots need to have proper line, distance and trajectory. if one or more of those is slightly deficient, you're looking at a slight chance of par, but likely bogey or worse. You just don't get away with lucky mis-hits.

Other than the length (7300+, but about 7100 when I played) I found the subtle greens the most difficult aspect of the Black. They're tough to hit already, but tough to make a decisive read once you're on.

Also, there was a lady in the group behind me... she was so frustrated. Unless your wife or gf is scratch (and I mean a real scratch) do not take her to play there. There is a lot of knee-high grass to carry off the tee, the average depth of a bunker is 5 to 7 feet (average!) and the difference between the white and red would not be enough for most ladies. A 90 shooter lady would struggle to come in under 120. Like a previous poster said, for men or women, if you have decent carry distance the course is fair. If not...

[freddiec]

83 on that course from the tips is like shooting a 76-78 anyplace else. Good round! I never get sick of looking at those pics. Been there twice and hoping to get there this year so how. Waiting to see if 857 pro TI will send out an invite to anybody.

[pro11ace]

Looks like the course was really good shape, and the fairways look super skinny!

 

:)

[GolfMN]

How long does that course play from various tees?

[drpino]

Course Information:

Regulation

Par 71

Slope 140

Rating 73.1

Yardage 6684

 

Championship

Par 71

Slope 148

Rating 76.6

Yardage 7297

[jas13]

get a good caddie and he's worth his fee. the caddie in my group came equiped with bushnell pinseeker to give you yardage to the pin. Reserve them from the pro shop, they are 40 plus tip. Guys in the lot have better course knowledge on average than the college kids in the proshop. Depends on what you need.Played the course last weekend when the heat index was 105!! that was a physical challenge.

[Arsilon2]

I plan on playing this track on May 30, 2008 which is a Friday. Is there someone who would be so kind to run me through the experience and give any tips they might have. I am a MA resident going to be in the area for a wedding.

[CGB]

If I were to drive down to Bethpage as a single, I'm assuming it would be much easier to get a time...right?

 

Or would I have to show up and sleep in my car?

[cambo3295]

Here are a few pics and thoughts of my day on The Black with Andy last summer. Can't believe it's that long ago!

 

First up, and most importantly, what a top bloke. Andy, you're always welcome over here and as you say, you need to get your lazy a** over here before long.

 

Range:

 

 

1st hole:

 

Andy's drive:

 

 

A look down the first:

 

 

4 balls in the fw - how many times did that happen?!

 

 

You can't actually see them all but believe me they are all there!

 

1st green. Pretty difficult, narrow and undulating and with vicious bunkers for a 430 yard hole:

 

2nd hole:

 

Teeshot:

 

 

Approach, from about 160?

 

 

 

Iain

[cambo3295]

3rd about 195 that day with the flag front right.

 

 

4th. One of the great par 5's ever, anywhere. Drive is a case of how much to take on, then the second should be played way right for an easier chip due to the green sloping l-r and away from you. If you take on the 2nd shot you have to hit it very high and it's quite a long way uphill.

 

 

5th. Then one of the best par 4's ever. In the world's best 18 holes (Gof Magazine). New tee is 475-480. Teeshot is a fade really. Tighter up the right side you can get it the better. Green then sits above you and tucked round to the left a bit.

 

Iain

[cambo3295]

6th approach. 408 I think. You hit a teeshot to the top of a hill then hit a mid iron down to a great green which is well bunkered.

 

 

7th. 510 ish. We played it as a 5, but it will be a 4 for the US Open. It was about 470-485 in 2002. Big dogleg to the right.

 

 

From the 7th green looking to the 8th tee:

 

 

 

 

8th - 220 ish off the back but the flag was right on the front of a 45 yard green and the tee up 10 so it only played 185 or something down the hill:

 

 

Iain

[cambo3295]

9th: It says 460 off the back now, but it was 60 yards behind the old back tee which was 418. Andy ripping one:

 

 

If you hit one 280 in the middle of the fw, you have a blind second from this bowl from about 200. Into the breeze.

 

Looking back to the tee:

The approach from 140. i.e. your third shot:

 

10th - just the 495. Great looking hole in person, not so easy to see in the pics:

 

 

 

11th - After a perfect playing of the 10th, this was where Andy started to get into top gear.

 

And this was a snapper. Must keep the left side out of play.........:

 

[cambo3295]

12th - Unbelievably awesome hole. 499 from the back, tee was up maybe 10, still an intimidating drive over the bunkers and round the corner. Breeze into and off the left. I vividly remember Woods after the rain delay in the final round walking onto this tee and ripping one perfectly down the middle.

 

 

As you can see, Andy spanked another down the middle here.

 

 

 

13th. Lovely par 5 of 550+:

 

And look at the new tee for 2009:

 

 

60-70 yards back

 

Roll back the ball

 

Approach:

 

 

14th - 165 ish. Flag impossibly tucked back right on a ridge as big as a dining table.

 

[cambo3295]

15th

 

478, green set up on a ridge. Looks impossible and probably is most of the time. Luckily I hit a decent drive and second shot. No escaping the onslaught from Andy at this stage though!

 

 

 

 

[cambo3295]

16th. Another monster par 4. I think this was about 490 off the new back tee. Absolutely beautiful looking hole though, and like all of them, you just play it off the tee best suited to you and it's just a superb hole.

 

 

 

 

The green from back left:

 

[cambo3295]

17th. Just the 205 or something like that. A leaden footed chop short right.

Green site. Wow.

18th. 420 ish off the back?

 

 

Andy, THE MAN on the back 9, stripes another down the pipe......

 

 

 

 

Andy - brings back memories of a great day at a great place with an even better host. Hope you're booking that flight sometime and we're looking forward to seeing you.

 

Iain

[Spectrums]

Dang, great pics! Course looks fantastic.

[Tanner25]

Last October, I played the Red in the morning and the Black in the afternoon. I was very happy with the tidy 84 I shot on the Red (a very tough course in its own right), however, the Black just ate my lunch (102). By the time we got to the grill and watched the end of the Jets game, I was completely wasted from walking both 18's in one day.

 

For this Arizona boy, it was the best golfing experience of my life. If you ever get a chance to play Bethpage, don't pass it up. I also recommend that you give the other courses a try. The Red was a fantastic track and I was told the Blue is very good also. Although they allow carts on the Red, Blue, Green, & Yellow courses; most folks walk if the weather isn't too hot. Early October was a great time to play Bethpage. The weather was cool, the leaves were in full fall colors. The courses were in great shape.

 

When you stand on the 18th tee for the Black, you imagine how it must have felt for Tiger and the boys playing the 2002 Open. For me, I hit it in the right fairway bunker and ended-up with a double. It was fantastic!

 

 

Very unique , yet public place - 5 championship courses avx to one parking lot. I miss you Bethpage, although Pinehurst ain't bad!

[Dill Pickleson]

those pictures just made my day

[inthecup]

Thanks for the great shots 857, BB is 35$ instate $135 out of state. Ether way it is a bargain for a US Open course.

 

The hardest track I have ever been on and I have played a lot of hard ones.

 

Bill