Penal... Difficult... Brutal. These are similar words that can be interchangeable, but that isn't always the case.
There are many golf courses that can be brutally, penally difficult, but that alone doesn't lift them to the status as great. That word has become so overused that we need to begin reaquainting ourselves with the standard that atually defines it.
Here is my nomination for teh world's greatest penal golf course, that even when it is set up to challenge the world's finest players, is still fair.
It should come as no surprise that I mention Bethpage Black, but there are good reasons for it. I have a rather impressive list of fellow believers that would put it up there. From the 2002 Open, consider:
“I’ve played it three times. It's the hardest golf course I’ve ever seen.” Spike McRoy
“This is as hard a U.S. Open as I’ve ever played, and that’s given we played in perfect conditions.” Phil Mickelson
“Very scary.” Dudley Hart
“This golf course is more difficult than Pebble was playing…” Tiger Woods
“I’m ranked 13th or 14th best in the world, and I’m not good enough to play this course.” Bob Estes after shooting an opening round score of 81.
“It’s a hard golf course, but it’s hard for everybody.” Stewart Cink
“It’s the hardest U.S. Open I’ve ever seen or expect to see.” Davis Love III.
“You can see that a golf course like this can embarrass the greatest players in the world.” Rich Lerner
“Well, when you have a course that has nine par fives…” Scott Verplank
“Well, I know I’ve not played a tougher course than this. It’s the hardest course I’ve ever played… I’ve never seen anything even close to this… It’s just a brutal course.” Scott Hoch
“I’m glad I’m leaving; I’m glad I didn’t make the cut. I was trying, believe me. I tried every single shot as hard as I could and still shot 16 over par. No, 17 over; I never let up one time. I never slacked a shot. I never not tried my hardest… I’m glad I’m not playing there again. It makes you want to quit, It makes you want to retire when you’re forty-two and 16 over. I asked my caddie when the last time I was 16 over and he said maybe 20 years ago. I’ve been 16 over before after four rounds, but not two…” Paul Azinger
“We were laughing it up a little bit. It was almost comical how hard the golf course played today. It was the toughest round of golf I ever had to play.” He was then asked if Carnoustie in ’99 was the most severe. He answered, “Carnoustie, at that time, had been the hardest golf I’ve ever had to play, but this surpasses that, I believe.” Dudley Hart
“I’m wore out.” John Daly
“It's too hard for me.” Scott Hoch
“If I have to compare them, all three of them are very similar. I think Oakmont was obviously -- had a bit of lack of length to Congressional, but I would say this one is, in a way, a lot tougher.” Ernie Els
“This course is a lot tougher than Southern Hills last year," defending champion Retief Goosen
“With Carnoustie calm, guys can shoot good scores around it, but this is the toughest [course] we've ever played in calm conditions. If it ever blew here, it would be impossible.” Nick Faldo.
“I haven't played anything harder than this. It magnifies every little mistake.” Brad Faxon
“This is a hell of a golf course.” Robert Allenby
“You can't find a better-playing golf course in all the majors I've played, which is 22 in a row now. The golf course is immaculate…” Stuart Appleby
“I fell in love with the place immediately. It's a tremendous course, a great atmosphere, [I like] everything about it. It's in tremendous condition, phenomenal condition... I'd rank it up there right behind Shinnecock as my favorite Open course. [Pebble Beach is] great and it's beautiful, but I think this is a better course than Pebble.” Tom Lehman