Bethpage Black.
The 4th hole is stunning visually and offers options on each shot played. The better the player, the more options and greater risk/reward.
The 7th hole is 600 very long yards. Tilly wrote that a hole is only as long as it plays and this one plays longer than the number, especially as the shorter the drive (especially from the back tee) the further left it must be played and the hole just increases in length. This hole can be reached in two, yet when trying to cut the corner, the tree line forces the long hitter left toward the outside fairway bunker. The green and bunker complex allows for some great and challenging pins.
The 13th hole is also a brute from the back, playing some 585 yards. It is a long carry to the fairway that brings into play the left-side fairway bunker that sits about 150 to 130 yards from the green, pinching the fairway here to a very small target. This requires a most carefully played second shot, especially when the longer hitter tries to carry it and then must concern himself with the cross bunker 40 yards in front of the green. This is an excellent illusionary obstacle when considering distance to green from the fairway. Avoiding the right-hand green bunkers and fall-off into th trees, many players end up in the rough left of the green with a tough up & down.
Three great par-fives.
When you think about it, with 12 playing at 500 as a par-4 in the Open, it becomes an outstanding short par-5 for the evryday player from there.
Make that four great par-fives.
Wait, then there is 15 & 16... they certainly play as 5's for the average player...
