The changes and additions to the Black are a direct result of the increased length of play on the PGA tour and how this will affect play at the Open in 2009. “The par-70 course, which played 7,214 yards in 2002, is being stretched by 250 yards to 7,464 yards. Not coincidentally, the 3.5 percent additional length correlates closely to the 3.2 percent gain in average driving distance on the PGA Tour from 2002 (280 yards) to 2007 (289.2 yards).”
As a result, many, in fact, most of these changes will not affect the play of anyone other than the most talented of players.
As Brad noted, “All told, new tees are in place or to be created for holes the par-3 third and Nos. 5, 7, 9, 10, and 16, all of them par-4s…”
The added lengths on several of these holes (5, 9 &10) have actually been in place for several years now and some of them may still not be used during the open (e.g. 9).
Rarely, if at all, will there be tee markers placed on these new tees for use during normal play. The Park recognizes that almost no one can play from them and know that if they were in use during normal play that it would have a greatly deleterious effect on time of play.
A very good example of this is the new tee that was put in place for 15 before the 2002 Open. It was deemed too long and difficult and not used and has not been open to play since. It will be interesting to see if it is used in ’09.
Some of the changes will affect day-to-day play, and most of these are for the good. For example, “In some cases, fairways are also being widened marginally…” This should be most welcome (especially to Mr. Childs) to all. In fact, a suggestion has been made to change the fairway areas on several holes from what it is now. The thinking is as follows. On 10 & 11 ( and a few others) because the USGA established a fairway width and then measured and laid them out based on where the center lines are, strategy placed into the hole designs has been eliminated. It has been suggested then that the fairways, regardless of overall width, hug one side or the other as this will then bring back into play some wonderful bunkers that Tilly designed. Think of the bunkers to the right side of 10 & 11. In addition, this will also bring back into play shot angles specifically designed to test the better player. I personally believe that this is a very good suggestion and am looking forward to seeing if it will be implemented.
Again, as Brad wrote, “The two biggest changes to Bethpage-Black are taking place on the only two holes that played to an average score of under par during the 2002 U.S. Open…”
“At the 161-yard, par-3 14th hole (avg. score in 2002 was 2.903), a large new greenside bunker on the left has been put in, and the putting surface increased by about one-third, thanks to a new front leading edge and a considerable shelf on the back that falls away slightly from the line of approach…”
These hole changes have been discussed on here before, but in a nutshell, the larger putting surface was needed for play on every level. Before the available hole locations were few, now the entire green can be used. The new front-left tongue will be an exciting area for hole locations, as will the back right behind the bunker. By the way, this area was originally green surface so, in effect, this is a restoration in that area rather than a change. The new left-side bunker aids in strategy and decision-making and actually is easier to play from than the heavy rough that was there before.
The final large change, “The par-5 13th hole (avg. score in 2002 was 4.941) is being stretched from 554 yards to 605, with a new tee currently under construction adjacent to a new pump station that is being installed. The hole is also slated to get a new fairway bunker that will pinch the driving area from the left…” is the most controversial.
Despite the low hole average during the Open, neither par-5 had a single eagle recorded by a player reaching the green in two. Would the relatively short 4th be at risk of an eagle-fest this time? Some of the top players were asked whether they believed that they would play the hole with the idea of going for it in two in ’09… To a person they said “No.”
A recommendation had been made to lengthen the hole for “09 by building a new tee on the back side of the third green. It was rejected because of the massive amount of work (earth-moving and tree removal) that it would have taken to accomplish it.
Now as for the new bunker short left of the green, I am certain that it will surprise many, and possibly even shock some, to hear that I am very much against this bunker. I believe that it will have no effect on play whatsoever during the ’09 Open. It is 470 +/- yards from the tee and the only shots played to the left side of the fairway in this area will be miss-hits as all will properly play to the right side.
For the most part this will only come into play during normal course of play and punish the average player. It is for this reason that I don’t like it and wish it wasn’t put in there.
As Brad noted, “The work is being… carried out in-house and overseen by superintendent Craig Currier…”
This is a good thing. Craig has spent a good deal of time researching Tilly’s design ideas as they were put into practice and, especially where bunker construction is involved, does an outstanding job bringing these about.
There were a few other recommendations made to tweak the course for the ’09 Open. For example, increasing green sizes by recovering lost areas from years past. Some of this (e.g. on 7 & 11) has already happened. It will be interesting to see how much more of this will occur.
Unfortunately, I have to cut this short (
), but if there are other questions I will be more than happy to try and address them later.