We've finished 90 holes at Bethpage in three days (done all the crayons, as I like to say) with some surprising scores and some surprising revelations about these five golf courses. In due time, all will be revealed. For those manducaters champing at the bit to see some photos, here are the five courses in alphabetical order.
Black:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/Bethpage%20Black-July%202011/Blue:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/Bethpage%20Blue-July%202011/Green:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/Bethpage%20Green-July%202011/Red:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/Bethpage%20Red-July%202011/Yellow:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/Bethpage%20Yellow-July%202011/For those with scads of patience, the RED TOUR begins here.
Bethpage Red is the second of two fairly pure A.W. Tillinghast courses. What our triumvirate found noteworthy were the following, scant details: the Red plays 6200 yards from the forward tees (a daunting mileage for the usual company that plays up there~seniors, beginners and ladies); the 1st and 18th holes on the Red are miles better than their similarly-numbered holes on the Black. We cobbled together a fantastical championship routing that eliminated two holes (10 & 11) from the Black and incorporated these two, finer holes from the Red. It goes Black 1-9, 12-18, then a shuttle over to #1 Red and another shuttle over to #18 Red to finish the round. Never mind all the difficulties involved (and trees, and lost sight lines); it's fantasy. Despite a flat stretch on the back nine (similar to the flat stretch on the Black, albeit longer and less interesting), the Red is easily the New Course to Bethpage Black's Old...if it were off the property, it would garner heightened respect. Enough intrommercial...on with the peregrination.
Bethpage Red~Hole#1...Par 4:471\464\439...My initial thought was that A.W. Tillinghast forward-channeled Mike Strantz on this hole, given the funnel shape of the ascending fairway that reminded me of #9 at Tobacco Road. The drive down from the tee deck brings you parallel to #18 at Black, so fescue and bunkering are shared between these holes. There is ample landing space. The approach ascends quickly past knobs of earth left and right, to a plateau green installed in the hillside, near the top.
From Tee DeckDeeper from Tee DeckFrom Fairway [note nobs left and right, creating cascade effect, followed by green at top right of golf cart]
Closer from FairwayPartway up slopeBackward from front of green, #18 Black on left & #18 Red on rightFrom rear left of putting surface