What are you looking forward to the most about Bethpage?

[Sam Maryland]

Jay,

Absolutely... wherever Charlie would like to post the aerials...

Dave,

I also believe #2 to be a vastly underrated hole. I am one of the few who would recommend to anyone playing it that they hit driver long and left! The right side is so inviting and yet so limiting...

This is a prime example of a hole where Tilly's belief that a hole is best understood by looking at it from behind the green and back down the fairway. Standing on the tee you think that it is simply a gently rising fairway with a quick hill at the end. From behind you are stunned to see just how much you have climbed uphill! It is the misread of that that causes so many to hit into the front right bunkers. For most it is nearly impossible to hit it over the green...

You damn sure got that right!  On average if people took at a MINIMUM 2 extra clubs vs. planned they'd be a lot better off over time.  I'll have to try to remind myself of this.

[Steve Lapper]

Dave:

Let me help you out here ... you played the course how many times?

Once? Twice?

That perspective is a limited one -- albeit you do have a good eye so don't take offense.

Matt:

   You better be careful here Paaaardner...

   You've been a practicer of this for a very long time. Your amount of play on BB might not be in question, but you've most frequently used a very limited amount play on so many other course to make your "1000% certain" perspective absolute! Just wanted to point this out to you

[Joe Hancock]

I'm looking forward to being able to read all about it on a blog.

Anyone know of a good link?

[Jay Flemma]

* Rather than old ladies eating turtle soup in your backswing, you have a bunch of Long Island Goomba's betting on your chances of hitting the fairway after you have just read the infamous sign.

The 1st tee shot at Bethpage Black is the most intimidating tee shot in golf - Bar NONE! It may not be exactly due to golf course architecture, but that is one tough tee shot.

What?  No way!  What about the first at Tobacco Road, Royal New Kent, Ballyneal, Augusta, St. Andrews, Winged Foot, (who wants to nhave to take the free Mulligan offered!)...

However, Richard, I think that's an EXCELLENT topic for a thread!

Matt, Dave is right about horizontal sweep being an important factor...that's why two is such a good hole...it makes them work the ball.