Changes at Bethpage

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Played out at Bethpage on the 17th and saw the most recent changes firsthand.  Here are my initial thoughts-

#3 - rumor has it they may create a new back tee. Doesn't need it.

#4 - love the chipping area over the green and the removal of trees behind the green.  Better viewing for spectators on this classic hole and more playing options around the green.

#5 - New back tee needed to bring the cross bunker back into play.  Great improvement.

#7 - New tee which lengthens this par 4 in The Open to well over 500 yards. It should only be used when its playing downwind.
Didn't seem necessary to me.

#8 - Wins the most improved award.  They extended the green forward and shaved the bank in front of the pond.  I remember thinking they should have done that back in 02.

#9 - New tee lengthens the hole to 460+.and there is talk of a new fairway bunker (presumably on the inside of the dogleg).  What once was a possible birdie hole is now turning into a beast.

#10 - Front tee box was extended.

#13 - They are building a new tee WAAAY back which will make this hole 600+.  Not sure if I like the move because the old tee forced players to shape their drives on this serpentine fairway.  However it does bring the front bunker short of the green into play for guys going at the green in two.

#14 - Extended the green back and created a severe drop-off behind the green.  A back right pin will be very interesting.

At the end of the day, I think the changes allow the USGA greater flexibility in course set-up.  I hope they use the new tees and pins in a variety of different combinations rather than always just going with the longest yardage.

[Jeff Loh]

Geoff
interesting....where would they put a new tee on three? over the road in front of the maint shed?
how long will #5 play now? over 500 yards?
like #3--where would the new tee on 13 be? did they buy some land from the "sopranos"
thanks for the update

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

#3 would be where the current road/path is behind the current back tee.  I would figure it would at 10-15 yds and get the total up around 225 yds.

#5 Plays about 480 yds.

You have to see the tee on #13 to believe it.  It is hanging off the side of a hill that I never knew was there.  It wouldn't surprise me at all if the purchased they property to put it there.

[Jeff Loh]

hmmm   i think #3 is a fine hole as is. don't think "length" will make it better
so where is the new tee on 13?? to the right or left? still cant see where they found the room
thanks
jeff

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Didn't realize there was already a thread with pictures of the new tee.  Check out Joe Bausch's thread:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=31669

[Phil_the_Author]

Geoff,

I thought I would copy the info I posted about #13 from the other thread:

As one who was there two years ago when this change was discussed, I can certainly verify that more than usual consideration was given to adding the new tee.

At the time the idea was for a tee that would make the hole play in the 630-660 range depending on how far back the tee box might be put.

The reason for doing this is because of the distance gains due to equipment improvements then and since. Actually this brings in more strategy and choices.

Consider, even at 660, the biggest hitters can give the green a run intwo, especially because the cross-bunker is some 40 yards short of the green.

For those that aren't the longest, or those whose drives will find the rough, the bunker on the left side of the fairway will now definitely be in play as it is about the 480-510 mark from the tee. Also, the choice of where to lay-up on the second shot becomes far more strategic as the fairway between the left bunker and the cross-bunker will be fairly narrow and take a well-struck shot to land there, yet a slightly strong or mis-placed shot will find the cross-bunker, a more likely result of the new tee box.

All of this makes the tee shot on this hole far more critical.

The irony in all of this is that not a single eagle was recorded on 13 or 4 during the 2002 Open by anyone reaching either green in two. The handful of eagles came from a 3rd shot pitch-in.

Joe, there may be one ore two more changes coming, though these will be more subtle and hopefully bring more strategy into play as well.