[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Thursday of next week is the day after the New York State open and the rough will be US Open depth greenside and the greens will probably still be rolling in the 10+ range.  The depth of greenside rough is no exaggeration--it is literally 6 inches at the moment.  The other possible time is Sunday afternoon because practice round times that are not filled up will be sold back to the public and there is a possiblity of filling out a group of participants.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

If you have an opportunity, this is the absolute best opportunity to experience what has become of the Black.  Unfortunately, it is on a hard to recover architectural decimation at the hands of either Rees or the USGA.

[SPDB]

this does not sound like fun. 

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Robert:

A friend played last week and his answer would be, "Never!"

He said the fairways are ridiculously narrow and the rough is unplayable. Called it a waste of time.

Anthony

[Dave_Miller]

Thursday of next week is the day after the New York State open and the rough will be US Open depth greenside and the greens will probably still be rolling in the 10+ range.  The depth of greenside rough is no exaggeration--it is literally 6 inches at the moment.  The other possible time is Sunday afternoon because practice round times that are not filled up will be sold back to the public and there is a possiblity of filling out a group of participants.

Bethpage Black - Never, never,never.  It is way too hard.
Best
Dave

[Jim Adkisson]

Having played Torrey South in April and BP in early June, I would chip in that having an already stout course groomed for exceptional players in a championship, these courses are hard enough for players of my skills (h.i. 10.2)...but it was fun to play in the extreme conditions!

BP is undeniably one of the best courses I have ever played and If I was in the area, I would try to play it in the extreme conditions, just to see the difference from when it is playing "easy" 

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

My contention is that this is an opportunity to play a course in championship conditions.  How many golfers have had the opportunity to play a round in true championship conditons?  I can unequivically state that the current greenside rough as of Thursday afternoon was as severe as was found at Olympic in 1998.  In addition, this is an opportunity to actually make a judgement on the Black.  Hopefyully, some will take advantage of this opportunity.
P.S.  The USGA will be monitoring the 7th and 9th holes during the NY State Open.  In 2000 they monitored the 12th during the 2nd round and on the 3rd round there was a stake with some white painted areas, which created a new back tee on the hole for the 2002 Open.

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Robert,

Are they playing 7 as a Par 4 or 5?

[Jay Flemma]

last time I was there, the fairways were narrower than EITHER SIDE of rough...

[corey miller]

Will the "Open Doctor" Rees Jones be in attendence at the NYS Open in order to observe and make changes for the U.S. Open? 

[Phil_the_Author]

Corey,

I don't know if rees will be there or not, but any and all changes for 2009 have already happened...

[Jay Flemma]

...except one..the graded rough.  It's all deep and gnarly now!  Waaaaaayy tougher than Torrey and waaaaaaaaay narrower fairways!

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

I would be surprised if Rees is there this week.  Last time Tom Meeks was in attendance and he was the the one who placed the stake in the position that became the far back 12th tee.  As I was informed, the 7th will be played as a par 4 and there is a chance that the 9th will be played from the ladies tee to see if it is a worthwhile drivable hole.  Also, the 9th will be played from the far back tee.  Also, the USGA or Rees may not be finished further ruining the course. 

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

The 7th hole was played from the new 540 yard tee that had a card listing of 510.  This yardage is absolutely bogus--unless you measure a hole down the exact tree line on the right to the right edge of the fairway and then angle the line to the middle of the green.  As for the USGA observer--he was in his 50's with grayish hair and probably stands around 6ft and weighs around 190.  He was sitting in a cart with some notebooks, laser, and took quite a few notes on our group.  The tee shot was dead into a 1 club wind and I failed to reach the corner on a pretty solid drive and had 264 to the pin.  My driver off the deck with a 20 yard slice was spot on and still 5 feet short of the putting surface.  A 2 putt from 84 feet.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Today the course yielded a few low scores from some players in the first through sixth groups. Afterward, scores began climbing, the wind today was constantly swirling.  Of note, the 8th was played way up at 142 to a pin barely past the false front.  This was very much like Augusta 12 with the swirling winds. If they do this in the Open, there will be some putts that find the water.   Also, the tee was up on 6 to lure players into driving down the hill--brutally tough fairway to hit. 

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