I'm not going to repeat the responses that have been put forward by GeoffreyC because I agree with them.
Tom MacWood:
If you have not played the course I don't know how you can say there's been a "heavy handed approach." I've played the Black for over 30 years (more than 100 rounds easy) and seen the course when rubber mats were the best they could provide for tees. You are completely clueless on just how bad things were at the Black and what's been done to the course.
I've also seen the course up close several times since the work of Rees Jones and I can say given the charge that Rees was given he's done very well. Rees was not permitted to significantly alter the greens -- minus the 18th. Look at other elements in what Rees did and, in my opinion, he deserves credit.
The new 8th hole, at 220 yards, is a winner and with a new back pin position the hole will really be sleeper in the Open. The new added rear bunker behind the green will also get some action from overly-aggressive approaches. In addition, the hideous second pond that was far left was removed for good reason -- the main pond in front of the green remains.
As far as Tom Paul's point is concerned I do agree the 18th is a bit much. But, gentlemen, keep this in mind. The 18th was a lackluster finisher BEFORE Rees got to the site. I played the old 18th when it was a max of 375 yards from the little perched tee box and it was always a yawner of a hole after you faced the strong trio of #15 through #17. As a fairly long hitter I can recall hitting tee shots and getting it near the upslope as you walk up towards the green.
In addition, the 18th had major problems with drainage particularly in the drive zone. To Rees credit he did take out bunkers that had been placed in recent times by the club (i.e. the two-little speck bunkers that pinched in the 18th and the ill-advised fairway bunker on the right at #15 which I never saw anyone in, are just two examples).
TomP, the 18th was stretched back to about 425 yards, but it's still a relatively tame closer. Rees did play with the green a bit by reducing the circular disc that was there before. Pins cut on the far right side will be somewhat challenging. But pros will be hitting 3-wood and 1-irons to get in the fairway. I don't have a perfect solution but the 18th at Bethpage didn't need just a restoration -- it should have been changed outright in my mind.
The rest of the Black was wonderfully done by Rees in getting the course back to where it should have been all along. I credit the superintendent and staff for conditions that few clubs on Long Island, including the private ones, could hope to match. The bunkers now have quality sand, consistency in their preparation and are fashioned in the Tillinghast manner (I know this Tom since I have reviewed quite passionately the photos located in their clubhouse -- photos not seen elsewhere) and from conversations with many an old-timer who played the course in the 40's and 50's. Rees followed the style that existed at the course because the appearance of the bunkers looks better than what was there when I first played the course years ago. This is the same man who has done other Tillie restorations at Baltusrol and done them well.
With the new tees in for the Open the course now has bunkers positioned to be a factor -- even for the world's best.
When people say things about the Black, or any other course, by making assessments from the comfort of their living room without EVER having played the course or seen firsthand how it has evolved over the course of time, I can't take seriously ill-informed and generalized comments.
GeoffreyC:
You're right on target -- given the daily pounding the Black has taken over the year from a range of players the course needed a real makeover. You are also right to say that if other courses, like Cypress Point, had to face this daily onslaught with inadequate revenue, it is more than likely you could never return back to the glory days.
To the credit of New York State through an agreement with the USGA the green fees at the Black will still be kept at reasonable levels -- no more than $50 on weekends -- the Black will not become the de facto Pebble Beach or Pinehurst with Master Card being the preferred payment. For New York or anywhere else = a bargain hard to beat. Will there be more interest in the course? No doubt and deservingly so.
I only wish Rees had been given latitude to upgrade the greens because, like you, I agree that 2/3's of the holes have little to offer in terms of meaningful challenge to what you would fine at other Tillie gems such as Winged Foot, Fenway and Somerset Hills, Alpine, to name just four.
