USGA7HCP

Has anyone played Bethpage Black this year including the new changes to a few bunkers? Lets get some reviews from those who played it?

I had the pleasure of playing Bethpage State Park - Black Course yesterday May 22, 2008. We had a 1pm Tee Time, had lunch in the Oaks Room and also employed the services of a caddy!

Bethpage Black is Ranked #6 of America's 50 toughest courses, and #5 in its list of America's greatest public golf courses. It is also the top-ranked course in the Golf Digest list that is operated by a governmental entity.

What can I say, I'm still on cloud 9 after playing one of the Nations hardest courses. In my opinion, the grounds in which BP Black resides are simply majestic, featuring rolling hills and major changes in elevation.. What really makes the course difficult are the many deep fairway and greenside bunkers, the length of a few par 4's, Deep thick rough and the elevation big changes that make club selection difficult are all contributing factors to it's difficulty.
(Just though of another, Par 3's can play long, well over 200 yards especially into the wind like #17.)

Bethpage Black is and should be considered one of the top courses in the US / World and I'm looking forward to the 2009 US Open.

Side bar - I shot 85 with a double bogie on #18 and three, 3 putts as a 10 Handicap. Birdie on #13 and missed a 3 foot birdie on #17 that was playing 230 into the wind.

PS - It's not as hard it used to be to get on. It's now a computer generated system, not the 4am wait in the parking lot event it used to be.

Get out there and play it, 5 Stars!

Atlantic City Hotel + Casino Guy