Dave Pelz: “Studying the game”

Lets take a look at a few of the interesting features from the Bethpage Black course set-up. These features show the difference a few feet can make for the US Open players.

For a front pin position at the 8th hole, if you hit a little short and have too much spin on the ball, the front slope will work against you and you very well might find the water. There is also a tree just right of the front of  the green (which David Toms just hit and made a 6) which can deflect balls into the pond.

Front of 8th green 2009 Bethpage, US Open

Bethpage frogs eat golf balls

If your ball finds this pond, you might just want to leave it alone because the frogs that reside here are big and loud (they are NY frogs, they know the game and they like golf balls).

Another feature that will test the luck of the golfers are the “tongues” of deep rough that approach the greens on the edges of the bunkers. Look at how a difference of a few feet here on holes #11 and #17 can mean the difference between a relatively easy up and down, and an extremely difficult escape from the hay.

Can you imagine playing Bethpage Black set up like this yourself?

Deep rough at the back left of 11th green

Tongue of deep rough behind 17th green, Bethpage