[Teetogreen86]

I was lucky enough to play at Bethpage Black last week with Andy(857-Pro-Ti), our buddy Scott and his boss. What a great time we had. Showed up early, had a bite to eat, hit some balls, then off we went. The course is just unreal. Best course I've played by far. It's really neat to see how the entire operation is run with 5 courses, one pro shop, one range, and one area to check in for tee times. It was a lot to take in. So off we went. I hit one good off the first tee but pulled it a little into the prime cut of rough but drew a good lie and hit 6 iron to about 4 feet. Putt didn't hit the hole . I proceeded to shoot 39 on the front with 19 putts. I hit it to about 3 feet on 11 which was playing dead into the wind. Had a straight uphill putt that didn't hit the hole . All I wanted at the start of the day was one birdie. I finally figured out what was wrong with my stroke on 15 when I birdied the hardest hole on the course. I ended up shoot 35 on the back for a 74 +3 overall. That was the best ball striking round of my life, but just couldn't make anything. I think I had about 6 or 7 legit birdie chances inside 15 feet. Oh well. I'll take it for the first time ever seeing the course . I most certainly had a great time and the company was good as well(except for the pretty much useless caddies Andy and Scott used). I was the only man in the group so I carried my own bag .

All in all this course was amazing. The bunkers, the elevation changes, the blind shots, the wind...it's always got you thinking. Now back to shooting my regular 56's on TW 2006...

Here are the pics...

[SkippyFL]

Wow wish I could play there!

[utopiapga]

Awsome pics........................and nice shooting

[857 Pro-Ti]

I had fun watching Kyle hit it like a pro and putt like an amateur. I haven't seen anyone hit so many good approach shots on that course. After the shot on #11 I told him to go sit in the car if he didn't make the putt

We made Kyle carry his own bag to try and help build up his leg muscles, to no avail. He looked just as skinny at the end of the round.

After seeing the pictures of my swing I'm thinking that maybe I'm better at photography or maybe Kyle just snapped the pics at the wrong time (at least the ones i took of him looked good )

I managed to hack around at 89 after shooting 70 at my home course a few days before

It seemed like we were playing two different courses

Kyle, next time you're not supposed to make the host look like a hacker

[ckay]

The Open tees just make that course a whole other animal. If you go out there again, play from the Open boxes. That 74 will turn into a 79+.

Great 74 though.

[mji009]

Ah, "The Black".....a mere 15 minutes from my house


Glad you had a great time and shot a really amazing score for someone who never played it before. Hope you grabbed some 2009 US Open gear while you were down here. Some of the hats are really nice, unlike 2002. Anyways, you should come down in the fall when the foliage is changing colors. You can use that as an excuse to come again!

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Great pics, thanks! I am playing there in late August!

[peteman29]

You lucky boys, BP looks amazing. I'd love to play some of the famous U.S. courses.

I'll just have to make do with what we have here, I think I'm going to make a date with Royal County Down at some stage this year, at £125 a round it's not something you get to do very often.

[pitchmaster1224]

Guys I will be in the area mid-late August for a wedding and would love a chance to play that course! If anyone is free, please let me know. I have always enjoyed playing with fellow members, and always will!

[mji009]

Pitchmaster sounds good! Make a post when the time is near. If my schedule allows and my driver is working for me you can count me in.

I played The Black a few weeks ago and couldn't hit a fairway Errant tee shots are punished in the thick stuff. The one fairway I did hit I made par so I was happy. I think I shot a 95 or 96 that day Four years back at the peak of my playing powers I shot an 83 (one of my best ever scores!), so hopefully I can get my game tuned like that again. It's coming around thankfully. 83 or 95....its still great just to play on The Black.

On a side note, speaking about Bethpage, I think the Red course is almost as nice as The Black. It doesn't have the cache of The Black, and its not as hard, but it is a really good course to play as well. The Red is used for a lot of local championship/tourney events.

[nickc445]

Wow. If there's ever a reason for me to visit New York, that course may be it.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

[drpino]

great pics and story. i've played the blue course before and watched some people tee off on the black (couple of them tried to cut the right side corner with driver instead of 3wd off the tee).

i'm up for playing the black sometime with some fellow WRXers should i ever find the time and be able to get out there from the city.