by Jeff Skinner
Bethpage Black is one of the toughest courses in the world. It’s long and well protected by deep bunkers everywhere on the course. And the greens are enough to give every golfer nightmares. A.W. Tillinghast, with a little help from Open Doctor Rees Jones have made this course a true gem that tests golfers at every level. But one of the few knocks each time the pros tee it up at The Black is the less than challenging finishing eighteenth hole.
The 411 yard eighteenth has the reputation of being a weak closing hole as evidenced in 2009 when eventual champion Lucas Glover hit six iron, nine iron to seal his win. Here’s a video that showcases a unique idea to make The Black’s final hole a bit more challenging. The idea is to use the Black’s eighteenth tee but to hit onto Bethpage’s Red Course eighteenth fairway and finish on the Red’s green.
While never utilized it is an interesting proposal. Maybe in 2016 when The Barclays returns to The Black or when the USGA brings the Open back to The Black they’ll give it a try.
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