| The Black course at Bethpage in Farmingdale, | | | | The 5th isn't the place to let down your guard. It's |
| New York is a 7,065 yards long Par 71, a rating | | | | a 478 yard Par 4 with a huge set of bunkers that |
| of 75.4 and a slope rating of 144. "The Black | | | | only long hitters can clear. Once you're past that |
| Course is an extremely difficult course which we | | | | problem getting to green is still no cakewalk. The |
| recommend only for highly skilled golfers." That's | | | | green slopes away from you as you approach so |
| the wording on the famous sign near the first | | | | it's real easy to roll off the back and the front is |
| hole of the Black course. But let's not succumb to | | | | guarded by two pretty substantial traps too. |
| fear and we'll bravely examine five or six of the | | | | Let's jump ahead to the 11th hole - a 435 yard |
| best holes here. Let's get started. | | | | Par 4. Now the trick here is that you can see the |
| Talk about intimidating! The first hole on the Black | | | | flag from the tee and most tend to aim for the |
| course is a 431 yard Par 4 with a sharp dogleg | | | | flag. The problem is that most of the fairway is |
| right about halfway down the fairway. The first | | | | to the right of the direct line from the tee to the |
| big decision you need to make is whether to play | | | | flag. So be careful not to get fooled here by the |
| to the dogleg, or if you're able, to try to shape a | | | | visuals. To top it off, the green slopes pretty |
| longer shot around the dogleg. If you choose the | | | | stiffly from back to front so putting once you're |
| longer shot be careful of the tree on the right | | | | there is no foregone conclusion. |
| side of the fairway just at the dogleg. Oh...and | | | | Let's wrap up our quick tour with a look at the |
| have you walked 18 recently? Carts are not | | | | 15th, the hardest hole on the course according to |
| allowed on the Black course. | | | | many experts. The 15th is a 458 yard Par 4 that |
| The third hole is a long Par 3 (232 yards) with a | | | | moves gently to the left as you approach the |
| shallow green awaiting you. There's not very | | | | hole. The front of the green is almost completely |
| much room for error here - trees on both sides | | | | covered by traps, and the green itself, in addition |
| of the fairway and behind the shallow green, so | | | | to being multi-leveled, is raised about 50 feet from |
| don't be fooled by the Par 3. | | | | the level of the fairway. There's very little room |
| Unless you're as cool as Tiger, the view from the | | | | for error on this one - don't be too surprised if |
| 4th may make your knees shake just a little. It's | | | | you card a big number here. |
| a 517 yard Par 5, with a two level fairway. | | | | Assuming that your legs hold up through 18 and |
| Separating the lower fairway from the upper is a | | | | you finish, you've just walked one of the best |
| row of bunkers that run diagonally across the | | | | courses around. You shouldn't be too disappointed |
| fairway and really catch your attention from the | | | | by your score - even most of the big boys have |
| tee. The second part of the fairway curves | | | | trouble shooting par here. If you're in the mood |
| around to the left and leads up to a fairly small | | | | for more, don't ignore the other color courses at |
| green that's guarded by two more big bunkers. If | | | | Bethpage. They are all very good and worthy of |
| you par this one, pat yourself on the back - | | | | your attention. |
| twice. | | | | |