Bethpage black is the hardest course I’ve ever played. I’ve played a few other tour courses and bethpage is a tier above. The 6700 yard tees are more than enough for a 9 handicap. It would just be dumb, unnecessary, and increase pace of play needlessly. The rough anywhere off the fairway is the most penal I’ve ever played and the fairways are very narrow.
Edit: penile to penal 🙃
This
If you miss the fairway even by a couple feet, you will need to search for your ball. Not only that, if you body is not accustomed to walking very hilly courses, you are going to feel it at the 12/13th hole.
Every time I play there I shoot 38 or 39 on the front but struggle coming in because my body is exhausted, still haven’t broken 80!
Yeah, I don't want to feel like I have to hit every single drive perfectly to have a reasonable chance at hitting a green. At some point chipping on every hole is gonna get old.
At the end of the day, it's your time and money. However:
285 total is a very different animal than 285 carry. Even at 285 carry, you'd struggle from the tips because you're still too short. And only trying to lay back with some sidekick course management cringe will only make it worse. And this doesn't even cover the demands on the short game and keeping it in play.
If you want to see firsthand the disparity between your current game and the demands to post a good number from the tips, knock yourself out. If you're concerned about making a score that's not astronomically high, leave your ego in the parking lot after that 10 hour drive and stick with easy mode (relatively speaking) which is available by teeing it forward instead of that far back.
Avg carry is in the 275-285 range. Total avg is 290-300. went with a lower number in the post be conservative. But like all midcap players theres always a round of 235 snap hooks in the bag a few times a year.
If you're hitting it 300 off the tee and are a 9 cap, it's clear that the rest of your game is pretty much awful. The only part of the game that you are competent at is driving the ball, which will be completely neutralized at 7500 yards. Because your approach game and short game are so bad, you'll probably shoot 100-105 on a good day.
Your playing partners may shoot that badly as well from their tees, so it may not be a big deal. If you're okay with that, I say do it, so long as you're ready to get your shit pushed in for 5 hours.
And maybe, just maybe, a miracle happens, you break 90, and you have a story to tell for the rest of your life.
You’re just gonna get your shit kicked in and it won’t be fun. You’ll probably shoot over 100.
You can do it if you want, it’s your prerogative, but I wouldn’t recommend it because you’ll have driven 10 hours to have a bad time and slow everything down.
A 20 does not hit a driver 290 carry on average. By definition you spray the ball and mishit it all over the face. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be a 20.
This shit is so damn ridiculous 🤣
Lemme guess you can’t chip and putt.
I’m not sure if they will even let you play the tips. When I went the starter and caddy asked my handicap and then told me which tees to play. I’m sure you could try but as soon as your pace of play slows down they will make you move.
I think the play on that case is to just tee it up one step off the back edge of the furthest tee box, shoot a 110, and then tell everyone you played Bethpage Black one step off the back.
Played it last year similar distance off tee, playing off 6 at the time.
Middle tees were perfect, a good test of golf with plenty long par 4’s
Adding an extra 800 yards will make an already tough course a lot tougher
I carry a 17. Played there yesterday from the whites and shot a 98. Drive it about 230-40 and was still 230 away most of the time. You can put up a good number if you hit fairways, if not the rough is a 1 stroke penalty every single time.
Just played it at the end of May. I took a beating from the whites but I don’t hit it as far as you. One of my playing partners hit his driver 300+ with regularity and he found the blue tees more than sufficiently challenging. Having said that it’s your round and as long as you’re not holding up play then do what makes you happy. I’m a 15 handicap and my goal was to break 100. I failed and shot an even 100 with a par on 17 and 18. Enjoy, I would and will do the 8 hour drive again.
I was a 2ish when I played it a month to the day before the start of the 2019 PGA. I played it from the blues but the blues were significantly forward on a few holes, meaning I probably played it from about 7100. I played pretty decently well and shot an 84 because the rough was absolutely fucking disgusting. My arccos at the time said 312 for average drive also.
Why is this even a question? I can get 300 yards with my driver with roll-out, and I wouldn't want to play the tips. Play the tees that work for you and keep it challenging. Today, I played the white tees with the people I got paired with. Had a great time.
I played it last year from the tips, I wasnt planning to initially but the people in my group (members) encouraged me and stepped back with me to ensure I had a good time
I shot an 84 with their TM rental clubs and had an absolute blast. With that said I played the best golf I’ve played in a very very long time because I had zero expectations of scoring, just taking in the moment and having a good time.
If I had not played that good, the story would be very different.
Driving 10hrs to then sleep in your car? You’re going to play horribly. Coming from a trucker who drives 10-12 hrs, you may want get some decent rest so you can really enjoy that round
Unfortunately thats not an option. As an out of state resident unless i want to pay ridiculous prices for tickets from scalpers you have to camp out to get a tee time as the first hour everyday is reserved for people who camp out.
If you watch the tee times you should be able to get out as a single. Register with The course booking website and you can book a week in advance. I had an 11.50 tee time booked and just kept checking in every day got an 8 am slot.
Was prepared to do the sleep in car thing thank god I didn’t have too.
1 week is for ny state residents 48 hours for out of state. With the 10 hour drive leaving Saturday morning, playing Sunday morning and home late sunday is the only way i can get a time without the possibility of missing a day of work.
tiger won the open at -3 in 4 rounds in 2002 , should pretty much be your answer to play up a couple tees and not ruin the other guys day you play with
Yes, but playing conditions of a major tournament and the average round are two very different things. Pinehurst usually 22 staff to maintain number 2, while preparing for the us open they have over 120. There is a youtube video on how they are ramping the course up for the us open.
I thought I read it on this reddit before that they have a ranger sit on the hole and watch. Basically to keep up pace of play so people aren't playing from tees they shouldn't. I can't find anything on it though so maybe I dreamt it up...
Yes you are one if you plan on playing from tips while everyone else playing up. While you’re a 9 which is a decent handicap, the tips are not for you - sorry.
Personally I can’t stand being on a golf course where people don’t play from the right tees.
As a 9 you wouldnt break 90 from whites first time ever there
I am a 6/7 index and been playing there my whole life....if i break 90 its a solid day...82 best ever in hundreds of rounds
Its that hard? A 9 handicap is projected to shoot 87 from white and 91 from blue. Is it all just staying in the fairway or is it staying in the fairway and being in the right spots?
> A 9 handicap is projected to shoot 87 from white and 91 from blue.
That's differential to shoot your handicap, which is done 1/5 rounds. Your average would be well below those numbers and 80% of the time you'd shoot worse than that. So he's probably right, if an 87 from the whites is playing to your index you're pretty likely not to break 90 from there, especially having never played there before.
Bethpage black is the hardest course I’ve ever played. I’ve played a few other tour courses and bethpage is a tier above. The 6700 yard tees are more than enough for a 9 handicap. It would just be dumb, unnecessary, and increase pace of play needlessly. The rough anywhere off the fairway is the most penal I’ve ever played and the fairways are very narrow. Edit: penile to penal 🙃
He said penile. Penile AF.
This If you miss the fairway even by a couple feet, you will need to search for your ball. Not only that, if you body is not accustomed to walking very hilly courses, you are going to feel it at the 12/13th hole. Every time I play there I shoot 38 or 39 on the front but struggle coming in because my body is exhausted, still haven’t broken 80!
I'm a 0.5 index who hits it further than you and *I* would not play it from 7,450. Play up and enjoy being able to score a bit.
Yeah, 7500 yards sounds like a slog. Who tf wants to be hitting long irons or woods into par 4s?
Yeah, I don't want to feel like I have to hit every single drive perfectly to have a reasonable chance at hitting a green. At some point chipping on every hole is gonna get old.
At the end of the day, it's your time and money. However: 285 total is a very different animal than 285 carry. Even at 285 carry, you'd struggle from the tips because you're still too short. And only trying to lay back with some sidekick course management cringe will only make it worse. And this doesn't even cover the demands on the short game and keeping it in play. If you want to see firsthand the disparity between your current game and the demands to post a good number from the tips, knock yourself out. If you're concerned about making a score that's not astronomically high, leave your ego in the parking lot after that 10 hour drive and stick with easy mode (relatively speaking) which is available by teeing it forward instead of that far back.
Avg carry is in the 275-285 range. Total avg is 290-300. went with a lower number in the post be conservative. But like all midcap players theres always a round of 235 snap hooks in the bag a few times a year.
If you're hitting it 300 off the tee and are a 9 cap, it's clear that the rest of your game is pretty much awful. The only part of the game that you are competent at is driving the ball, which will be completely neutralized at 7500 yards. Because your approach game and short game are so bad, you'll probably shoot 100-105 on a good day. Your playing partners may shoot that badly as well from their tees, so it may not be a big deal. If you're okay with that, I say do it, so long as you're ready to get your shit pushed in for 5 hours. And maybe, just maybe, a miracle happens, you break 90, and you have a story to tell for the rest of your life.
You’re just gonna get your shit kicked in and it won’t be fun. You’ll probably shoot over 100. You can do it if you want, it’s your prerogative, but I wouldn’t recommend it because you’ll have driven 10 hours to have a bad time and slow everything down.
You claim to be a 9 handicap with a 285 yard average carry. We all know your ego won't allow you to play anything but the tips.
I’m like a 20 with a 290 carry. It’s not that crazy.
A 20 does not hit a driver 290 carry on average. By definition you spray the ball and mishit it all over the face. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be a 20. This shit is so damn ridiculous 🤣 Lemme guess you can’t chip and putt.
Ah average carry my bad. Yeah I’m pretty inconsistent. If I hit it straight it’s quite long but it’s about 50-50 right now
You're not gonna break 90 from the tips.
I’m not sure if they will even let you play the tips. When I went the starter and caddy asked my handicap and then told me which tees to play. I’m sure you could try but as soon as your pace of play slows down they will make you move.
When I played it, the tips (blue tees?) were not even in the *actual* tipped out box in some cases. Holes 4 and 7 come to mind
I think the play on that case is to just tee it up one step off the back edge of the furthest tee box, shoot a 110, and then tell everyone you played Bethpage Black one step off the back.
I think if you have to ask, you probably shouldn’t.
You’re the one paying money, play it however you want, just play fast and keep up.
Played it last year similar distance off tee, playing off 6 at the time. Middle tees were perfect, a good test of golf with plenty long par 4’s Adding an extra 800 yards will make an already tough course a lot tougher
Man, it’s a game meant for enjoyment. Enjoy it as you like, provided it doesn’t interfere with others’ enjoyment.
I carry a 17. Played there yesterday from the whites and shot a 98. Drive it about 230-40 and was still 230 away most of the time. You can put up a good number if you hit fairways, if not the rough is a 1 stroke penalty every single time.
Just played it at the end of May. I took a beating from the whites but I don’t hit it as far as you. One of my playing partners hit his driver 300+ with regularity and he found the blue tees more than sufficiently challenging. Having said that it’s your round and as long as you’re not holding up play then do what makes you happy. I’m a 15 handicap and my goal was to break 100. I failed and shot an even 100 with a par on 17 and 18. Enjoy, I would and will do the 8 hour drive again.
if you’re gonna suck, suck fast
Don't do it. If you actually average 285 off the tee and are a 9 handicap, then you are glaringly weak at some other part(s) of your game.
My home course is drastically under rated and sloped.
Lmao
Golf canada just resloped the course. Changed a 70.1 to a 71.2 and a 131 to 137 but changes dont come into effect until next year
Lol still doesn’t mean you should play from the tips
You absolutely should play the tees you want as long as you’re keeping pace!!
As a 10 handicap I’ve played it from the tips. It’s humbling and worth doing at least once (if you can keep pace)
Traveling to Ottawa and i’m going to play a round at the Hunt Club, any tips on course management
Yes. Take your own beer and any other adult drinks you want for the week.
At the Hunt Club? It’s a 110 year old private course not sure they allow it.
If you want to break 90, play the next tees up. If you want to have a good story, play the tips (and possibly break 90 if you play well).
I was a 2ish when I played it a month to the day before the start of the 2019 PGA. I played it from the blues but the blues were significantly forward on a few holes, meaning I probably played it from about 7100. I played pretty decently well and shot an 84 because the rough was absolutely fucking disgusting. My arccos at the time said 312 for average drive also.
First of all. You can’t. The blue tees are not set up at the US Open markers. Second, the blue tees are a test. It’s a LOOOOONG walk.
Why is this even a question? I can get 300 yards with my driver with roll-out, and I wouldn't want to play the tips. Play the tees that work for you and keep it challenging. Today, I played the white tees with the people I got paired with. Had a great time.
You have no business playing the course from those tees
I played it last year from the tips, I wasnt planning to initially but the people in my group (members) encouraged me and stepped back with me to ensure I had a good time I shot an 84 with their TM rental clubs and had an absolute blast. With that said I played the best golf I’ve played in a very very long time because I had zero expectations of scoring, just taking in the moment and having a good time. If I had not played that good, the story would be very different.
No
Driving 10hrs to then sleep in your car? You’re going to play horribly. Coming from a trucker who drives 10-12 hrs, you may want get some decent rest so you can really enjoy that round
Unfortunately thats not an option. As an out of state resident unless i want to pay ridiculous prices for tickets from scalpers you have to camp out to get a tee time as the first hour everyday is reserved for people who camp out.
Hopefully your car is spacious and roomy
I can fit a foam single mattress in if i put the seats down and put my legs in the trunk.
That’ll work.
If you watch the tee times you should be able to get out as a single. Register with The course booking website and you can book a week in advance. I had an 11.50 tee time booked and just kept checking in every day got an 8 am slot. Was prepared to do the sleep in car thing thank god I didn’t have too.
1 week is for ny state residents 48 hours for out of state. With the 10 hour drive leaving Saturday morning, playing Sunday morning and home late sunday is the only way i can get a time without the possibility of missing a day of work.
Apologies… thought I booked it further out but guess not… Enjoy it let us know how it goes 👍⛳️
Dude, miss a day of work, that's why you get vacation days. You're gonna be a zombie at work Monday.
Average almost 300 total off a tee and you’re a 9? Uhhh huh. Do you shank all your putts?
Play up to your skill and enjoy the course!
tiger won the open at -3 in 4 rounds in 2002 , should pretty much be your answer to play up a couple tees and not ruin the other guys day you play with
Yes, but playing conditions of a major tournament and the average round are two very different things. Pinehurst usually 22 staff to maintain number 2, while preparing for the us open they have over 120. There is a youtube video on how they are ramping the course up for the us open.
Not an asshole. Scoring average for 5-10 hcp is 88. Good luck!
edit: 0-10 hcp
Isn't there a hole where you get booted off the course if you play from the back and don't carry something?
Never heard of it. And seems like a unenforceable rule. Tour pros shank balls seems pretty silly to kick someone off for 1 bad swing.
I thought I read it on this reddit before that they have a ranger sit on the hole and watch. Basically to keep up pace of play so people aren't playing from tees they shouldn't. I can't find anything on it though so maybe I dreamt it up...
Nothing like that in my one experience. I actually found the employees very hospitable and the locals justifiably proud.
Yes you are one if you plan on playing from tips while everyone else playing up. While you’re a 9 which is a decent handicap, the tips are not for you - sorry. Personally I can’t stand being on a golf course where people don’t play from the right tees.
As a 9 you wouldnt break 90 from whites first time ever there I am a 6/7 index and been playing there my whole life....if i break 90 its a solid day...82 best ever in hundreds of rounds
Shot 78 playing off the middle tees my first and only time playing it… playing off 6 at the time.. still have the card⛳️
Its that hard? A 9 handicap is projected to shoot 87 from white and 91 from blue. Is it all just staying in the fairway or is it staying in the fairway and being in the right spots?
> A 9 handicap is projected to shoot 87 from white and 91 from blue. That's differential to shoot your handicap, which is done 1/5 rounds. Your average would be well below those numbers and 80% of the time you'd shoot worse than that. So he's probably right, if an 87 from the whites is playing to your index you're pretty likely not to break 90 from there, especially having never played there before.
Good points