2009 US Open: Editorial by Terry Cooper

Collin CooperJun 11, 2009

In my lifetime, I have been fortunate enough to have played more than a dozen courses that have hosted PGA Tour events. Pebble Beach, Winged Foot and Doral are on my list of courses that I’ve played. I can state for a fact that I have birdied the eighth hole at Pebble, the ninth hole at Winged Foot, and made a par at Doral’s Blue Monster 18th hole.

When the tour plays those venues, I enjoy recounting my experience on those courses and I watch the tournaments with great interest. Pars and birdies are indeed possible on those PGA Tour’s courses that I’ve played but I don’t have that impression about Bethpage Black.

From many, many years of watching weekly professional golf tournaments, including the Seniors, Nationwide, Women’s and European tour events, I think Bethpage Black could be the most brutal and difficult of all courses.

Based on the TV coverage, Whistling Straits may give it a run for its money but I still think No. 1 is Bethpage Black. From the web site, Google Earth and the TV pictures, every hole at Bethpage gives the appearance of an epic struggle for par.

I get that impression from the seasoned commentators broadcasting the tournaments as well. Sure, you hear superlatives from the commentators every week but they don’t have the genuine reverence that you hear when they speak of Bethpage Black.

Yes, Oakmont’s greens are frightening; the winds can wreak havoc at Pebble Beach; Amen Corner at Augusta National can bring great competitors to their knee’s but none of those scare me from Hole One through 18 the way Bethpage Black does.

The entire course is visually intimidating and the fans add to that intimidating factor. I suspect it plays that way as well. It seems to demand extraordinary length, accuracy, course management, uncommon greenside play and extreme putting skills.

The New York audience, especially during a US Open week, add an atmosphere like no other. Several veteran pros were clearly intimidated by the audience during the last open. I suspect you’ll see the same this time around.

I don’t know if this year’s US Open can match the drama of last year, but the venue is certainly set for another great event. It should be a great struggle. The faces on the competitors will tell it all.

Happy watching