The 2010 Event Guide is not yet available.
Visiting Farmingdale, New York for the 2009 US Open Golf Tournament held from the 15th – 21st June, is a highlight on any golfing fans calendar, so here are a few tips and details that will make your viewing of the tournament a much more pleasant, and memorable one. Bethpage State Park is a state park in Nassau County covering 1476 acres. There are 5 golf courses here including Black Course which is where the US Open is to be held. The other courses are named according to difficulty level starting from Red (second most difficult), Blue, Green and Yellow (the easiest course).
Bethpage Black became the first publicly owned course to host the US Open in 2002 with Tiger Woods claiming victory in one of the most exciting tournaments in history. In previous tournaments, public players had to fork out expensive fees to play at the Open, but at Bethpage Black the low fees to play drew lots more people, hence the decision to hold the event here again in 2009. If you want to take part in the weekend’s activities, there are 2 ways that you can secure a spot on the course. You can register for tee time with the park using your driver’s license, or you can simply show up and wait in line. This can however see you standing in a queue in the parking lot throughout the night.
The Bethpage Black Course is described as being challenging and exciting to play, opening with a 430 yard hole. The best hole is the 4th, being excellent for birdies. Since 2002, there have been many adjustments made to the course including a longer, diagonal teeing green on the 3rd hole, a conversion from rough hillside to fairway on the 6th, and 36 yards added to the 7th hole. The 9th hole has seen the biggest changes with more bunkers and a new 40 yard teeing ground.
On the 10th, the fairway was moved closer to the tee with the area behind it mown to allow for better short game options. The 13th hole is also expected to play more difficult since 2002 with the teeing ground being moved 50 yards back, bringing the third shot cross bunker back into play. The 2002 14th hole provided the easiest play being the shortest hole, and the only changes that have been made are to the green, making it bigger and more agronomic. On the 14th the hole position has also been moved and a back tier has been created. For the 2009 US Open, as for the 2002 event, there will be two large grandstands placed on either side of the 17th hole, creating more of a stadium like feel going into the downhill 18th.
The Black Course Map is available at the event entrances around the course at Bethpage State Park, and during the Championship week the course and facilities are open from 6am to 7pm. The Park is located on Long Island about 35 miles east of New York. Parking facilities are located all around the outskirts of the park with complimentary parking at Jones Beach State Park on Long Island South Shore. From here complimentary shuttle transportation will take you the 25 minutes or so to the Main Admission Gate.
The parking within the immediate vicinity of Bethpage State Park is reserved for permit holders only. If you want to get dropped off by a taxi or limo, there is a designated drop zone at the 15th Hole Admission Gate located on Winding Road. If you want to arrive via train, you should stop at the LIRR Farmingdale Station (not Bethpage) where you will pass through security and board the free shuttles to the Open.
There are facilities for disabled spectators including close parking areas, portable restrooms located around the course, officially appointed personnel to assist any disabled persons, a limited number of motorized scooters, TTY’s and TTD’s at the Main Admission Gate, the Train Admission Gate, and the Admission Gate at the 15th hole. There are over 21 thousand grand stand seating places available as well, but there are no reservations and are on a strict first come, first served basis. For those needing some refreshment there will be 22 concession stands throughout the course offering food and beverages. In case of any emergencies there will be qualified medical personnel at the official First Aid Stations located at the Main Admissions Gate, the 17th Green, the 13th Fairway, and the 12th Tee. Remember to wear a sun hat and sunscreen as the temperatures during June range from 62 degrees to 77 degrees.
For those wanting to extend their stay, you will find that Bethpage and New York have a lot to offer. Long Island’s Gold Coast awaits, with plenty of culinary pleasures and delights. You can witness the famed Niagara Falls, visit the Finger Lakes wine region, and catch a Broadway Show. If you are interested in nature, there are plenty of places to go fishing and hiking, and for those that love the attractions, you will find plenty of zoos, aquariums, museums, antique stores, concert venues, lighthouses and more on Long Island.
There are lots of wonderful restaurants to visit when you stay near Bethpage for the US Open with perfect places that the entire family can enjoy, some quiet atmospheric options, a variety of cuisines including Chinese, Indian, and Italian, as well as bar and nightclub restaurants for those that want to still party after a day at Bethpage Black. Some favorites are Desmond’s Pub, H2O Seafood Grill, Okey Dokey, Lobster Roll Inc, The Palm, Albatross, Carlyle on Green, Champions Sports Bar and Restaurant, Annabella Restaurant, Café Royale and more.