BETHPAGE BLACK COURSE GUIDE.

Front Nine 3,517 yards, par 35 1st (430 yards, par 4): A severe dogleg to the right leaves players with a choice of laying up to the turn, about 150 to 160 yards from the green, or trying a riskier drive round the corner which, if successful, leaves just a wedge approach to the narrow putting green, which is heavily sloped from front to back.

2nd (389 yards, par 4): The dogleg left is a good birdie chance as it is the only par four measuring less than 400 yards and the green is reasonably flat.

3rd (232 yards, par 3): The longest par three since a new teeing green was added after the US Open was last held here in 2002. The putting green itself is quite flat but falls away in all directions making for tricky recovery shots.

4th (517 yards, par 5): A real birdie chance, this is one of the easiest holes on the course, especially as the area behind the green has been softened since 2002 meaning overhit shots won't roll away too fast. Many players will look to take the fourth on and get to the green in two.

5th (478 yards, par 4): After the comfortable fourth, this is one of the toughest holes on the course and players will be happy to make par. Large, overhanging trees to the left of the downhill tee shot are an obstacle and the green sits on a ridge so only part of the flag is visible on approach.

6th (408 yards, par 4): Since 2002 the rough on the hillside overlooking the green has been converted to fairway so players have the option of either laying up at the top of the hill or driving over to the bottom of the fairway leaving a pitch to the green. This is a good birdie target and should yield no worse than par for most.

7th (525 yards, par 4): With 36 yards added since 2002, this is the longest par four and probably the toughest hole of the front nine. The fairway has been widened to give players the chance to take on the right dogleg but par will be a good score here.

8th (230 yards, par 3): Players hit downhill and over a pond to an enlarged green. There are two new hole locations at the front of the green near the edge of the pond.

9th (460 yards, par 4): This was one of the easiest par fours in 2002 but the teeing green has been moved back some 40 yards and a new bunker installed. This is a birdie chance for longer-hitting players who can evade the new bunker and get to the flat upper fairway, otherwise players need to lay up on a steeply sloping fairway and play a blind approach shot.

Back Nine 3,697 yards, par 35 10th (508 yards, par 4): A long par four, the tenth is exposed to the wind and has deep bunkers either side of the fairway. Length off the tee is crucial as there are two bunkers at the front of the green. Par will be a very good score.

11th (435 yards, par 4): Another exposed hole and another of the more difficult ones, with deep bunkers either side of a blind fairway. The putting green is tough, sloping steeply.

12th (504 yards, par 4): The third difficult hole in a row, which played as the second hardest in 2002. A conservative tee shot leaves a long approach while taking on the left dogleg means a carry of 260 yards over a bunker.

13th (605 yards, par 5): This should be a birdie hole though it is slightly tougher than 2002, with 40 yards and new deep bunkers added. It is the longest hole on the course and while it should still be reachable in two for the brutes, mishit drives can be tough to recover from.

14th (158 yards, par 3): The shortest hole on the course and the easiest of the par threes. However, the green has been enlarged and new hole locations added, including one in a narrow tongue which will need a precise approach shot.

15th (458 yards, par 4): Likely to be the toughest hole of the lot. The green is on two tiers and slopes severely and par will be a good score.

16th (490 yards, par 4): This has a gentle left dogleg and the tee is high enough to give a view of the entire hole.

But it is tougher than it looks, with the bowl-like green protected by deep bunkers.

17th (207 yards, par 3): This plays uphill to an hourglass-shaped green, which is surrounded by deep bunkers and cannot be seen from the tee.

Approach shots need to be played high and with precision. The green is wide but shallow with a ridge in the middle.

18th (411 yards, par 4): Playing downhill to the tee, there is a cluster of bunkers midway, leaving the option of laying up for a long approach shot or playing aggressively for a reasonable chance of birdie. The uphill approach shot is played to a blind, sloping green.

Total 7,214 yards, par 70

CAPTION(S):

The sun sets on the tricky par three 17th hole at Bethpage, where the shallow green is surrounded by deep bunkers