1st 397 yards, par 4
How much of this hole players will actually see or remember is open to question. Ryder Cup nerves tend to trigger blurry sensations on the 1st tee. That area has been shortened slightly through necessity; namely the installation of a huge grandstand. There is a dog leg to the right from an elevated tee. Any drive leaking right will have an approach blocked out by trees. Those who cut the corner with drivers will have only a flick for their approach, towards a green that is well protected by bunkers. The putting surface is Bethpage Black’s smallest, with a steep slope punishing any shot left short.
2nd 389 yards, par 4
Another hole that starts from a raised position and another that turns, albeit this time to the left. This is also, like the 1st, a Bethpage rarity in terms of being a short par four. The key here is hitting the fairway, meaning players are unlikely to take drivers from the tee. There is a large bunker to the right of the green and a smaller one short and left. The raised green, which is 74ft from front to back, falls off sharply on the left side.
3rd 210 yards, par 3
The first short hole and a tough one. This is typically rated among the most difficult par threes in golf. Bunkers – and deep ones – protect a green that is visually tricky because of how narrow it looks from the tee. The perception at the opening shot is that the green sits side on. Any tee shot hit long will be punished by a steep slope behind the putting surfacegreen. Three is a good score here, regardless of the Ryder Cup format.
4th 517 yards, par 5
One of the more picturesque holes is relatively short for a par five and can be reached in two if accurate from the tee. The ideal drive is carried over bunkers that guard the left of the hole and into a fairway that tilts to the left before a second set of sand traps on the opposite side. Bunkers are prominent around a raised green, which players may not be able to see when hitting their second. The incline is around 40ft. Unlike the 3rd, players will be looking to better par at this hole, which typically rates as the easiest on the course.
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5th 478 yards, par 4
Tee shots that miss the fairway to the left cause significant problems. The right is protected by sand although the longer hitters will be able to fly that trouble and would have a decent line in from that area. The green is quite tight — and another that is elevated — with a trio of bunkers on hand to collect any loose iron shots. Players claim this putting surface is more undulating and complex than most at this venue. It is aA hole that defines Bethpage Black; a long, tough par-four.
6th 408 yards, par 4
A real element of risk and reward. Bunkers on either side of the fairway may lead players to force a driver beyond the sand and to the bottom of a sharp hill. From there, it is a short approach to a pretty flat green. Those deciding to lay back with the tee shot could face close to 200 yards with their second, into a green that has sand all around it. Decision-making and level of accuracy from the tee determine what will play out here.
7th 524 yards, par 4
This plays as a par five for mere mortals. For the Ryder Cup it is a seriously strong par four and one of the longest in the world. A drive is placed ideally short of the bunker that sits to the left of the fairway just as the hole turns right. From there, it can still be an approach shot of 200 yards towards a putting surface that has bunkers short left and right. The green is at least long, at close to 90ft, which gives those long-iron second shots more chance of clinging on.
8th 210 yards, par 3
This plays much shorter than the yardage suggests, due to the elevated tee. A mis-hit or short tee shot will bring huge trouble with a pond at the front of the green. A front pin position teases players into dicing with that hazard. Multiple flag locations are possible on a putting surface that stretches close to 140ft in length.
