The talk mostly was about the heat and about the storm that
had brought down about 200 trees and temporarily closed three other courses at Bethpage State Park. That is to say, U.S. Open week at the Black Course was calmly ordinary - this year.
Put it this way, it was an ordinary week at an extraordinary course, which will be transformed into a different world a year from now. The Open is coming back to the Black in '09, and that was on the mind of just about everybody who was playing there Tuesday.
"It's going to be a thrill," said Dennis Pippia of Huntington, as he approached the first tee. "It's more of a reality check to see how good your game is."
Bill Murphy of Miller Place, also getting ready for his round, said, "It's an experience because there is history here, and you're playing on the same grass the pros will be playing on."
The history is highlighted by Tiger Woods' win at the 2002 Open, a championship so successful that the United States Golf Association decided almost immediately to bring it back.
The place was quiet this week, with even the USGA trailer almost empty because virtually the whole staff is out at this year's Open in San Diego. Still, this week pretty much begins the countdown for '09.
"How do you not get excited about hosting the biggest tournament in the world?" course superintendent Craig Currier said. "I can't wait. Actually, I can wait. The buildup to it is fun."
Currier, having supervised the post-storm cleanup of the Red, Yellow and Blue courses, was grateful the Black was pretty much unscathed Sunday night. He was on his way to spend two days at Torrey Pines, intending to watch Open entrant Mike Gilmore, the Piping Rock pro, and do some field work.
"I want to check out the rough. The biggest thing we've got to get figured out here is the rough," the superintendent said, adding that his directive is to have the first cut at the Black between 2½ to 3½ inches high, then the next cut at five inches. "This time, I certainly know what to expect."
Everyone expects the logistics to be the same as they were in '02, "because it was such a good time," Bethpage park director Dave Catalano said.
"The golf course, as far as I'm concerned, is ready," Catalano said. "With a tweak here or a tweak there, we could have hosted it this year. In fact, we could have hosted it every year since it was here last, it's in such great condition."
Thus, the place always is jammed. "Playing this U.S. Open course? You get addicted to it," said Willie Brown of Westbury, a caddie at Bethpage for 12 years who was preparing for his second loop of the day and is hoping to get some kind of work at the Open. "Once you're on it, you'll always come back."
Mike Manaster drove down from Greenwich, Conn., with his 16-year-old son Justin and the latter's friend, Robert King. "It's U.S. Open week and they kept on saying, 'It will be really cool next year when we watch the Open. We'll know the holes,' " the elder Manaster said after finishing a five-hour round. "All I kept thinking was, this course is pretty damn tough, but not as hard as it can be."
Fact is, only one player was under par in '02. So the Black can be as tough as a course can get. On the other hand, it is casual and inviting enough to host what Miguel Lopez of Huntington called (before his first drive), "Just a round of golf."
Which is not to say a breezy round of golf. Brown cautioned Lopez, "If you're in the rough, you better leave the woods in your bag."
Aces
Dom Cusimano, North Hempstead Country Club, sixth hole, 158 yards, 5-hybrid
Dennis McCann, Olde Vine Golf Club, seventh hole, 168 yards, 5-wood
Jason Mulholland, Indian Island Golf Course; fifth hole, 122 yards, 9-iron
Joe Morrisy, Indian Island GC, eighth hole, 153 yards, 7-wood
