Black has 'Open' feel for New York Open

Mark Herrmann

July 17, 2008

No one playing in the New York State Open at Bethpage Black this week doubts reports that the rough has been cut at a height of 4 1/2 inches. They just aren't sure how many months it has been since the last time they cut it.

The thick grass cultivated by course superintendent Craig Currier is doing more than making the course tough, it is giving it an unmistakable feel. "I think this year in particular," Piping Rock head pro Mike Gilmore said, "he has got the U.S. Open feel going here."

Gilmore should know, having played in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines last month. Currier knows, too, having been out to Torrey Pines briefly as a way of getting ready for the 2009 U.S. Open, which comes back to the Black in 11 months.

Just like every iron shot out of the rough takes a little extra oomph, every success brings a little extra satisfaction.

"It does make me feel good, as an amateur, to play well on a big boys' course," said Ed Gibstein, who plays out of Engineers Country Club in Roslyn Harbor. Gibstein shot 2-under-par 68 in the second round yesterday and is at 142, two shots behind the leader, Rob Labritz of GlenArbor in Westchester. The final round is today.

Gibstein, the 1994 Ike champion, never has played in a U.S. Open, but has been to several, including the 2002 event at the Black. "I told Craig Currier, 'With the exception of moving back a couple of tees, I think you could hold the U.S. Open here tomorrow,'" he said.

Mark Brown, the head pro at Tam O'Shanter club in Brookville, is one stroke behind Gibstein, having shot 73 yesterday after a tournament-leading 70 Tuesday.

"It's almost a one-shot penalty every time you hit it in the rough," said Brown, the New York State Open champion in 1999 and 2002. "The premium definitely is on driving the ball in the fairway, number one, and if you can get some length to it, it helps. The shorter the irons you hit in here, definitely helps as well."

Players noticed the changes that the U.S. Golf Association has put in for the 2009 Open - mostly some new tees that make for longer holes. Brown said he hit driver from the new tee on No. 13 Tuesday and hit into a fairway bunker, so he used a 3-wood yesterday to lay up.

"There is not an easy hole out there. There's nowhere you can let your guard down and breathe for a hole. You've got to stay focused on every shot," he said. "I think getting by 10, 11, 12 is a big part of it. And once you cross the road, I think all those holes are make or break holes. 15, 16, 17, 18, you can be under par crossing the road and shoot 75 without even thinking about it."

Mostly, the players have to stay focused on tee shots, so they are not hitting out of grass that seems like cabbage. The shot that got everyone's attention yesterday was the one Labritz hit with a 7-iron from the rough on the par-4 first hole. He drilled it 165 yards into the cup for an eagle.

Gibstein did not do anything so dramatic, but he has been strong and steady, having made no double bogeys through his first 36 holes. This is not an easy feat on an Open course by a 49-year-old who has a hectic insurance business and has two children in diapers. "One is almost three, one is almost one," he said.

He has found time to work out and to work on his game. "It's nice to know I can still play well on a U.S. Open golf course," he said. "It's fun, playing it. Although, if I weren't playing well, I don't know how much fun it would be."

Today's tip

"One of the most beautiful aspects of our Long Island courses is that we are blessed or cursed with something called fescue grass. If your ball finds its way into the fescue grass there are a few things that you can do to get out: 1. During your setup take a lofted club like a wedge or a 9-iron and aim for the shortest distance back to safety. Keep in mind that it may be backwards. 2. The goal is to not make a huge score by leaving the ball in the grass. 3. Keep your head still, take the club up through the grass, and swing hard down on a point just behind the ball. And avoid lateral movement."

Tim Garvin

PGA head professional

South Fork CC

Aces

Linda Marin, Wheatley Hills Golf Club, eighth hole, 110 yards, 5-iron

Lou Esposito, Meadow Brook Club, 16th hole, 167 yards, 6-iron

Bob Randall, Tall Grass Golf Club, 14th hole, 143 yards, 8-iron

Jonathan Tong, Hamlet Golf & Country Club, 13th hole, 171 yards, 9-iron

Daniel O'Keefe, Island Hills GC, fifth hole, 139 yards, 7-iron

Sal Azzariti, Pine Ridge GC, 10th hole, 114 yards, 8-iron

Richard Rosenbluth, Middle Bay CC, 15th hole, 140 yards, 9-iron

Evan Harrel, Montauk Downs, second hole, 115 yards, pitching wedge

Christopher Parillo, Cherry Creek,The Woods course, 13th hole, 192 yards, 3-wood

Patrick Guidice, Cherry Creek, The Links course, sixth hole, 163 yards, 7-iron

Rich Gamba, Hamlet Willow Creek, 14th hole, 180 yards, 4-iron

Brendan Blake, Muttontown Club, 14th hole, 151 yards, 8-iron

Albert Chimenti (Oceanside), Grossingers CC, 11th hole, 143 yards, 7-iron

Dave Mendes, Holbrook CC, 11th hole, 115 yards, 9-iron

John Lagner, Sunken Meadow State Park, sixth hole, 182 yards, 7-wood

About this page

Items for the LI Golfbeat should be directed to Mark Herrmann in the Newsday sports department. Send faxes to his attention at 631-454-6892, call 631-843-2826 or send e-mail to mark.herrmann@newsday.com. Please leave a phone number with an area code and spell all names. No beeper numbers.

Aces: Golfers with aces, double eagles or other scoring accomplishments should include: date, course, hole number, length of hole and club used.

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