Be a USGA US Open Volunteer

Unlike the weather, that created endless questions during this year's Open, one thing is certain: 'It's not a question of "if", it's when'. According to USGA official Mike Davis, the US Open Golf Championship is "absolutely" headed back to Bethpage Black.

The "when", is due to the fact that the US Open has already been scheduled through 2016, as follows:

2010 - Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach CA
2011 - Congressional Country Club, Blue Course, Bethesda, MD.
2012 - Olympic Club, San Francisco CA
2013 - Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, PA
2014 - Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst, N.C.
2015 - Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash.
2016 - Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont PA

Additionally, New York is the home of two other courses that have previously hosted the US Open, Shinnecock Hills, and Winged Foot.

When asked, Davis replied that 'I think you will see US Opens on all three of them'

No matter if you live on the East Coast or West Coast, the US Open is coming to a golf course near you, so why wait, get on the Volunteer list now.

Call or fax the USGA today:

Call @ 908 234 2300

Fax @ 908 234 9687

Lucas Glover is the 2009 US Open Champion, surviving a final round that saw most players giving back strokes and expected charges coming, then fading away.

When the rains finally ended long enough for the Black Course to dry, or at least not be water-logged and soft, it began to finally show the teeth that all the players had feared (and the spectators had hoped for). Rickey Barnes, who held the lead at -11 mid way through the 3rd round, fell to a -2 finish bogying 6 of his first 12 holes. A few bad shots, were compounded by poor decisions, most likely the result of the realiziation that he was winning the US Open, and his nerves simply got the best of him.

Other notables made some spectacular shots, but could not sustain their momentum. Gaining a birdie on one hole, only to give it back with bogey on the next.

David Duval, 6 back at the start of the round, knocked himself out with a triple bogey on the par 3 third. Although he did manage 5 birdies in the final round, two additional bogeys landed him in a 2nd place tie at -2.

Tiger Woods, who had been striking the ball well, but inconsistently, was let down time and again by iron shots that were a little off, and putts that refused to drop.

Phil Mickelson, by far the crowd favorite was greeted with cheers of "Let's Go Phil!" at every hole (it almost sounded as though I was at a Yankees game). Hanging around at -2 a the start of the final round, Phil dropped back to Even with 2 early bogies then fought into contention with birdies at the 9th and 12th. When Phil sunk his putt for Eagle on the par-5 13th, I could hear the roar from the gallery where I was sitting in the grandstands at 18. In one shot, Phil went from 3rd to being tied for the lead, with 6 holes to play. Unfortunately, he would give back both strokes, with 2 bogeys on 15 and 17, finishing in a three way tie for 2nd.

159 started, 158 failed, and in the end, Lucas Glover became the winner of the 109th US Open, on the Black Course at Bethpage.

A complete scoring summary is available here from the USGA

Click here to Learn to Practice & Play like a PGA Tour Professional

Having the US Open on a public course, such as the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, allows many spectators to say 'I've played from there', especially when they see the pros stray into the rough, or bunkers. But what the pro does next is usally very different from the average player, he makes the shot that the spectator hopes to (and usually don't). So what is it that makes the pros so much better then us?

We all have access to the same equipment - clubs, balls, shoes, etc.

The rules are the same for everyone - the USGA sees to that

It's all about practice. The pros make the most out of every practice swing.

How many times have you gone to the driving range, purchased a large bucket (~200 balls), hit them all, and 2 hours later still had the same slice/hook/push/etc that you started with.

You need a smarter practice strategy. How to Practice with Training Rods provides the same step-by-step, easy- to-understand drills that are the same ones being used in every practice session by today's top touring professionals.

These drills will provide you with the techniques you need to improve

Alignment and Setup
Ball Position
Chipping
Swing Plane
Putting
Swing Path

You can't start to play like a Pro until you learn how to practice like a Pro!

The torrential rain that caused all sorts of troubles for the golfers, and ended up cancelling play on Thursday (after only ~3hrs of play) also exposed a problem with the USGAs ticket policy. Initially, there were to be no refunds and the tickets would no tbe honored on any other days of play. However, after intense criticism from the fans, the media, and the NY State Attorney General, the USGA has updated their ticket policy. All Thursday tickets on Monday (if play is required). If no play occurs on Monday, ticket holders will recieve a 50% refund.

Although I certainly understand the frustration of those with Thursday tickets, all Volunteers are provided with a Volunteer Credential, which grants us entrance to the Open every day. Since Volunteers can work any time, before and during the Open, the credential is essentially an entrance ticket for every day.

Even today as we went to Will Call, to pick up my son's Juniior ticket, my credential is the equivalent of a ticket, regardless of what day it is. So should play be required to complete the Open. All I need to do is show my credential and I'm in.

Mike Weir had a near perfect day, recording 8 birdies and 9 pars. His only blemish was a double bogey on 16, which left him with a Bethpage Black Course record of 64, one stroke shy of tying the US Open single round record of 63.

Today was also the last day of my volunteer assignments, working one shift in the Media Tent, and one at the Public Board. Although I performed the same task at both locations, the atmosphere is completely different.

In the Media Tent, the only people you really speak with are the other Volunteers. All the sports writers and columnists are either working at their stations, talking to each other, doing interviews, or are out on the course. Also all of the TV monitors are in front of you facing out to the Media. So in order to watch any golf, I had to get off the scoreboard platform (which is elevated ~4 ft for everyone to see) then walk out a few steps and turn around. To post more score, back up the steps (good thing I wore comfortable shoes).

The Public Board, however, is in the main concession area. A U-shaped area just past th eMain Entrance Gate, formed by the Public Board, the Jumbo-tron, the Merchandise Pavillion, and a series of Concession stands (directly across from the Public Board). The open end of the U goes toward the 18th/1st holes. Here spectators always stop and ask questions. Today's most popular question was "when does Tiger tee off again?". I guess not everyone realized that once he finished his round at ~10:30 am, he was done for the day. Only the original Thursday afternoon tee times would go out and start Round 2, since the tee times get switched from Thursday to Friday (Thurs am -> Fri pm and Thurs pm -> Fri am).

Yesterday, being in the Media Tent was great since it rained all day. Today the Public Board was much better since the weather was great and I didn't have to go up and down any steps to watch the action.

The USGA is hoping to finish Round 2 on Saturday, and have good enough weather to play 2 rounds on Sunday. Right now with an 80% chance of rain on Saturday, it's looking like the Open won't be decided until Monday.

Also, due to the avalanche of complaints by Thursday ticket holders who were initially told they could not reuse the tickets, or get any refund, the USGA announced that Thursday tickets could be used on Monday. If no golf is played on Monday, Thursday ticket holders will get a 50% refund.

Image by Antonelli/News

This is an update on the status of the 2009 U.S. Open Championship

Friday

Those players that began round 1 (the first wave) will begin play at 7:30 a.m. This group of players will finish its first round and not play again until Saturday.

The "second wave" (those that had starting times scheduled for 12:30-2:42 today) will begin at 10 a.m.-12:12 p.m. (11 minute intervals). They will finish their round and have starting times for round 2 from 4 -6:12 p.m. tomorrow. These players will play as long as they can into their second round.

Saturday

Play will start around 7:30 a.m. again, getting the one wave of players finished, and then starting the other wave. Times TBD - we will only be a little more than 1/3 of the way through round 2 after Friday.

This scenario leaves a target of making the cut on Saturday and playing 36 holes on Sunday.

The above schedule is subject to change based on additional inclement weather.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate today. Play was initally suspended at 10:16 am, and finally cancelled for the day shortly before 2:00 pm. However, 78 players did get at least some golf in (Tiger Woods completed 6), while others never left the clubhouse (Phil Mickelson among them).

Shortly after arriving at the 15th Hole Entrance (~6:50 am), and having a bagel & OJ in the Volunteer Hospitality Tent, I headed out onto the course (umbrella & pairing sheet in hand). I headed down the first green, which was already surrounded, and didn't want to go into the grandstands (no desire to sit on wet wood) so I headed to the left side of the first fairway at the landing area by the turn (which turned out to be a very good choice). This allowed me to see up to the tee box, and down to the green. After watching several groups play, Tiger Woods group reached the tee. After Padraig Harrington (landed in left rough 2nd cut) and Angel Cabrera (fairway) hit the entire gallery looked to the Tee to see Tiger hit. Although the marshall behind Tiger signalled the drive went straight, no one saw the ball land. Then everyone heard a "thud" turned around and saw his ball bounce off an auxillary Merchandise Tent and land in the matted down rough ~50 yds left of the fairway. As everyone rushed to surround the ball, I stayed to the right and took the 4 steps up to the Merchandise tent (due to the uneven ground, that side of the tent is ~3ft above grade while the other is level). Having my volunteer uniform on I was allowed up while the area was temporarily closed to general spectators (I suspect they didn't want it over loaded with people). The location was ~20ft to the front left of Tiger as he hit a 4(?) iron into the right green-side bunker (from which he went up & down to save par).

Wanting to get ahead of Tiger for better viewing, I headed to the 2nd green, but made the mistake of crossing the fairway and going down the right side. There is no grandstand access from that side and the view of the 3rd tee is obstructed. Still, from the edge of the ropes I could see Tiger putt on 2 (the image shown is the 2nd green being squeegied as Tiger arrives). Tiger 2 then putted for par.

I skipped the 3rd hole and went all the way to the 4th green, where I found a spot at the top of the grandstands (and stood). Two groups later we saw Tiger attempt to reach the 4th green in 2, but fell ~10yds short, and fortunately, did not bounce back into the bunker. A short pitch (from a very awkward lie) and 2 putts kept him even through 4. At this point I started walking in to grab something to eat before my first shift started at 11am.

On the way in, at 10:16, there were 3 short horn blasts and play was suspended.

I spent the next 3 1/2 hrs in the Media Tent waiting for the rain to stop, but it didn't. Took the time to chat with fellow volunteers from Atlantic City, NJ and San Diego, CA. and reading through the US Open Players Guide. I Also saw Mike Lupica (NY Daily News) and John Feinstein (The Washington Post). Walking around the tent (a little smaller than a football field) I found out that all interviews are performed in a separate room connected to the main tent. Looks like I won't be able to see any interviews. but I can get a transcrpit of all interviews (and any other general Press releases) from the Publications area, once distributed to the Media by the USGA.

Top Image of Tiger Woods on 2nd Green by Mannie Garcia/US Presswire

It's not so bright out yet, but definitely early, this Thursday morning for the first round of the 2009 US Open Championship. Today I have the first 2 of my 4 volunteer shifts on the Scoreboard Committee.

Since I'm Voluntering today, my parking pass allows me to park at the Bethpage Restoration Village, a short shuttle bus ride to the 15th Tee Entrance. Once I pass through security, I'll take a quick left to the Volunteer Hospitality Tent, for breakfast, and make sure to enter into the raffles (did I mention yet that the Grand Prize is 2 tickets to next year's US Open at Pebble Beach). After a quick bite, since my first shift does not start until 11 am, I'll have some time to walk the course and see some golf before I head over to the Media Tent. I'm not sure how far around the course I'll go, since it's already been raining on and off this morning (hopefully the weather won't be too bad).

I'm really looking forward to posting the scores in the Media Tent. Since I'll be there from 11 am - 3:45 pm, I expect to see some player interviews. Tiger Woods tees off at 8:06 am, so his round should finish by 12:30 and I'm sure he'll be in the Media Tent sometime after.

Next it's over to the Public Board for the rest of the day. The Public Board is where all of the golfers are listed in alphabetical order, and their scores are updated hole by hole. The USGA actually employs a calligrapher who updates the overall board, but the volunteers provide the initial updates using stickers (Green is over par, Black is Par, and Red is under par).

Being a native Long Islander, I want to leave as early as I can to beat the traffic, so it's good-bye for now (better not forget my lunch voucher and parking pass!)

Under normal circumastances, Phil Mickelson's return to the Black Course at Bethpage would be greeted with the loudest of cheers for the People's Champion. After witnessing his near misses at Bethpage (2002), Shinnecock (2004) and Winged Foot (2006), New Yorkers have adopted this seemingly perpetual underdog as one of their own. The caucaphony of noise that would have erupted from the 10th tee at 1:36 pm on Thursday afternoon would have been to cheer our favorite golfer on to that elusive title.

In stead, on early Thursday afternoon, we will be cheering for the man, and husband, who's life was suddenly devastated when his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Phil's decision to withdraw from golf deeply saddend us, not because he might miss the Open, but because it reminded us that as big as the US Open is, there are certain things in life that are bigger than sports, especially family. As difficult as it is to have a loved one diagnosed with such a terrible disease, it must be even more dificult to have to live through it in the public eye.

Phil understands that golf has given him opportunities that many of us will never have, but Amy's diagnosis reminds us that we are not really all that different. When someone we love is hurt, or needs our help and support, we run to provide it for them. So when Phil decided to suspend his career to be with his wife, we saw ourselves, and perhaps thought of family or friends that had been taken too early by this terrible disease, and we understood.

Thankfully, Amy's cancer has been diagnosed at an early stage and her chances for recovery are good. This, and the fact that her treatment is not scheduled to begin until early July, Phil and Amy agreed that he should return to golf.

At 1:36 pm on Thursday, I expect the cheers for Phil will be heard at the farthest corners of the course, when we show our support for not the golfer, but for both the man and his wife.

Best wishes to Phil and Amy. Our prayers are with you both.

Image by holeymoon

The Black Course at Bethpage State Park will play:

Total length = 7,426 yds
Slope = 148
Rating = 76.6
Par = 70
Height of grass on greens = 1/10th of an inch

For all of those 7,426 yards of golf course, the highest grass any player hopes to see will be only 3/8 inch, the cut height of a standard fairway.

The Black Course, however, is very well known for punishing those who's shots stray from the fairway, and the further into the rough you go, the harder it is to get out, and here's why.


Putting Green
Area where the cup and flagstick are located. Height = 1/10 inch.

Collar
Area of short grass separating the green from the rough. Also known as the fringe or apron. Height = .225 inches (just under 1/5 inch).

Fairway
Preferred position for all shots between tee and green on par 4's and 5's. Grass is kept short to allow clean contact between clubhead and ball. Poa Annua grass, Height = 3/8 inch.

Primary Rough
Rough that boarders the fairway. For the Black Course, the first 6 feet off the Fairway. Height = 1 1/2 inches.

Second Cut
Thicker and deeper rye grass beyond the primary rough. Typically 15 - 20 feet wide. Height = 2 1/2 to 3 inches.

Third Cut
Area farthest from the fairway, closest to tree lines and out of bounds. Approximately 20 feet wide. Height = 4 inches.

Fescue
Mostly found beyond the Third Cut and out of bounds, but patches exist around many of the Black Course's 70 sand traps. Height = Uncut, 12 inches and taller.

Data compiled by Dave Whitehorn (as printed in Newsday)

Image by Darwin Bell

Like many things in life, getting Tiger Woods autograph requires a bit of luck, and mostly being in the right place at the right time.

To start with, during the US Open, the USGA has a "no autograph" policy in effect for fans and volunteers alike. In general, however, it is usually up to the players. Considering that this is the USGA's premier event, and for some players a once in a lifetime opportunity, the pressure is very intense (even on Thursday morning). With that in mind, the USGA wants to limit distractions.

With this in mind:

DO NOT approah a player en route to the first tee
DO NOT approach a player at the practice range before his starting time
DO NOT approach a player on the practice green before his starting time
DO NOT approach a player at any time during his round
DO NOT approach a player until after he leaves the 18th greenSo now what are you supposed to do? Here are a few tips (Adopted from an article by Mark Soltau of tigerwoods.com in "What's a Golfer to Do?" by Ron Kapriske and the editors of Golf Digest).

(1)Try after one of the practice rounds on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
(2)Position yourself near the gallery ropes that run from the 18th green to the practice range and clubhouse
(3)Tiger loves kids, but hates being pushed or having things shoved in his face, so get close to the ropes and use proper etiquette
(4)Tiger is very good at spotting kids who serve as runners to collect autographs for adults to sell
(5)Consider wearing colorful clothing to get his attention
(6)Don't scream his name
(7)Have whatever it is you would like signed ready (with pen) so that if he makes eye contact with you, he doesn't need to wait (and be ready to walk while he signs)

Good luck!

Image by sillydog

To most ameteur golfers, a day at the beach means multiple shots in, or shooting from one bunker to another. Professionals however, will sometimes aim for a bunker, since they know they will have a good lie which is much more predictable than the uncertainty of the rough.

For the past decade, ease of bunker play has been a concern for the USGA. The bunkers have been much more consistent and the player's techniques have gotten much better, making it easier for players to get up and down.

This represented a serious challenge for the USGA as they set up all 70 of the Black Course's bunkers for this year's Open. Back in 2002, the bunkers were made much firmer, since the USGA did not want buried lies. However, since the bunkers were so well maintained, many golfers ended up aiming for the bunkers knowing they would be able to spin the ball from a perfect lie. Preparations for the 2009 Open focused on making the bunkers softer and fluffier.

The challenge of course is to not make them so fluffy that it reduces the element of skill. Some players are so used to getting perfect bunkers every week, that anything else leads to accusations of 'horrible' bunkers. But the USGA is commited to making bunkers asa difficult to recover from as the rough around the greens.

Although some pros many complain, when asked about the USGA's plans to toughen up the bunkers, Tiger Woods replied "Pretty simple. Hit the ball well and stay out of those bunkers".

Image by swgn

The complete list of Groupings and Starting Times for Thursday, June 18th and Friday, June 19th at the 109th U.S. Open @ Bethpage State Park - Black Course can be found here.

Some of the more notable groupings are shown below:

#1 Tee Thursday AM#10 Tee Friday PM No.
8:06 1:36
19 Padraig Harrington, Ireland
20 Angel Cabrera, Argentina
21 Tiger Woods, Windermere, Fla.

#10 Tee Thursday AM#1 Tee Friday PM No.
7:55 1:25
55 Geoff Ogilvy, Australia
56 Jim Furyk, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
57 Paul Casey, England

#1 Tee Thursday PM#10 Tee Friday AM No.
1:47 8:17
100 Rocco Mediate, Los Angeles, Calif.
101 Kenny Perry, Franklin, Ky.
102 Tom Lehman, Scottsdale, Ariz.

#10 Tee Thursday PM#1 Tee Friday AM No.
1:36 8:06
136 Retief Goosen, South Africa
137 Ernie Els, South Africa
138 Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

NOTE: In the 7:44 am Grouping (10th Tee), Robert Karlsson of Sweden has Withdrawn due to an eye infection. He is replaced by Andrew Svoboda of Larchmont, NY.

Image by wallyg

This is your last chance to purchase tickets to the 2009 US Open Golf Championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park.

Due to lower than expected corporate hospitality sales, the allotment of corporate tickets was not fully realized. Therefore, the USGA is making the remaining tickets available for sale on-site at Bethpage State Park.

These tickets which will be sold at the Will Call facility (near the Merchandise Pavillion) on a first-come basis while supplies last (cash or major credit cards accepted).

The following tickets are available:

Weekly Grounds Ticket packages ($400)
Daily Championship Round Tickets ($100)
Daily Practice Round Tickets ($40)

Junior Tickets (ages 13-17) when accompanied by a paid adult ticket holder:

Championship rounds ($30)
Practice rounds ($15)

Junior tickets are also available for purchase during the pre-championship walk-up sale, as well as on-site during the championship at the Will Call facility and all admission gates.

All Juniors age 12 and younger are admitted free of charge, on any day, when accompanied by a paid adult ticket holder.
Although there is a maximum of two junior tickets per one adult ticket, these tickets are unlimited and are always available as part of the USGA's commitment to reach it's youngest fans. Junior tickets are available at the Will Call facility and all admission gates.

Tickets will be on sale from June 11-14 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. This offer coincides with the U.S. Open Merchandise Pavilion pre-championship opening that will take place during the same hours through June 14.

Parking will be located at the Bethpage State Park Polo Field, Lot D. Visitors should take the NY 135/Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway South to Exit 8 (Powell Ave./Bethpage/Bethpage State Park) and follow signs for U.S. Open merchandise/ticket sales parking. There will be no parking at the Bethpage State Park clubhouse.

Parking will open at 7 a.m., and shuttles to the Will Call/Merchandise area will begin shortly thereafter. A limited shuttle service will be provided from the LIRR Farmingdale Station between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Image by jeangenie

The roads in the immediate vicinity of Bethpage State Park are closed to traffic during the Championship. This means that there is no general spectator parking in the vicinity of the golf course.

One of the benefits of being a volunteer, is the Parking Pass you receive for the days you are working. This permits you to park at the Bethpage Restoration Village, located a short shuttle bus ride up Round Swamp Road.

All spectators, and volunteers on non-working days, can access the Championship in one of three ways: Car, Train, or Passenger Drop-off.

Car
Complimentary general spectator parking is provided at Jones Beach State Park, located off the Meadowbrook Parkway on the south shore of Long Island. Shuttle bus transportation (complimentary) is provided from Jones Beach to the Main Admission Gate. The shuttle bus ride should take ~25 min, depending upon traffic conditions. Driving directions to Jones Beach are available here.

Spectators with disabilities who require assistance (lift-equipped vehicle) should contact the Championship Office at (516) 249-0153.

Train
The MTA Long Island Rail Road is the fastest and easiest way to get to the US Open. The LIRR has scheduled extra trains on the Ronkonoma Branch, to accomodate those attending the Open. Spectators must travel to the Farmingdale Station, not the Bethpage Station.

The LIRR encourages all riders to purchase round trip tickets BEFORE boarding the trains (tickets purchased on board the trains will cost more). A trip from Penn Station NYC will take less than 1 hr. Also note that parking may be limited at most train stations.

Service is available every ~30 minutes, with more service during peak hours. The complete US Open train schedule is available here.

Passenger, Taxi, and Linousine Drop-Off
Passenger Drop-off is allowed only at the designated area off of Winding Road (accessed via the Long Island Expressway, LIE, I495) which is in close proximity to the Hole 15 Admission Gate. There is No Parking or Standing so pick-up times must be coordinated accordingly. Due to traffic restrictions, access is limited to vehicles no larger than a 15-passenger van/linousine. Once on Winding Road, follow the signs to the appropriate drop-off location.

Regardless of how spectators chose to access the Open, all ticketholders will be required to pass through a security checkpoint prior to boarding a Shuttle Bus.

Also note that all Parking locations provide services for spectators with disabilities.

Image by {platinum}

The U.S. Open Merchandise Pavilion will be open to the public for four days prior to championship week, June 11-14. This is your chance to beat the rush and purchase official U.S. Open merchandise for yourself, family and friends.

The 43,000 sq ft Pavillion contains over 500,000 pieces of Official US Open Logoed merchandise including:

Shirts
Hats
Jackets
Lapel Pins
T-shirts
Ball Markers
Sweatshirts
Art Work
Golf Balls
Divot Tools
Towels
and much, much more...

You do NOT need a ticket to the US Open to shop on these days.

For volunteers, this is your first opportunity to purchase additional U.S. Open volunteer uniforms.

Free parking is available at the Polo Field at Bethpage State Park (see directions below).

PLEASE NOTE: ALL NEW YORK STATE PARKWAYS DO NOT ALLOW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND HAVE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS DUE TO LOW BRIDGES.

From points West using the Long Island Expressway (I-495): Take Interstate 495 East to Exit 44S (NY 135/Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway South). Take NY 135 South for 3.5 miles to Powell Avenue (Powell Ave./Bethpage/Bethpage Park, Exit 8). At the end of the off-ramp make a left. Follow signs to parking.

From points West using the Southern State Parkway: Take the Southern State Parkway East to Exit 28A N (NY 135/ Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway North). Take NY 135 North for 3.2 miles to Powell Avenue (Powell Ave./Bethpage/Bethpage Park, Exit 8). At the end of the off-ramp make a left. Follow signs to parking.

From points East using the Long Island Expressway (I-495): Take Interstate 495 West to Exit 44 (NY 135/Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway South). Take NY 135 South for 3.5 miles to Powell Avenue (Powell Ave./Bethpage/Bethpage Park, Exit 8). At the end of the off-ramp make a left. Follow signs to parking.

From points East using the Southern State Parkway: Take the Southern State Parkway West to Exit 28A N (NY 135/Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway North). Take NY 135 North for 2.9 miles to Powell Avenue (Powell Ave./Bethpage/Bethpage Park, Exit 8). At the end of the off-ramp make a left. Follow signs to parking.

Image by Paul Watson

While only those who actually have the opportunity to play the Black Course can appreciate how brutally difficult it is, the volunteers and spectators have the chance to witness first hand the depth of the rough and speed of the greens. For those who cannot get tickets, or simply live too far away to attend this year's Open, you can still tour the course.

Long Islands local newspaper, Newsday, has a Video Tour of the Black Course available.

The video (shot be J Conrad Williams Jr) is a hole by hole description of the course narrated by Joe Rehor, the Director of Golf at Bethpage State Park.

The video is accompanied by an overhead layout of each hole, which you can zoom into by clicking anywhere on the hole. You can also see how Tiger Woods played the hole back in 2002 by scrolling over the descriptions of his shots (which will make a dashed white line appear on the hole showing the actual ball location).

The commentary (~45sec per hole) also highlights some of the changes the USGA has made to the Black Course since 2002.

Image by anniebee

Not wasting any time after his thrilling comeback to win the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, Tiger Woods was at Bethpage State Park practicing on the Black Course.

According to Newsday, at 9:02 am a Black Escalade pulled up to the front door of the clubhouse and Tiger emerged in full view of everyone at the course. By 9:26am, Tiger was hitting off the first tee, accompanied by swing coach Hank Haney and 2 New York State Police. The lucky 30 or so spectators who just happened to be in the right place at the right time, captured the moment on their cell phones.

At 1:05 pm, having hit his tee shot down the middle of the 18th fairway, Tiger decided to skip the 18th green and was whisked away by a golf cart (disappointing the 100 or so spectators who had gathered around the green). By 1:23 Tiger Woods had left Bethpage State Park.

When will he be back for another look at how the course has changed since he won the first US Open at Bethpage in 2002? I'm sure he will be soon, there are only 9 more practice days left.

Image by Caro's Lines

Back in 1998 I didn't have a home computer (hard to imagine now), so I had to do things the old fashioned way, I wrote a letter. I sent a letter to the USGA informing them that several of my friend's and I would like to be volunteers for the US Open when it was played at Bethpage. Several weeks later, I received a reply that our names has been added to the volunteer list and that we would be contacted as the tournament got closer.

Not wanting to wait 3 yrs to find out if I would be selected, I decided to follow up with a few letters (every 6 months or so) just to remind the USGA that I was still interested. Turns out that I was worried over nothing. It takes over 5,500 volunteers , several of who are working months in advance, to completely staff the tournament. So, a little over 1 yr prior to the Open, in early 2001, I received a letter welcoming me to the Volunteer Team.

Of course today it's much easier. All you need to do is go to the USGA's website and search for the Volunteer page for the event you're interested in (I've included both the USGA homepage & Volunteer site for the 2010 Open at Pebble Beach below).

Bethpage Black 18th Hole and other Art Prints Available Here

Now that you're a Volunteer, what are you going to do?

The USGA breaks up the necessary jobs that Volunteers are needed for into different committees. Examples of typical committees, and their basic functions, are as follows:

Scoreboard - Update player scores on the many scoreboards throughout the course
Standard Bearers & Walking Scorers - Carry the Player identifications and up to date scores with each pairing as they play the Course.
Merchandise - Working as a cashier, or assistant in the Merchandising tent or in the package dropoff/dropship area.
Courtesy Cars & Hotel Shuttles - Drive players and others to/from the course from/to off-site locations
Course Evacuation - Removes players from the course to a safe locatio in the case of storms
Practice Areas - Distributes practice balls at Driving Range
Course set up - Distributes water coolers and Pairing sheets to all locations throughout the Course
Marshalls - Maintain crowd control all around Course (Marshalls usually Volunteer in large groups, from a local business, and they are stationed together at a single hole where the Business is identified/recognised)

Depending upon where the Open is being held, the number and type of committees may vary, but with over 5,500 Volunteers needed, there is plenty of work for everyone.

Typically, you'll be asked to select 3 - 5 committees, from which Open Committee Chairmen will make their selections based on the number of requests, committee needs and availability and prior experience. When you make your selections, you will also be asked to provide your availability, to work a minimum of 4 shifts, to be seelcted from 3 shifts per day (morning, afternoon, late afternoon) each day of the Open. Most committees, like Merchandise, Scoreboards and Practice Areas, work for all 7 days of the tournament (3 practice & 4 competition rounds) while a few only operate during the competitive rounds.

It is very important if you are Volunteering with friends, or significant other, that you state in your application that you want to work the same shifts and provide their name(s)

About 14 months before the Open, you will be notified of both your committee assignment and the shifts you have been selected to work.

As a Volunteer, you are not paid for the shifts you work at the Open. As a matter of fact you will need to pay the USGA ~$150 once you are accepted as a Volunteer.

This nominal fee covers the cost of the Volunteer uniform that you are required to wear when you you show up for your shifts. The uniform consists of (2) collared short sleeve shirts, (1) Windbreaker, and (1) Baseball hat or Visor all in the selected color pattern and with US Open Logo.

Most importantly, you are also provided with your Volunteer Credentials. This is your 7-Day access pass allowing you into the Open, So not only do you have access to the Open during the shifts you Volunteer for, but you can also attend all of the practice and competition rounds you are not scheduled to work. Additionally, if there is a play-off (the US Open has an 18 hole playoff on Monday following the final round, to break ties), your credentials will get you in.

The typical cost for a single day ticket is $100, with 7-day passes going for ~$400. So considering that you get the 7-day pass for the cost of the uniform, Volunteering is quite a bargain.

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As I mentioned before, included with the cost of the Volunteer uniform is the Volunteer Credentials. This is the biggest benefit of Volunteering, a 7-day pass into the Open (8 days if a Playoff occurs).

In addition to the Volunteer uniform, all Volunteers also receive:

Water bottle with US Open Logo
Insulated Bottle Carrier
Limited Edition Volunteer Pin
(4) Coupons for a Free Lunch on Days you work
Access to the Volunteer Hospitality Tent
Option to purchase additional Uniform components at reduced prices

Like I said before the biggest benefit is being able to get in to watch the action for all 7 days. Depending upon your committee assignment, you may actually end up with a better view of the action than those in the gallery (imagine being a Standard Bearer and walking the Course with Tiger Woods!).

Also, once you've Volunteered, you are now on the USGA'a volunteer list, and are sent an application for upcomming Opens in your area. So since Shinnecock Hills and Winged Foot are also in NY, I was asked if I wanted to volunteer there also (which I naturally did!).

I almost forgot - all volunteers are encouraged to visit the Volunteer hospitality tent where they can get complimentary breakfast and coffee (on working days), neck & back massages, and enter raffles for some pretty cool prizes. The Grand Prize for this year's raffle is 2 tickets to next year's US Open at Pebble Beach!

Today was committee training day, This is the day when all volunteers for that committee (for me this year it's Scoreboards) obtain their volunteer package, which includes:

Volunteer Credential
Volunteer Handbook
Volunteer Lunch Vouchers (4)
Daily Parking Passes (for days working)
Committee Duties and Responsibilities
Parking & Transportation Options
Spectator Information Guide
Course Map
Volunteer Appreciation Pin

The most important item, by far, is the Volunteer Credential. This is your 7 day access pass to the Open, and the USGA is very protective of them. Upon entering the Open through one of the security gates, Volunteers are randomly selected to provide a photo ID, which must match the name on the credential. If it does not (if it is in the posession of a friend who could not get tickets) the credential is deactivated and the volunteer is no longer permitted access to the Open. Another way to have your credential deactivated is to not show up for your committee assignment.

Since the Volunteer credential is actually a 7 day ticket to the Open, it is also very useful for those who have children (or in my case twins). The USGA wants golf to be accessible to children of all ages, so all children 12 and under are permitted into the US Open free of charge (when accompanied by a ticket holding adult). The USGA limits the number of children to 2 per adult (so you cannot escort your child's entire 2nd Grade class in). Also, children ages 13 - 17 can enter at a reduced admission rate of $30, instead of the full $100/day.

lastly, you may notice an "M" in the lower left corner of my Credential. This grants me access to the media tent, where the players are interviewed after their rounds. It just so happens that 2 of my 4 scheduled shifts are on the Scoreboard in the Media Tent. Can't wait to see the pairing sheets to have an idea of who'll be done with their rounds when during my shift.

Destiny - and other Motivational images are available here


As I previously mentioned, the USGA actively encourages young children to attend by distributing free tickets to those under 12 yrs old (as long as they are accompanied by a ticket holding parent). Since my Volunteer Credential is my ticket, I was able to bring my son (8 yrs old) to the US Open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (I was working my Volunteer shifts on Thursday & Friday, so he was unable to go).

As it was his goal to see Tiger Woods, we followed (actually headed in front of) as best we could since it seemed as though 50% of the spectators were following him. On Sunday, after watching Tiger at the First Hole, I decided we should skip ahead to the 8th hole, a short par-3, and get a good spot to watch (this particular hole had no bleachers) before it was surrounded by a mass of humanity, and Tiger showed up.

Down at the green we found the perfect spot just above a bunker at the rear left with the spectator rope crossing right in front of us. This allowed us to sit just above the lip of the bunker with an unobstructed view of the entire green,and watch the tee shots approach in flight.On this particular day, there were pop up showers and on/off rain for most of the time we sat there in the morning. This led many of the golfers to misread the speed of the green and leave their putts short.

After watching several golfers miss short, Andrew leaned over and asked "why don't they hit the ball harder?". With a smile on my face, I explained about the rain and the changing speed of the green and how the golfers didn't want to go past the hole and have a long putt coming back. He seemed to understand, and we continued to watch as nearly every putt fell short of the hole.

I don't recall who it was, but a few groups before Tiger Woods arrived, another golfer left his putt short. This was obviously too much for Andrew, who practically shouted to me 'they have to hit it harder'. Once the laughter in the gallery subsided, the golfer tapped in for par, and walked off to the 9th tee, after which several people close to us also commented to Andrew that they didn't understand why he didn't hit it harder either.

As if Andrew's brilliant observation wasn't enough of a great memory, when Tiger Woods finally made it to the 8th hole, the mobile camera that follows him set up directly across the green from us, and Tiger's tee shot landed in a direct line between the camera, the hole and us. As my wife later told me, she was watching the Open at her sister's house (I told her we'd be trying to follow Tiger, so she'd look whenever he was on) when she suddenly screamed "Andrew and Mark are on TV!".

And it was all because of my volunteer credential and free USGA tickets for children under 12.

The following list of Prohibited Items applies to both Volunteers and spectators alike. All volunteers and spectators must walk through security magnetometers (similar to airport security scanners) before boarding the shuttle buses or entering through the passenger Drop-off Gate. If you attempt to walk through the magnetometer with a prohibited item, you will be required to either return the item to your car or drop it off at the Disallowed Items trailer (and pick it up after you leave), then return to th eback of the line and pass through the magnetometer again.

Volunteers who attempt to bring in Prohibited Items also run the risk of having their Volunteer credential deactivated and of being removed from the volunteer list. To make sure that Volunteers cannot claim ignorance, a miniature copy of the Prohibited Items list is on the back of the Volunteer Credential.

List of Proibited Items

NO cell phones (including cell phones with photographic capability)
NO PDAs &/or other portable email devices
NO Noise producing electronic devices (including MP3 Players)
NO Cameras &/or camcorders (other than Mon- Wed for personal non-commercial use and only without their cases)
NO Bags larger than 8"Wx8"Hx8"D in their natural state
NO Cases &/or covers (such as chair or umbrella covers)
NO Signs, posters or banners
NO Televisions &/or radios (unless provided by the USGA)
NO Food &/or beverages
NO Containers &/or coolers
NO Pets (other than service animals)
NO Lawn &/or folding armchairs
NO Bicycles
NO Ladders &/or Step-stools or other similar items
NO Metal-spiked golf shoes
NO Weapons (regardless of permit, including but not limited to, firearms or knives)

NO other items deemed unlawful or dangerous by the USGA &/or Campionship Security Persnnel, in their sole discretion.

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The following excerpt was taken from an email letter from USGA President James F. Vernon, sent to all US Open Volunteers on May 11, 2009.

Dear U.S. Open Volunteer:

...Even before you fulfill your responsibilities next month at Bethpage State Park , your service as a volunteer is already making an impact. The proceeds from volunteer registration, and from the championship itself, help drive the many charitable activities administered by the USGA. Through these outreach efforts, the USGA positively impacts the golf community above and beyond the Association's core functions. I would like to take this opportunity to briefly highlight a few of these philanthropic endeavors.

Since establishing the For the Good of the Game Grants Initiative in 1997, the USGA has given $65 million to support programs for junior golfers and individuals with disabilities. Through this unique initiative, the USGA continues to be the largest financial supporter of The First Tee. The USGA supplements the Grants Initiative with outreach programs that make the game more affordable and accessible to underserved people, including partnerships with the PGA of America and the LPGA to support junior golf. Furthermore, through its contributions to Golf 20/20, an industry-wide initiative to grow the game, the USGA is leading the redesign of JuniorLinks.com to better serve as the ultimate online hub for junior golfers.

To provide services to millions of golfers across the country, the USGA relies on its relationships with state and regional golf associations. The USGA manages two programs to give these associations valuable resources to ensure they reach their fullest potential. The P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program subsidizes intern assistance to qualified associations. Since 1992, the USGA has distributed $18 million through the Boatwright program, funding hundreds of interns working at the state and local level. Additionally, the Direct Assistance Program, established in 1997, funds computer hardware, software and staffing grants for qualified associations. Having dedicated more than $5 million toward this effort, the USGA encourages associations to provide the highest quality services to their members, member clubs and amateur constituency.

Another charitable endeavor strongly supported by the USGA is Patriot Golf Day. Held over the Labor Day holiday weekend, Patriot Golf Day encourages public course golfers and private club members to donate to the Folds of Honor Foundation, which supports families of military veterans who have been injured or lost their lives in the line of duty. To date, the USGA has contributed $170,000 in direct funds and promoted the event to USGA Members and Member Clubs. In total, Patriot Golf Day has raised $2.8 million for this worthwhile cause. Additionally, the USGA has partnered with the U.S. Army and the National Amputee Golf Association to introduce golf to injured service people as a rehabilitation tool.

On behalf of the USGA, I would like to once again thank you for your invaluable contribution to the game. You not only are helping us conduct the U.S. Open Championship, you are making all our core activities and philanthropic efforts possible.

Yours very truly,

James F. Vernon
President
United States Golf Association

No matter how often I watch Tour Events, or volunteer at the US Open, you and I will never be able to swing a golf club likeTiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, or any tour pro for that matter. The simple fact is that each of their swings are unique to both their physique and physical ability.

Does this mean that we'll never be a better golfer? Absolutely not!

All we need to do is develop the swing that is right for us.

With the Simple Golf Swing System you'll be able to:

Hit the ball straighter and further than you ever hit before.
Hit with greater distance and accuracy every time.
Hit more greens and get the ball consistently close to the pin.
Cure that awful slice you used to have.
Gain a new outlook on golf with greater confidence in your game.

When I received my committee assignment, I found out that I was stationed on the scoreboard at the 15th hole on Friday, mid-afternoon (11a - 3:30p). Knowing the layout of the Black Course, I suspected that the scoreboard would be by the 15th green which is a little out of the way from the rest of the Course, but being the most difficult hole, I figured I'd get to see some great shots.

Turns out that the USGA situated the scoreboard at the tee box of the 15th hole, for maximum visibility by the gallery (in the photo above - the scoreboard would be out of the image to the right of the tee box). This location, and the fact that I was ~8 ft higher than everyone else gave me the following views:

The par 4 15th hole, tee to green (though the elevated green was partially obstructed)
The par 4 16th Green - directly beyond the 15th tee - and all fairway approaches
The par 3 17th - from tee (off to my left) to green (beyond the 16th green)

Talk about an office with a view.

Even better, I was randomly selected to be the shift leader, which meant that I had the portable score updater. This was a blackberry type device that provides all player scores to the scoreboards so they can be immediately updated after the scores are relayed in by the walking scorers. For emergencies, I was also provided with a walkie-talkie (with head set) so that when a huge roar went up from the 14th green, I was one of the first to find out who hit the hole-in-one.

By the time my shift ended, I knew that when I came back on Saturday as a spectator, I wanted to spend some time on the hill behind the 17th green and watch both the green and the tee shots down the 18th fairway. This turned out to be a very good decision, since after about 1hr behind the green, Scott Hoch came to the 17th wearing a Red, White and Blue American Flag print shirt and proceeded to hit a hole-in-one. That was one shot, and the loudest roar, that I will never forget.

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