A few days back, Mark Hermann of Newsday wrote that Bethpage State Park's Black Course deserves to host another major championship or event. Whether it be the third U.S. Open to be hosted there, or a PGA Championship, or even a Ryder Cup, Hermann believes Long Island's golf gem has earned the right to be consistently recognized at the sport's elite level. I think he’s right.
Personally, I would like another Open to come here. The Black has proven that it is worthy of that—and that it makes a ton of money for the USGA. And just this past week, the New York State Open was played the Black Course. Not surprisingly, nobody in the field of Met PGA pros and top amateurs shot under par in the final round.
Now, I'm not saying that I wouldn't be happy with another event besides the Open happening at Bethpage or Shinnecock. One reason: As we saw at Bethpage last year, a soaked course is either pretty defenseless, or with some wind thrown in, it’s a miserable experience for players and fans alike.
So it seems that a PGA Championship in August, or a Ryder Cup in September—when we historically get very little rain—would be a better fit for a major on Long Island major.
New Yorkers have been spoiled over the last decade. We've seen huge events at great venues located in or around Long Island seemingly every other year. Four U.S. Opens in an eight-year period is unheard of in other parts of the country—nevermind in a 120-mile area from Baltusrol to Winged Foot to Bethpage to Shinnecock.
But don’t wait on pins and needles for next year's announcement for the 2019 Open—it may not be until 2020 or beyond that we get the big one back here. But how about the 2015 PGA Championship, or the 2016 Ryder Cup?
That would be a wise and just decision by the golf powers that be.
