Golf Long Island 05-01-19

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GOLF AN ANTON MEDIA GROUP SPECIAL

LONG ISLAND May 1-7, 2019

PGA

Championship comes to Bethpage’s Black course

Who to see, when to go

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2019 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP BETHPAGE BLACK (Photo courtesy of Long Island State Parks)

Behind The Tournament A sit-down with PGA Championship Director Scott Reid

BY CHRISTOPHER BIRSNER

cbirsner@antonmediagroup.com

We are just less than two weeks away from the PGA Championship and Bethpage State Park is almost ready to welcome thousands of fans for the second major tournament in golf this year. Before the pros tee off on May 16, PGA Championship Director Scott Reid took some time out to reflect on the work that has been done in the last 10 months to prepare for the event.

“It’s coming along great,” said Reid. “We’ve been very fortunate with the weather, having a mild winter. We actually started building the championship back in February, so obviously everyone was a little bit nervous about the weather, but we’ve been very fortunate. The build has gone as well as we could of anticipated.”

Reid and his team arrived at Bethpage State Park back in July with the grand opening of their headquarters in the right side of the parking lot.

Their goal in the early months was to promote ticket sales for the tournament as well as host other promotional events, including a cocktail reception that gave a look at the tournament’s set-up and the corporate hospitality accommodations in October.

Since then, all focus has been on getting the course ready for its biggest event since hosting the 2009 U.S. Open.

“Tickets sales have been going on and we’ve reached a point where we are sold out on Saturday and Sunday,” said Reid. “We still have tickets left for Monday through Friday at the moment. As I’ve said, we started building the structures for the event in February and I would say we’re about 70 percent complete. We have over 500,000-square-feet of

flooring that we are putting down. And then we have big tents that we’re putting on top of them so it’s a pretty big build.”

Over the next week and a half, Reid’s team will be putting the finishing touches on

about how it will play in the middle of May. “He feels really good about where the golf course is with three weeks to go,” said Reid.

“Hopefully the weather will continue to stay on a warming trend and that will help with

the rough growing a little bit.

I don’t want to jinx anything, knock on wood, but everyone is excited about where we are right now with the golf course.

We’re hoping we don’t get a bunch of rain.”

Leading up to the

tournament, Reid said that they will be holding a grand opening for their PGA shops from Friday, May 10, to Sunday, May 12, leading into PGA Championship week

see DIRECTOR on page 4B

2019 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE MONDAY, MAY 13

Gates Open The public can arrive at the park as early as 6:30 a.m.

Gates close at 7:30 p.m.

Scott Reid is directing his first major tournament, with past managing experience including the Allianz Championship and The Sanford International.

(Photo courtesy of the PGA)

Shuttle Shuttles from the general parking lot at Jones Beach are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Practice Round PGA Players will practice at Bethpage Black at some point between 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 14 their work, with construction wrapping up very soon and walking areas being finalized for fans, as well as making sure other important elements are in place.

“We’re focusing on a lot of details,” said Reid. “All the tent structures are up so now its completing all the interior areas to those tents. We also have some fan walkways we are working on. We have to build some decking where the fans will walk as they make their way through the main entrance. We’ve been also meeting with the law enforcement agencies involved in the security plan. Just making sure we’re ready to go for the championship.”

The course itself is set to be in great shape by the time the tournament begins, barring the weather. Andy Wilson, the director of agronomy at Bethpage State Park, talked to Reid about the field’s condition and was very optimistic

Gates Open The public can arrive at the park as early as 6:30 a.m.

Gates close at 7:30 p.m.

Shuttle Shuttles from the general parking lot at Jones Beach are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Practice Round PGA Players will practice at Bethpage Black at some point between 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Longest Drive Contest Players will be offered an opportunity to hit one tee shot on Bethpage Black’s 16th hole. It will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 Gates Open The public can arrive at the park as early as 6:30 a.m.

Gates close at 7:30 p.m.

Shuttle Shuttles from the general parking lot at Jones Beach are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Practice Round PGA Players will practice at Bethpage Black at some point between 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 16

Gates Open The public can arrive at the park as early as 6:15 a.m.

Gates close at 8 p.m.

Shuttle Shuttles from the general parking lot at Jones Beach are open from 6:15 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Championship Round 1 PGA Players will tee off on holes 1 or 10 in groups of three at some point between 6:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Times subject to change.

Television Coverage TNT will air live coverage from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 17

Gates Open The public can arrive at the park as early as 6:15 a.m.

Gates close at 8 p.m.

Shuttle Shuttles from the general parking lot at Jones Beach are open from 6:15 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Championship Round 2 PGA Players will tee off on holes 1 or 10 in groups of three at some point between 6:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Times subject to change.

Television Coverage TNT will air live coverage from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 18 Gates Open The public can arrive at the park as early as 7 a.m.

Gates close at 8 p.m.

Shuttle Shuttles from the general parking lot at Jones Beach are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Championship Round 3 PGA Players will tee off on hole 1 in pairs at some point between 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Times subject to change.

Television Coverage TNT will air live coverage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CBS will air live coverage from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Gates Open The public can arrive at the park as early as 7 a.m.

Gates close at 8 p.m.

Shuttle Shuttles from the general parking lot at Jones Beach are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Championship Final Round PGA Players will tee off on hole 1 in pairs at some point between 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Times subject to change.

Television Coverage TNT will air live coverage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CBS will air live coverage from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Wanamaker Trophy Presentation Ceremony The trophy ceremony will take place on the 18th green immediately following the end of play.

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2019 PGA CHAMPSIONSHIP BETHPAGE BLACK

Q&A With CBS Sports’ Peter Kostis

BY JOSEPH WOLKIN

Q A

jwolkin@antonmediagroup.com

Another player to watch out for is Brooks Koepka, who won the 2018 PGA Championship. Can he earn back-to-back wins?

Well, he has back-to-back U.S. Open wins, so there’s your answer. Brooks Koepka is a tremendous young talent who probably doesn’t get the respect he deserves for how well he’s played. He can easily repeat at Bethpage Black with how he’s played. He hits the ball far enough, a good, strong player. He’s a good putter. I would look at Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, who won two years ago in Charlotte, as the longer hitters who are going to have the advantage.

As the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black approaches, there’s no one who knows the course better than longtime CBS Sports analyst Peter Kostis.

Kostis, who joined CBS in 1992, is an Emmy award-winning voice. Not only is he a seasoned veteran when it comes to everything there is to know about golf, but he’s worked with dozens of PGA Tour and LPGA Tour professionals. He’s even worked with celebrities to improve their golf games, including Kevin Costner, Maury Povich, Dan Marino and former baseball stars Jim Rice and Mike Schmidt.

Now, as Bethpage Black prepares to host the second major of the PGA Tour in 2019, Kostis breaks down what to expect, the difficulty of the course, Tiger Woods’ comeback and much more.

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What are expectations for the second major of the PGA Tour season?

Obviously, coming back to Bethpage Black is going to be great. We’ve been there a couple of times over the past few years. I thoroughly enjoy the golf course and I think it’s a great test. I look forward to seeing it in the spring time as opposed to later on in the summer. It will probably pose a little bit of a different challenge to the players, especially if the temperature dips or if we get a lot of rain. Bethpage Black is going to be part of the story and the other story is going to be Tiger Woods. Coming off The Masters victory, he’s going to a place where he’s had success in the past and played well. I think that will be the story going in. Can Tiger win two in a row or not? That’s really going to be the storyline going in.

Q A

With the PGA Championship moving from late in the summer to May, will players have a bigger challenge with the course?

Everybody is getting used to the new schedule and trying to figure out how they’re going to organize their schedule to be ready for the four majors. We get one each month now— April, May, June and July. The biggest challenge of the PGA Championship moving from August to May is going to be: Are the northern courses, like Bethpage Black or Oakhill coming up, going to be ready condition-wise coming out of the winter? Do they have enough time to get the grass going? We’re just going to have to wait and see. It’s going to open up the possibilities of having different golf courses in the future.

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What makes this course so difficult compared to others?

A

It’s long and hard. I expect it’s going to play even longer in the spring time because it’s not going to get dried out and firm. The ball won’t roll 40 or 50 yards. I expect the longer hitters are going to have a huge advantage.

Q A

You mentioned Tiger Woods attempting to win yet another major. Can he pull off back-to-back wins?

Everything about Tiger going forward revolves around his body and his physical condition. Clearly, he’s healthy. He came back and won his 15th major at The Masters. While that golf course probably suits him more than Bethpage Black, he’s proved to himself that he can play major championship golf. He had a couple of top 10s last year in majors and now, he won The Masters. He’ll be one of the favorites going into Bethpage. But just because you’re going in as a favorite doesn’t mean everybody else is going to lay down and give you a victory. You have to earn it.

Q A

What would back-to-back major wins by Tiger Woods do for the golf world?

I’m not going to speculate what will happen if he wins two in a row. I think it was great for golf and even greater for Tiger, with everything he’s overcome—the DUI, the scandals, the divorce, injuries to his knees, fusion in his back—it’s been one issue after another that he’s had to overcome. People should respect how hard he’s worked to come back and leave it at that. Let’s see what the future holds. He’s clearly going to be the favorite or amongst the favorites in May. But we’ll have to see what happens.

What are the keys to taming this challenging Bethpage Black course?

I don’t think you tame Bethpage Black. I think you try not to get bitten by it. I don’t know what the rough is going to be like because of the growing season differences. There can be a lot of tight pins and approach shots that are fairly long. It’s not going to be a drive or pitching wedge type of golf course. First of all, you have to drive it well. You have to hit your approach shots well. Then, you have to follow it up with decent putting. It’s the standard formula of success to winning for any major.

DIRECTOR from page 3B that is open to the public. As for during the tournament, fans will be able to visit Cafe 101, a place for refreshments and taking photos with a giant replica version of the Wanamaker Trophy. There will also be a fan zone that will have golf simulations, putting lessons and information about state parks in New York. There will be plenty of concessions throughout the area, including “Taste of New York” on hole 14 for New York-centric cuisine.

The momentum of Tiger Woods winning The Masters will certainly have an impact on the PGA Championship as more people will be tuned in to see the all-time great try to win back-to-back majors.

“We couldn’t ask for a better lead-in to the PGA Championship,” said Reid. “Tiger being back in the forefront of golf has certainly piqued people’s interest in golf. It’s great for us here at the tournament but it’s great for the PGA as a whole.”

For more information on weekday tickets, parking and other championship details, visit www.pga.com/events/pgachampionship.

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“Bethpage Black 18th Hole” by Steven Klein Limited Edition Prints Available Starting At $185.00

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2019 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP DINING

Food For Champions

BY CHRISTINA CLAUS

Pappardelle’s Pizzeria And Restaurant Looking for that old Italian bite for lunch or dinner?

Check out Pappardelle’s for classics or, grab a unique slice like baked crab meat, spinach and artichoke and sesame chicken pizza, so you can make a quick getaway back to the green.

cclaus@antonmediagroup.com

While attending the PGA Championships at Bethpage Black, why not eat like a champion too?

Whether staying close by or driving just a few minutes away, spectators can try an array of cuisine throughout the weekend from The Bethpage Public House to CaraCara on Main Street in Farmingdale.

The Bethpage Public House For those who don’t want to miss a second of the championships, the Bethpage Public House at the Heritage Club is the perfect spot to grab some breakfast to start the day or a sit-down lunch to keep onlookers satisfied for the rest of the day. From 5:30 to 11 a.m., attendees can fill up on egg platters, omelets, pancakes, waffles and more. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., spectators can enjoy appetizers from chicken quesadillas to hamburgers and hot dogs to salads, sandwiches and wraps.

99 Quaker Meeting House Rd., Farmingdale; 516-927-8380; www.lessings.com Palmer’s American Grill Get a little fancy with a quick ride over to Palmer’s American Grill for contemporary dining with chef John Catalanotto. From lunch to dinner, Palmer’s boasts appetizers like artichoke francese and a seafood crepe and entrees including beef wellington,

554 Stewart Ave., Bethpage; 516-433-2463; www.papparedelles.com The Heritage Club sits in the middle of Bethpage State Park with a clear view of the golfing action. filet mignon, marinated skirt steak and more. End the meal with chef John’s tiramisu, bananas foster, a trio of gelato sliders or an apple crisp.

123 Fulton St., Farmingdale; 516-420-0609; www.palmersamericangrille.com Zorn’s of Bethpage For those looking for a quick, hot meal, Zorn’s is the spot to stop. Zorn’s offers a plethora of homestyle meals for one from rotisserie chicken to barbecue spare ribs complete with two sides including golden French fries, macaroni and cheese, creamed spinach and more.

CaraCara If you’re in the mood for some Mexican food, drive over to CaraCara, an upscale Mexican restaurant with mood lighting and portraits of Frida Kahlo.

CaraCara offers everyone’s favorite—tableside guacamole—along with other dishes like quesadillas, tacos, burritos, sandwiches, enchiladas and salads.

354 Main St., Farmingdale; 516-777-2272; www.caracaramex.com Izumi Japanese Bistro For those craving sushi, head over to this contemporary Japanese restaurant offering creative sushi rolls, hibachi and Pan-Asian fare. From rainbow and Godzilla rolls to shrimp or chicken teriyaki, Izumi offers something for everyone.

440 N Wantagh Ave., Bethpage; 516-933-7225; 4321 Hempstead Tpke., Bethpag; 516-731-5500; www.izumibethpage.com 1-4 pg Anton News Golf 2019_Layout 1 4/25/19 10:40 AM Page 1 www.zornsofbethpage.com

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BETHPAGE BLACK HISTORY

(Photo courtesy of Gary Kellner/PGA of America)

Bethpage State Park has been the home of the unforgivably challenging Bethpage Black since 1936.

A Public Course The Pros Can’t Lick Bethpage Black comes into its own

BY JOE SCOTCHIE

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

Prior to the rise of the suburbia that characterized postwar Long Island, Nassau County was home to golf courses galore for city folk to find refuge on weekends. This is still the case. The legendary Bethpage Black first opened in 1936, constructed on the site of an estate owned by the Yoakum family. A product also of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program, the golf course was designed

by A.W. Tillinghast, a man who also designed the red and blue courses at Bethpage, and Joseph Burbeck, the park’s superintendent.

For the next 66 years, Bethpage Black reigned as one of Long Island’s most popular—and challenging— public golf courses. Day in and day out, determined duffers took on this 7,468-ft. beast only to be frustrated by its unforgiving ways and with some luck, to be exhilarated when nailing a good shot.

Beginning in 2002, it was now the turn of the world’s best golfers to stand in awe of the Bethpage challenge.

That year, in an unprecedented move, the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) announced that they had selected Bethpage Black as the site for its 2002 U.S. Open. This was the first time a public golf course would host the Open. Beginning with Arnold Palmer in the 1950s and continuing with Lee Trevino in the 1970s, the sport had acquired a more egalitarian image, and the selection of Bethpage Black only confirmed that trend.

The 2002 U.S. Open was a huge

success. The four-day event set attendance records and to top it off, the tournament was won by Tiger Woods, then playing at the peak of his career. Woods, in fact, was the only player to break par over the 72-hole competition.

Seven years later, the PGA came back to Bethpage for the 2009 U.S. Open. This time, Luke Glover took the crown. The tournament also marked a love affair between Phil Mickelson and Long Island golf fans. Before the competition began, Mickelson announced that he would be taking time off the tour to tend to his wife, Amy, who was battling breast cancer. The fans cheered Mickelson’s every move and after the event, the legendary golfer declared that Bethpage Black could serve as an ideal location for a future Ryder Cup competition.

On it went. In both 2012 and 2016, Barclays hosted the FedEx Cup Playoffs. This year, it comes back to Bethpage for the PGA tournament, the final leg of the Grand Slam circuit.

In 2021 and 2027, Bethpage will host The Northern Trust FedEx playoffs. In between, in 2024, Mickelson will see his wish come true as Bethpage will be home for the Ryder Cup showdown between the top golfers in the United States and those from the European continent.

The least-kept secret among Long Island’s many challenging golf courses, Bethpage Black has come into its own to rival Augusta National, Pebble Beach and the Baltusrol Golf Club as one of the most majestic links in the United States.

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