An Early Preview of the '09 Open at Bethpage Black

The USGA website has a nice preview piece of the work done to Bethpage to prepare it to host the 2009 US Open.  Ken Klavon does a great job, as usual, profiling the work done by Rees Jones. 

In summary, not a lot of major changes were made to the architecture and flow of the Black.  Most of the work done was in the details.  From what I am reading, it seems like a lot of the work will be subtle but have a good payoff for the tournament and Mike Davis.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Superintendent Mike Currier has worked with his staff to firm the poa annua greens to allow for a consistent Stimpmeter reading around 14 for the whole championship week.
• Davis has been able to set up some more flexible tee boxes and plans to use some of the existing tee boxes to enhance his setup options.  Five new teeing grounds were built and Davis could have the lengthy par 3 8th play between 135 and 210 yards in June.  The forced carry at 10 that drew so many complaints has been shortened to 224 yards, down from nearly 240.
• The USGA will be employing mixed grass rough again this year with a combination of rye, bluegrass, and poa annua.  That will create more varied lies in the tiered rough and seems to be a design component that Davis will stick with into the future.  For good reason.
• With alterations to fairway bunkering, Davis is saying that about a half dozen fairways will play between five and seven yards WIDER than 2002.

Sounds like some great changes.  I'm hoping that I can Mike Davis on The 19th Hole to talk design.