by Thomas Franz

Created on: January 26, 2007   Last Updated: March 12, 2007

Bethpage, New York. Enough said? For a golf fan living on Long Island, the mecca of public golf is located in Nassau County where people line up at the the crack of dawn to get a round in on the weekend before little league or yard work. The state park hosts 5 public courses giving all New Yorkers a place to play, but it also houses the Black course, home of the 2002 U.S. Open, the first public course to host a major.

If you play golf, you want The Black. If you play Bethpage but can't get on The Black, you wait for your time and watch the tee at The Black. It has to be the hardest tee box in the New York metro area. Besides the fact that it is a monster of a hole, (a dog leg right from an elevated tee protected by tall trees begging you to cut the corner)your are being watched and rated by an audience of New York golfers. To the point and honest, your shot will bring about a chatter if it is perfectly placed over the tree line or blocked into the tall grass causing a five minute back up off the start. Pressure is not the word, fear is more like it.
Weather at the most populated public track in the county or at the less crowded private club, the first shot of the day is tougher then the twelve footer to save par and to win the carry over.
Here are a few ideas to take with you on the box. Smile, its golf. You are not at work and your boss is not in your four some. Think loose, know that an over swing will cause a slice and perhaps a lost ball. Play smart, you are not warmed up yet so play with in your limits till you get going. Pick a focus point for your shot. I like to pick a mark on the tee box that lines up with my target a few paces from my ball. Work on hitting through this mark, leading to the middle of the fairway. Block out the rest of the noise around you, forget about the idea of topping it or hooking it into the bushes, if you think it, it will happen. Stay positive, focus on your plan and don't put the pressure on yourself, just get it passed the ladies tee.

Learn more about this author, Thomas Franz.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.