Bethpage Park’s Black Course was the first public facility to stage the US Open just seven years ago.

Such was the success of the event that the United States Golf Association could not wait to return to New York.

Tigers Woods ruled supreme as the wet conditions turned Bethpage Black into a monster at what was then a record 7,214 yards.

Since then, the US Open has been played at Olympia Fields (7,190 yards), Shinnecock Hills (6,996 yards), Pinehurst (7,214yards), Winged Foot (7,264yards), Oakmont (7,355 yards) and last year Torrey Pines, which although the South Course can measure 7,643 yards off the back sticks, was reduced to a shade over 7,400 yards for Woods’ famous victory on one leg!

 
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Every year the USGA unleash an extra dimension to their blue riband event – from the longest hole, the longest par four, the longest par three etc., etc.

Admittedly they have learned the lesson of 2004 when Shinnecocks green got out of control on the Sunday, and USGA course supreme Mike Davis has earned notable plaudits since Pinehurst for reigning in the USGA’s obsession with five-inch high rough punishing the slightest incursion out of the primary.

Over the past three US Opens the use of graded rough has set up the courses for a fair, but testing, championship which has seen drama aplenty before Ogilvy, Cabrera and Woods finally emerged victorious.

Sure enough, the USGA have a few more tricks up their sleeves this week.

For the first time there are three par fours which exceed 500 yards – and only one par four under 400 yards.

And two of the par threes are more than 225 yards, although the longest – the eighth - will vary throughout the tournament, say the USGA.

So what lies in store for the 156-strong field which tee off on Thursday morning.

ANDREW GRIFFIN reports on the changes from 2002 and examines the key holes at Bethpage.

1^st) 430 yards par 4. If you want to avoid a five at the first, a three-wood or a rescue is the smart call and leave the severe dogleg to the right alone. That leaves around 150-165 yards, but the bold ones cutting off the corner are left with just a wedge although they face a tough task to find the fairway from the tee. The front third of the very narrow green, slopes severely from back to front. Missing either side leaves a tough up and down.

2) 389 yards par 4. The only short par four on the course. A dogleg again - this time left - so the driver will stay in the bag for most players. Need to shape a draw around the large oaks to set up a second from the short stuff. The green set on a ridge leaves the bottom of the flagstick hidden for the short approach. But a flat putting surface should see more than a fair share of threes.

3) 232 yards par 3. A new tee makes this the longest short hole at Bethpage. The diagonally-set green, from back left to front right, is shallow in depth and falls away on all sides leaving some awkward recoveries if you fail to find the putting surface

4) 517 yards par 5. Time to attack whether you go for it in two or lay up as this hole is shorter than the longest par four! The back of the green will not be mown so closely this time, so long approaches have a better chance of avoiding a steep run off. Trees behind the raised green have also been removed changing the view from the fairway. With the green sloping front to back, great wedge play will reward the three-shotters as the bombers will do well to hold the surface, especially as the weekend wears on and if there is no rain.

5) 478 yards par four. If the fourth is likely to be one of the easiest holes all week, the fifth promises to be one of the hardest. Downhill tee shot to a target zone which sits at a slight left-to-right diagonal. You have to flirt with the right cross-bunker to avoid being blocked out by the big oaks left of the hole. The smallish green is again sat on a ridge obscuring the view of the target and it slopes back to front. Take a four and run to the next tee box.

6) 408 yards par 4. Aiming for the top of the hill overlooking the green some 50 feet below will be the popular line from the tee, leaving a mid-iron approach. But the rough has been reined in on the left so you can drive over the left bunker and bound down to the bottom for a simple pitch. With no driveable par four this year, this might provide the most excitement.

7) 525 yards. An extra tee adds 36 yards to make this the longest par four in US Open history by eight yards! A dogleg right will require the big dog and there is more room off the tee than in 2002. You can still tangle with Bethpage’s trademark oaks on the Tiger line. Green guarded by deep bunker front right. Expect the seventh to be the hardest hole on the front nine.

8) 230 yards par 3. A downhill approach at what should be the most dramatic hole of the week. The hole can play from as short as 135 yards and different tees will be used on all four days. The green has been restored to its original size since 2002 so that water now laps up against the front, creating two new pin positions at the front, so when it plays short expect some splashdowns. Grab a three and go.

9) 460 yards par 4. Biggest change on any tee shot since 2002, where the hole was the easiest. Rees Jones has added 40 yards and added a new left bunker. That will leave the shorter hitters with a hanging lie with the ball above the feet - and a blind approach. The bombers will go for the flatter fairway on the left and go birdie hunting on what is a fairly large and flat green.

10) 508 yards par four. Getting bored yet? Relax, only one more monster par four after this one. Open to the wind on the slight dogleg left, fescue grasses will snaffle any off line tee shots, while deep bunkers will wolf down anyone who misses their chosen target by a whisker. Unlike 2002, the Fred Funks of this world will safely reach the fairway after the carry was reduced. Front bunkers protect the green which also has a deep swale. A new closely-mown area behind the green offers more options if the long approach rolls out.

11) 435 yards par four. Another hole exposed to the wind with a blind fairway guarded by deep bunkers on both sides. Stay below the hole as this is one of Bethpage’s most treacherous greens, sloping steeply from the back.

12) 504 yards par four. Last of the long holes – it was the second hardest seven years ago. Play right of the deep cross-bunker for a long approach or take on the left cross-bunker at 260 yards. The dogleg left is even harder with the prevailing wind against. Big putting surface with a pronounced tier - expect plenty of fives.

13) 605yards par five. Rees Jones – who also beefed up Torrey Pines’ South Course in 2001 in readiness for the 2008 US Open – moved the tee back 50 yards to make this the longest hole at Bethpage – but nowhere near the length of the 632 yard 12th at Oakmont in 2007. Still reachable in two but A W Tillinghast’s original idea of having the cross-bunkers in play for the lay up is now in-play. The front bunker is 30 paces short of the green so you can run up a long iron with the green sloping back to the front. Eagle chance should make the back nine exciting come Sunday.

14) 158 yards par 3. A proper par three traditionalists will argue, but this will be the easiest of the short holes. Bigger putting area has been created to give the hole a better chance of surviving the footfall of the first two days. A new front-left tongue should provide a tough pin while the back tier will test distance control.

15) 458 yards par four. Favourite to be the hardest hole of the week as it was in 2002. You have to find the fairway to get on in two with the green perched some 50 feet above. And what a scary sight awaits with the two-tiered green sloping severely from back left to front right. Go 3-2-4 from the 13^th and you will storm through the field.

16) 490 yards par four. Gentle dogleg left with a high tee overlooking the whole hole. A mid-iron in must miss the deep bunkers guarding and slightly obscuring the target. A bowl-shape green will test the short game of the best.

17) 207 yards par three. Uphill shot to an hourglass-shaped green which should leave the champion-elect counting the seconds as the blind tee shot hangs in the air. Deep bunkers surround the green, which is very wide but quite shallow, with two distinct tiers. Only a high, soft tee shot will do in the expected dry conditions. A big crowd on three sides will set up a grandstand finish.

18) 411 yards par four. Downhill tee shot offers the choice to lay up short of a cluster of deep bunkers on both sides of the fairway. A longer approach shot is the safer play but anyone pressing the leader must risk finding the narrow fairway beyond the bunkers if birdie is the order of the day. Uphill approach leaves a blind second to a green sloping back to front. Hopefully it won’t be another stroll in the Bethpage Park for one Tiger Woods, and the sparks may well fly on the last as they did so memorably in San Diego 12 months ago.