Breaking Down the Fifth Hole at Bethpage Black

Strategic design elements are on full display across the course at Bethpage Black, host of this week's Ryder Cup.

Fried Egg Golf's Garrett Morrison and PJ Clark took Designing Golf’s “Golf Architecture 101” class on the road once again, this time to the tricky par-4 fifth hole at the brawny Long Island gem. The diagonal orientation of the bunker guarding the right side of the fairway makes this hole a golf architecture lover's treat. Playing conservatively to the left off the tee can set up an “almost impossible” second shot to an elevated green surrounded by bunkers, while an aggressive shot of the tee opens up your options.