I’m watching the U.S. Open as I write this, and currently only Tiger Woods is below par for the tournament, at -4. There are two players at even par, and everyone else is above.
I understand that the Bethpage Black course is a par 70, though it is the longest course the U.S. open has been played on. It seems to me that most other tournament courses are par 72, and in most major tourneys there are a heck of a lot more players hitting well below par.
So, how do they determine par on golf courses? And why is Bethpage Black a par 70 even though it’s such a long course?
Length is the determining factor. The USGA usually says if a hole is X number of yards it’s a par 3 or 4 or 5.
Par may vary depending upon the skill level of the competition. The players in the U.S. Open are using specially prepared tee boxes, which are far from the hole. They’re even far from the fairway.
Often times for the U.S. Open, the USGA will decide to make a Par 5 a par 4, just because they want to increase the challenge on the hole.
However, if you think about it, it doesn’t make too much of a difference. Everyone is going to reach the green on the long par 4 holes in as many strokes as they would if they called it a par 5.