"While attending St. John's, Keegan Bradley and his teammates had a rare privilege -- playing the famous Black Course at Bethpage State Park, the site of this week's Ryder Cup, when it was closed to the public on Mondays. Then-St. John's coach Frank Darby had worked out the deal with Bethpage Black superintendent Craig Currier, whom Darby befriended while helping stage the New York State Open at the course over the years."
"There was one rule: Bradley and his teammates could play only holes 3 through 14, what is known as the "Short Course," and weren't allowed to cross Round Swamp Road to play the last four, which were too close to the clubhouse and security guards. With those restrictions in place, Bradley and his teammates had to skip the 15th, the most difficult hole on one of the toughest courses in America."
Keegan Bradley and St. John's teammates received special Monday access to Bethpage Black, arranged by coach Frank Darby and superintendent Craig Currier. The team lacked a home course and used Bethpage Black when private clubs closed for winter. The state park course, nicknamed the "People's Country Club," became a favorite. Access was limited to holes 3 through 14, the "Short Course," because the final four holes sat near the clubhouse and security. Those restrictions forced players to skip the difficult 15th and the par-3 17th and prevented walking the 18th fairway. During Bradley's senior season in 2007-08, he and George Zolotas crossed Round Swamp Road to play the previously off-limits final holes.
Read at ESPN.com
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