For The Barclays PGA Tour event on Aug. 23-26 at Bethpage State Park in N.Y., "hospitality tents and skyboxes will be built" near the green on the 17th hole, as will "large sections of bleachers," according to Mark Herrmann of NEWSDAY. In addition, more bleachers will be added behind the 17th tee, "giving the hole an enclosed look." The 17th hole "was one of the most electric venues at the voluble 2002 and 2009 U.S. Opens." Tournament Exec Dir Peter Mele said, "We could have 3,000 to 4,000 seats around that hole. So it should be a nice atmosphere." The goal is "balancing the stature and organization that marked those two majors with some new, more relaxed approaches." Attendance for the tournament is "expected to be capped at 35,000 a day," which is about 10,000 more than The Barclays' limit last year when the event was held at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey. Children, active military members and their families will be admitted for free. Another addition at event this year is the the MasterCard hospitality tent, "which will be open to anyone who shows a MasterCard." Meanwhile, Bethpage Black's "major challenge will be keeping the place in tournament shape through two hot, busy summer months." The course will close to the public on Aug. 6, and course Superintendent Andy Wilson said that those two weeks "will help the course heal" (NEWSDAY, 6/7).
