Most sports separate fans from the field of play. Baseball fans can't hit a home run in Yankee Stadium, and NASCAR nuts will never do a victory lap at the Daytona International Speedway. Golfers are luckier: We can emulate iconic moments in our sport's history. Jack's 1-iron at Pebble Beach? Tried it! Payne's winning putt at Pinehurst No. 2? Made it! So as the U.S. Open goes public this month at Torrey Pines, here's where to create your own major memories.
Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
Farmingdale, NY
7,366 yards, par 71; Green fees: $100-$124;
516-249-0700, nysparks.com
OPEN MOMENT: 2002 (Tiger Woods); 2009
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Bethpage Black is part rite-of-passage, part test of manhood. Rees Jones fortified A.W. Tillinghast's design for the 2002 Open, resulting in a walking-only layout with ligament-snapping rough, forced carries and terrifyingly swift greens.
OPEN SHOT TO RE-CREATE: After gut-busting tee shots just to reach the fairways at the 10th and 12th holes, Tiger Woods cemented his lead at the 554-yard, par-5 13th hole by reaching the green in two with a 2-iron from 263 yards. Go on, just try that one!
GETTING ON: Notorious as the toughest tee time in America, Bethpage offers three options: Call 516-249-0707 for a lottery-style tee time two days later (although your odds are probably better in the real lottery). Option two is sleeping in your car: Starting at 4:00 a.m., a park employee doles out "bakery tickets" that allow the first 24 players to play that day. Failing that, walk on as a single and hope for a threesome. Tuesdays through Thursdays offer your best shots.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, CA
6,828 yards, par 72; Green fees: $495-$525;
800-654-9300, pebblebeach.com
OPEN MOMENT: 1972 (Jack Nicklaus); 1982 (Tom Watson); 1992 (Tom Kite); 2000 (Tiger Woods); 2010
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: You'd need the cranky disposition of American Idol judge Simon Cowell to criticize the Pebble Beach experience, though it would help to have his bank balance to play here. However, what you get for your money is one of the world's most exhilarating layouts, filled with memorable holes like the tiny 107-yard, par-3 7th, where pros in the wind-blown final round of the 1992 U.S. Open were forced to punch 6-irons down the hill.
OPEN SHOT TO RE-CREATE: There is a fistful of legitimate candidates, but most opt to try emulating Tom Watson's chip-in birdie at the 209-yard 17th. Purists will want to try it when the pin is on the back-left portion of the hourglass-shaped green.
GETTING ON: To play one round at Pebble Beach, you'll need to book a two-night stay at a Pebble Beach Resorts property. That gets you a tee time up to 18 months in advance. Outside guests may call one day in advance or walk up and register with the starter. Holidays, such as Mother's Day, Independence Day and the Christmas to New Year's week, offer better chances of success.
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