The first round turned out to be a squeaker. Riding high on the recent announcement that The Barclays will be heading to Bethpage next summer, the Black Course might be primed for a more resounding victory in Round 2 of Golf Digest's Fans' Choice poll.
Voting is open at GolfDigest.com for the second-round matchup between Bethpage Black and The Harvester in the magazine's NCAA Tournament-style competition to determine the fans' pick for America's Greatest public golf course. (The mag already made its pick when it released its 100 Greatest Public Courses of 2011-12.) The #2-seed Black Course edged #15 Hawktree Golf Club (Bismarck, ND) 225 to 209 last month.
The Harvester of Rhodes, Iowa features 110-feet of elevation changes and stretches 7,340 yards from the tips. It won't be a walk in the heavily wooded park for Long Island's local legend, however. Two famous #2 seeds — Pinehurst No. 2 and Bandon Dunes — have already been shown the door in the second round. (And #2 Wolf Creek was crushed in the opener.)
Check the tournament bracket anytime at Golf Digest's Fans' Choice page — you'll need a Facebook account to cast a vote and follow the live tally. You can vote for Bethpage today through Sunday, July 3.