Bunkers _ Remove the sand

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Within a very short time these areas would be a mass of divot holes. Good luck playing out of them! In those circumstances I'd rather have sand every time.

...and on this very practical point the discussion would be closed.

But as it's hypothetical question in any case and would never happen - in my experience those that complain most are those who have messed up one or more bunker shots. I don't like inconsistency between bunkers because it means I have to think about my lie and the sand beneath my ball - and that means I might have to change the shot I play - but who ever said that bunker sand should be consistent between bunkers. Poor raking etc, Rub of green.

 

[Hobbit]

Choice between inconsistent sand or a fluffy lie in an old bunker? I'll take the sand every time. To me that sort of solution just rewards lazy mgt. Chase the owner/committee to do their job properly.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Not sure we have too much to complain about...

 

[garyinderry]

Bunker is the least of his problems. He needs to sort out that reverse pivot.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Bunker is the least of his problems. He needs to sort out that reverse pivot.

Would appear to be how they did it back in Edwardian times (yes - it's Harry Vardon)

 

[ruff-driver]

I'd vote for sand but only if it was the crushed marblesque white they use on tour and not the builders rubble we seem to play in

 

[HawkeyeMS]

A bunker is a hazard so we shouldn't really complain about the lie. I'm with JO and would like to see bunkers left unraked, or at least not raked with such fine toothed rakes. It makes a big of a mockery of things when you see pros willing the ball info a hazard or in some cases, aiming for them.

Taking the sand out is a no from me

 

[srixon 1]

All I ask for is sand to be in the bunkers in relative equal measure. At my club there are certain bunkers where there's hardly any sand in them and even though i've played the course for 18 years it's still the same. Numerous complaints, numerous fob offs and i'm still no better at getting the ball out of these particular bunkers. Thin them usually, so do a lot of players at the club, so at least it's a level playing field I suppose.

How hard can it be to whack some more sand in a few of them? Bizarre.

You can have some of our sand if you want it. Some of our bunkers must have sand that is about 6" deep. I much preferred them when there was hardly any sand at all.

 

[garyinderry]

You cannot be serious about bunkers not being raked.

They are already bad enough in the amateur game as it is.

 

[Hobbit]

A bunker is a hazard so we shouldn't really complain about the lie. I'm with JO and would like to see bunkers left unraked, or at least not raked with such fine toothed rakes. It makes a big of a mockery of things when you see pros willing the ball info a hazard or in some cases, aiming for them.

Taking the sand out is a no from me

So the last player in the field has to play out of something that resembles a map of the moon?! Do you honestly think every pro, or amatuer, would tread softly knowing half the field might be following them in there?

Yeh, that's well thought out...

 

[Face breaker]

Bunkers are a flamin nightmare and whoever it was that thought that puting holes full of sand all over a golf course was a good idea wants a slap as far as I'm concerned, nobody and I mean nobody ever rakes em unless the "greenie" is watching, the bloody rakes get chucked out onto the rough/fairways so the "greenie" has to get off/out of the machine and move em before they can continue cutting oh yeah and Christ knows how they do it but the "goofers" somehow manage to break em (the rakes that is) for a bloody pastime !...:sbox:

And the answer is yes in case you were wondering, I'm a "Greenkeeper" with a dislike for sandpits or "weed traps" as we call em !...:thup:

ps, grass bunkers are good and yes I do play !!!...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Our bunkers are not great and vary in depth of sand but I wouldn't want to play a course without them. I'm working hard on my sand play to try and get a small advantage over most of the club members who rarely practice them and struggle. I can get the ball out well enough but trying to add height and more control. My club has a problem with clover in the first cut and so you can miss the fairway by a matter of yards and it'll sit down and be hard to get out and control. Add those to old bunkers and it'll be too penal for many, slowing play down and eventually be full of chopped grass, big divots and look unsightly and be far harder to play out of with no benefit to those with a decent technique.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

So the last player in the field has to play out of something that resembles a map of the moon?! Do you honestly think every pro, or amatuer, would tread softly knowing half the field might be following them in there?

Yeh, that's well thought out...

To be honest, the way some people rake bunkers, they would probably leave them in a better state if they didn't bother. Besides, as I said, they are a hazard, if the last man in the field doesn't want to have to play out of a bunker, then he should probably not go in it. What's the point having a hazard if you get a lie so good you would rather be in it than not?

A few years ago at the memorial I think it was, Jack Nicklaus had every other tooth removed from the rakes so that the grooves that were left in the sand were deeper and not so easy to play out of, that's the kind of thing they should be doing.

 

[Fish]

Beau Desert have what you are describing, they look like old previous bunkers which are now grassed over, some mown down, some slightly more rough, there right beside the greens and anyone that thinks their easy to come out of, think again!

 

[need_my_wedge]

I've not played it but Berkhamstead only has grass bunkers on it, no sand. Hazlemere used to have a couple too, the grass would be left longer in them and they are just as tricky to get out if close to the green. Personally, I prefer sand in.

 

[Doh]

This is something our Green keeper has always said, sand bunkers should not be on parkland courses. I know of a course that has some sand bunkers that are permanently G.U.R as they have to many to maintain.

 

[patricks148]

Not many of the parkland courses up here have particularly difficult bunkers, in fact ive seen guys putt though a few in opens at two courses.

i suppose its a fear factor more than anything for many

 

[shortstuff]

This is something our Green keeper has always said, sand bunkers should not be on parkland courses. I know of a course that has some sand bunkers that are permanently G.U.R as they have to many to maintain.

He's correct. The sand bunker is a concept from the original links era. Parkland courses should really like Berkhamstead with grass bunkers. Still not easy but easier to maintain.

Anyway, the worst thing is when they have used different types of sand. On one you can cut through it because it's like sharp sand, but the next is like the beach at Dubai and you have to club up by 2 and hit it really hard to stand any chance of getting out.

 

[Slab]

Beau Desert have what you are describing, they look like old previous bunkers which are now grassed over, some mown down, some slightly more rough, there right beside the greens and anyone that thinks their easy to come out of, think again!

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Yeah these illustrate the kind of thing I've seen

Also the ones I've seen aren't covered in divot holes, not sure I'd be playing a shot with anything close to a full divot out of these, more often the ball rest in or on the grass not on the ground so a full divot taken will be an interesting shot result

Anyway the point of the thread was to see if those who have poor bunker standards at their club would rather have grass over sand & majority seem to prefer their poor sand bunkers but the grass still has a few supporters

One of the courses I play manages to integrate several of these as well as sand bunkers so the mix works quite well

 

[ruff-driver]

Take the sand out, fill 'em with water :whoo: