Bunkers - what is the sand spec for a PGA bunker?

[scubascuba3]

Often courses i play at have inconsistent bunkers. Certainly at my course some have too little sand and worse still some with too much sand. My theory is the greenkeepers who don't play golf don't know what a good bunker should be like.
Is there a standard? I can't see anything on Google, I've searched a few pages. I'm thinking there should be a standard texture of sand and depth, is there? Or is this lack of standard causing bunkers to be so varied.
Move to general section if you prefer.

 

[duncan mackie]

Different materials suit different profiles and depths.

Different materials suit different climates.

Nature built the best, and they constantly evolve, man tries to emulate nature and can fail for a lot of basic reasons - impractical designs being one, economy another. The maintenance cost of each bunker on the course is relatively high.

There are evolving methods and materials available and you should be able to find papers on the subject in green keeping area on the web; I think the golf unions also have advice areas.

Trained green keepers have knowledge, but it's difficult to get golfers to agree what constitutes the right sand profile and depths - designers also have different perspectives! All that's before golfers rake them incorrectly such that they gradually get reprofile!

 

[Jimbof]

An STRI agronomist once told me that there is no perfect sand for bunkers, otherwise everyone would be using it!

 

[patricks148]

if only

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Bunkers are hazards, you take what you get in there.

 

[ruff-driver]

On the pga tour they probably use crushed marble mixed with the pollen from a jade vine.

We just get builders rubble

 

[scubascuba3]

But there must be a standard surely? Such as 2 inches of sand, medium course, or something like that? My course it varies from half an inch to 8 inches, very fine dusty sand to Travis Perkins sand.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

But there must be a standard surely? Such as 2 inches of sand, medium course, or something like that? My course it varies from half an inch to 8 inches, very fine dusty sand to Travis Perkins sand.

No there is no standard. I've seen everything from builders sand to crushed glass (which is really nice)

 

[upsidedown]

2 min google brought this up
http://www.usga.org/course-care/2014/03/adding-new-sand-to-existing-bunkers-21474866438.html

http://grounds-mag.com/golf_courses/grounds_maintenance_renovate_sand_bunker/

 

[Leereed]

Ours are crap nothing in the middle and loads at the edges, Everyone seems to rake them to the edges and not push it back into the middle.I know they are hazards but we aren't pro's either.Seen plenty of good cards ruined by poor bunkers.

 

[scubascuba3]

So what's the UK equivalent of USGA established bunker-sand guidelines? I can't see a link to these guidelines

One of the links above says "For your reference, the desired depth for bunker sand is approximately 4-6 inches on the base of the bunker, and 2-3 inches on the face"
We have some bunkers with 8 inches up the face. 4-6 inches on the base seems high, maybe works with correct texture.

 

[upsidedown]

https://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/sand-and-deliver-jan-1970.html

 

[scubascuba3]

https://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/sand-and-deliver-jan-1970.html

That article didn't even suggest the depth of sand.
It seems its most likely trial and error getting the sand right and greenkeepers who play golf and understand what is a good and bad bunker i.e. too much or too little sand.

 

[upsidedown]

That article didn't even suggest the depth of sand.
It seems its most likely trial and error getting the sand right and greenkeepers who play golf and understand what is a good and bad bunker i.e. too much or too little sand.

From article
Maintenance

Having selected the right bunker sand, and allowed the material ample opportunity to bed in and weather, the most significant factor affecting the quality of playing surface is that of maintenance. Depending on the sand selected, the bunker sand should be placed no more than a consistent 100mm firmed depth over the whole bunker floor. Where a sand face is provided, the sand on the face itself should not exceed 50mm. The ideal playing surface provides a sand which is slightly moist and well firmed, but with the immediate 25mm of surface raked-over into which the ball will sit

 

[KenL]

We have excellent, natural course sand. However, over the winter some have been filled with sand to a depth of more than six inches whereas others have about two inches.

Trying to hit a decent length from a fairway bunker with very deep sand in not easy. I much prefer when the sand is about 2-3 inches deep.

Raking is even more of a problem. Some people are so bad at it I would rather they didn't bother!

 

[Slab]

Couple of courses here use crushed/ground coral in the bunkers, its local and appropriate and reacts a bit differently than sand when taking the shot

Depth tends to be fairly consistent on any one course and the variances during a round I guess are due to things like poor raking, type and size of bunker (pot, shallow, fairway etc) & micro climates (wind and water that'll affect drainage)

Other 'waste' bunkers tend to be much bigger & shallower in depth (one is over 200yrds long!)

 

[scubascuba3]

When I'm in one of our good bunkers I'm actually getting good at getting close to the hole. When I'm in a bunker with way too much sand, maybe 8 inches up the face you are grateful getting it on the green.
Pros make it look easy because they have very good bunkers. I remember Monty moaning once because on a course the bunkers weren't of the usual standard and he was struggling.

 

[Hosel Fade]

Yes there is something a lot of the courses go to when redoing things. Think its got some daft name like G Angle or similar to give consistent clean lies and avoid plugging to a degree. I don't agree with it, I mean god forbid the best players in the world should be remotely challenged when missing a green into a hazard.

 

[Slab]

Yes there is something a lot of the courses go to when redoing things. Think its got some daft name like G Angle or similar to give consistent clean lies and avoid plugging to a degree. I don't agree with it, I mean god forbid the best players in the world should be remotely challenged when missing a green into a hazard.

You raise an interesting point
It would make sense that bunkers vary in depth of sand or consistency depending on the course design and what typical ball flight is intended to that area (to prevent plugs in a greenside bunker on a short par 3 for example that's being attacked with lofted clubs as opposed to a greenside bunker on a medium length par 4)

 

[Backache]

Royal Ashdown Forest has the best solution I have come across