London mike 61
Challenge Tour Pro
What depth of sand would you reasonably expect to find if you are unlucky enough to land in one? Also if it was insufficient would you mention it to a official in your club or just keep quiet about it?
Bunkers
- Thread starter London mike 61
- Start date
Laka
Head Pro
Well, its an obsticle and lying in an obsticle- one has to accept as the conditions are !!!! I mean for ex a water hazard---should it have a certain depth? No its an obsticle and one has to accept how it is when lying in an obsticle
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There is no excuse though for some of the bunkers we have at our place. You try and play the shot correctly and the bounce skids off the base of the bunker and you thin it. You can stand in some points and feel sand but the area the ball is on is bare right below the surface. Fortunately they are on a renovation programme so while its frustrating, the problem should go away. I do think there should be a good base of sand but I do accept that a hazard is a hazard.
London mike 61
Challenge Tour Pro
As amateurs we are expected to accept these bunkers as they are but would the likes of Westwood think " ok , it's a bunker I'll just have to put up ith the state of it as it is" . I don't think so
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Need to find a happy medium
Enough sand to be able to get a nice cut through the sand but not too much or too little
But the main thing we really should expect is consistency between all the bunkers - must all be the same type of sand and consistent levels of sand
Enough sand to be able to get a nice cut through the sand but not too much or too little
But the main thing we really should expect is consistency between all the bunkers - must all be the same type of sand and consistent levels of sand
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Of that there is no doubt
It's very hard at any club
Its one of the battles we amateurs face
bozza
Journeyman Pro
End of the day it's a hazard it shouldn't be easy to play out of, it's there to punish a bad shot but that said they should be consistent around the course.
stevie_r
Tour Winner
No, he probably wouldn't, but at no stage when we stand in a bunker are we contemplating a shot worth a small fortune or potentially a major title.
But one of the things golf prides itself on (or at least says it does). Is that everyone should be playing the same game, conforming clubs, balls only certain types of dmds.
stevie_r
Tour Winner
That is true, and I'm not trying to sound flippant here, but that gives us two options:
1. Minimize golf on our course for about 3 weeks, followed by no golf at all for a week - then we can all go out and have a round, repeat cycle.
2. Don't prepare tour event courses at all above what our courses receive; probably producing a standard of golf we wouldn't want to watch (nor sponsors support!)
It's a question of economics I suppose; a club can afford a finite number of green staff hours and cutting will always take priority over bunkers.
It's a problem close to my heart, believe me. Our bunkers have been shocking all year, the light at the end of the tunnel was that it was to form a major part of winter works. The hotel group that own our course have now savagely slashed green staff hours (guys on a 5 day week are now down to a 2 day week) - guess what won't be improved for next season?
That is true, and I'm not trying to sound flippant here, but that gives us two options:
1. Minimize golf on our course for about 3 weeks, followed by no golf at all for a week - then we can all go out and have a round, repeat cycle.
2. Don't prepare tour event courses at all above what our courses receive; probably producing a standard of golf we wouldn't want to watch (nor sponsors support!)
It's a question of economics I suppose; a club can afford a finite number of green staff hours and cutting will always take priority over bunkers.
It's a problem close to my heart, believe me. Our bunkers have been shocking all year, the light at the end of the tunnel was that it was to form a major part of winter works. The hotel group that own our course have now savagely slashed green staff hours (guys on a 5 day week are now down to a 2 day week) - guess what won't be improved for next season?
I agree that it's unrealistic to expect the same levels as them. And don't wish to sound dismissive of the groundskeepers. Mine do a great job to be fair. But I don't think bunkers require the greatest of upkeep. At ours, they're always raked even in the mornings, and on the odd occasion sand has been a little sparse it's always around the from edge as that's the least likely place for you to end up.
stevelev
Journeyman Pro
I think every club should have at least consistent depths and types of sand in every bunker, I can accept poorly levelled, compacted bunkers but when one has a dusting of sand and the next bunker on the same hole has 4 inches depth, you can not play the same shot out of both.
T our club I choose to play them like a pitch or chip shot as they are so inconsistent.
I feel with lessons technique can improve, but without the right level of consistency no amount of practise can help
T our club I choose to play them like a pitch or chip shot as they are so inconsistent.
I feel with lessons technique can improve, but without the right level of consistency no amount of practise can help
stevie_r
Tour Winner
I suppose part of the problem is that the effect of the elements won't be consistent across them all. A lot of ours are pretty compacted and require, as you say, a chip or a pitch rather than a splash out.
Someone will be along shortly to say don't go in them
stevelev
Journeyman Pro
I dont go in them, but when I play alone drop a bal in to practise out of them .......I suppose part of the problem is that the effect of the elements won't be consistent across them all. A lot of ours are pretty compacted and require, as you say, a chip or a pitch rather than a splash out.
Someone will be along shortly to say don't go in them
ne:stevie_r
Tour Winner
I dont go in them, but when I play alone drop a bal in to practise out of them .......
I was just going on what fellow members had told me about them
el marko
Head Pro
Bunkers are hard enough when they have the right amount of sand, let alone ones full of stones, rock hard bases, and poor quality sand.
G
guest100718
Guest
Sand..? Some of you actually have sand in your bunkers...
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
Variable sand is a pain, especially if it feels good under the feet but there is nothing under the ball. Bye bye ball!
I did hear or read somewhere that good quality bunker and is now in short supply and very expensive which is one reason why bunkers aren't refilled as often as we'd like. Has anyone else heard that?
I did hear or read somewhere that good quality bunker and is now in short supply and very expensive which is one reason why bunkers aren't refilled as often as we'd like. Has anyone else heard that?
davidy233
Tour Rookie
Our bunkers are excellent - Now I just need to get out and practise in them
