Drop from a flooded bunker - unfair rule?

[Robobum]

I don't think that's always the case, water tables are so high currently that bunkers can be full of water and the rest of the course perfectly playable, especially on clay parkland courses. When I played Formby, a fantastic links course, the majority of their bunkers were full of water yet their course was amazing!

Its just one of those things IMO which we just accept and work with, within the rules.

2ft of water!!! Blimey!

Did they have lifeguards on duty??

 

[Fish]

2ft of water!!! Blimey!

Did they have lifeguards on duty??

I think the 2ft reference could be a slight exaggeration, his eyes aren't what they used to be :smirk:



:thup:

 

[delc]

If the bunker is 2ft deep in water and the course is still playable then your green staff should be addressing the drainage situation in that bunker.

If its just that one trap flooding, filling it in may be a better option.....then, if the area still floods, you can have your casual water relief!!

Probably about a third of the bunkers had casual water in them on that day, but it followed a day of torrential rain in the South, and most of the course was perfectly playable. Our course (Batchworth Park) is mostly built on gravel sub-soil and is one of the best draining courses in the area. Several other courses nearby have been shut for days. I think bunkers have clay or water-proof membranes underneath them to keep out groundwater, but this can turn them into ponds in wet weather.

 

[chrisd]

Probably about a third of the bunkers had casual water in them on that day, but it followed a day of torrential rain in the South, and most of the course was perfectly playable. Our course (Batchworth Park) is mostly built on gravel sub-soil and is one of the best draining courses in the area. Several other courses nearby have been shut for days. I think bunkers have clay or water-proof membranes underneath them to keep out groundwater, but this can turn them into ponds in wet weather.

Ours were the sane recently. I always thought the membrane was to stop vegitation growth from below? The course, however was very playable.

 

[Fish]

Ours were the sane recently. I always thought the membrane was to stop vegitation growth from below? The course, however was very playable.

Membranes are supposed to allow water to soak through but stop vegetation and stones rising. Unfortunately if laid on clay this is unlikely to happen.

 

[rickg]

We seem to be losing sight of the facts on this one

Where Derek's posts are concerned, you'd better get used to it!

 

[rulefan]

Membranes are porous and are to prevent the large (sand) particles getting mixed with the small (clay, silt) particles (fines) which tend to rise in wet ground.

 

[stevelev]

Membranes are porous and are to prevent the large (sand) particles getting mixed with the small (clay, silt) particles (fines) which tend to rise in wet ground.

They reckon if they had thesemembranes in evrry bunker they maintenence costs would be reduced. I think I read in one of the mags it can cost upto £1000 per year to maintain a bunker to a standard below what we see on tv. Courses thst hold the pro comps we watch are preparing bunkers between 9 months and a year ahesd of the comp.

These membranes can help with drainage due to partially eliminating compaction but with the torrential downpours some clubs see when the surrounding ground is already saturated the water cannot drain so bunkers will flood.

Once again del, speak to your committee, maybe even get there before the first tee time, go round yourself, take pictures snd count how many bunkers are affected and see if you can get them gur'd. Let us know how you get on this weekend cause they wont be any better

 

[Region3]

Slightly related, the last time I played one of our group landed underwater in a bunker.

He fetched his ball and was about to drop it behind the bunker and asked me what the rule was. I replied something along the lines of....

"You're allowed free relief from the water but are supposed to drop IN the bunker not nearer the hole, but since we're only having a friendly knock I don't mind if you agree between you what to do."

He said "no, I'll play by the rules" and dropped in the bunker ending up with a fried egg on a downhill lie with the back lip of the bunker in his way.
Apparently the next time they played (without me) he had a moan about it

Ask me what the rules are then moan if you don't like the answer! The best part is that I said I didn't care what he did because it didn't mean anything.