ger147
Tour Winner
You said that was your thoughts but no probs if that's not what you meant.
Fairway Bunker 200yds from Tee
- Thread starter SwingsitlikeHogan
- Start date
You said that was your thoughts but no probs if that's not what you meant.
RGDave
Money List Winner
I fear we see these designs from another era of golf.... I quit my membership at a course that encouraged the green staff to narrow the fairway to 12-16 yards wide before these traps.
I would step up, hit a nervy 4 iron (usually straight) then a 5 wood (probably) to just short of the green.
The good players would fly the bunker and be rewarded with 25 yards-wide of heavenly lush fairway mowed by magical pixies.
It's all about how you see it. Some of these bunkers make total sense off new tees built into the forest... but for the average golfer (distance-wise) they present risk and reward whereas the big players don't give them a 2nd thought.
So... some thoughts to consider. Perhaps the answer (in my case) would be to continue the narrow fairway in fairness to everyone, leveling the field, as it were.
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
Some of the oldest layouts do exactly that. Rye takes many of its down to 5 yds! Others simply stop the fairway at a point appropriate to the layout ie up hill/downhill etc
RGDave
Money List Winner
5 yds... that is mad....
I know of a course that used make the entrances to the green 5 yards, so you were penalised for being left/right (pin high) with savage semi-rough, but also being short of the bunkers.
Sometimes the bunker was the safest place I tell you.
I'd rather hit out of a bunker than 3-4 inches of some genetically modified super-tough-grass.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Playing yesterday our group discussed the bunker - and their understanding was that it will lose the LHS this winter programme - and a year or two down the line will be pushed back 50yds. The guys seem fine with this as in their view the course has to be set to pose more of a challenge for the best amateurs and the local tour/club pros when they play, rather than the general member. They reckon it's hard enough to get a 4 (and justifies SI 7) without the bunker, and that a fairway bunker should, on average, only cost a player 0.5 a shot. Most members going in the bunker will lose at least a shot. It is very rare to get a 4 after being in the bunker, and a 5 is good.
Sweep
Journeyman Pro
I am not too sure how a hazard can lose you half a shot.
If your guys are worried that the bunker only poses a challenge to the average player and not the elite amateur / pro, could you not keep the bunker and put in another one 50 yards further towards the green? Or move the tee back?
hines57
Challenge Tour Pro
I'm in the 7-iron, 7-iron, wedge camp on this. It is a good thought provoking hole and I'm guessing great in match play depending on how the score is standing at this point in the round.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
It's on average - in a fairway bunker off the tee - they say that 50% of the time you 'should' still be able get down in par - 50% of the time a bogey. We don;t do that. If we get in that bunker it is very rare to walk off with a par - and even a 5 is difficult (as it would be a hard hole without the bunker).
No room to move the tee back. And our strategy is to reduce the number of bunkers on the course.
Canary_Yellow
Journeyman Pro
Depending on how hard it is to hit the landing zone beyond the bunker, I think it might be punishing the wrong players.
As in, the better players (or longer hitting better players) may not give it too much thought at all meaning the hole is a lot easier for the better players, which is probably the wrong way round.
However, 200 yards is still a reasonable distance. If it were at 180 then it would definitely not be in the right place.
Interesting discussion. If it were my course, I'd want the bunker left in place but why not put another in, at 240 to makes the big hitters think twice?
As in, the better players (or longer hitting better players) may not give it too much thought at all meaning the hole is a lot easier for the better players, which is probably the wrong way round.
However, 200 yards is still a reasonable distance. If it were at 180 then it would definitely not be in the right place.
Interesting discussion. If it were my course, I'd want the bunker left in place but why not put another in, at 240 to makes the big hitters think twice?
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
A few things...
1) If the bunker makes people think about how to play the hole, it is in the right place
2) 210yds from a very raised tee isn't a long carry
3) If you know a 3i can reach the bunker, you aren't playing safe
1) If the bunker makes people think about how to play the hole, it is in the right place
2) 210yds from a very raised tee isn't a long carry
3) If you know a 3i can reach the bunker, you aren't playing safe
stevelev
Journeyman Pro
Sounds like a decent hole and whilst it would be frustrating either going in the rough or playing up short of the binker each time I wouldnt change it. Is this dilemma not what the game of golf is all about.
The only thread more pointless than this would be a thread asking should i post a new thread about the same thing as this.
The only thread more pointless than this would be a thread asking should i post a new thread about the same thing as this.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
It is easier for the better players. Medium to higher handicappers try to keep left of centre to avoid going right and OoB - and often end up in the bunker. The view is that in it's current position it is med-high handicappers who suffer most - and as the bunker is >200yds from the green 6s are regularly chalked up. I'll often just hit a drive and a 8i-wedge in.
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
Are there other holes on the course with hazards the higher handicaps don't have to worry about but the longer hitters do?
Seems to me it's in a good place. You mentioned that people are reluctant to hit driver because of the penalty of missing the fairway so a bunker up there as well is just overkill imo.
Seems to me it's in a good place. You mentioned that people are reluctant to hit driver because of the penalty of missing the fairway so a bunker up there as well is just overkill imo.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
I honestly don't see what the issue is here, you have already told us that a misdirected drive that carries the bunker ends up in long rough, I'll take the bunker any day and without the bunker, it sounds like there would be more lost balls.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
I don;t have an issue myself. I do go in it as I aim at it to accommodate the prevailing LtoR wind - often strong as we tee from a high point and tee shot is exposed above the trees for some time. If I get the wind wrong I can easily pitch into the bunker. I think the question being debated the club is simply - if we have one fairway bunker on the hole should it be there to punish the med-high handicap golfer or the scratch player.
Canary_Yellow
Journeyman Pro
I would be inclined to say the scratch player. Golf is hard enough already for mid-high handicappers.
We had a bunker taken out at my course on a par 3. The par 3 was c220 yards, and the bunker was in front of the green at about 180. Better players were not troubled by the bunker as they would hit straight over and land softly enough to not run through the green, players not blessed with such power had to run it in, and the bunker was in the way. So it wasn't in play for the right people. A 220 yard par 3 is hard enough without a bunker making it all but impossible to hit the green for a lot of players.
The ans
richart
Major Champion
How many scratch players have you got and how many med-high handicappers. Bunker is fine. If you do go in it, wedge out, and a wedge into the green. Chance of a 4,5 at worse. Much better bunker than the daft one on the left off two. IMO
