Rake position- pros and cons

[Foxholer]

Rakes are basically there to reduce the effectiveness of bunkers as problems to be avoided - just get rid of them.
...

I disagree. I believe they are there so that bunkers are fair to all players. Imagine being in the last group of a comp where bunkers are not rked, compared to being in the first group!

 

[jim8flog]

I know of one member who never rakes bunkers despite being 'got at' by many another member. He thinks it is the greenkeepers job.

Personally I hate it when rakes have been thrown in the middle of the bunker as it often means having to rake two areas of the bunker and not one, one where my ball was played from and the other where I have had to walk in to pick up the rake.

I have always liked the advice the R&A gave some years ago but have since modified it to suit our course.

" The rakes should be placed outside of the bunker in such a position that they will have minimum interference with another players shot and not stop a ball that was likely to go in to a bunker from doing so."


What I do now is to place with that in mind but with the rake head in the bunker and the very end of the handle just resting on the very edge of the bunker, in that way it means that the green keeper does not have to stop the mower and move the rake when mowing round the edge of the bunker.

 

[jim8flog]

Our club is debating changing from rakes just lying in or by bunkers to standing them upright in tube holders beside the bunker. Pros and cons of each option appreciated please.

Having the tubes outside of the bunker means they stop the greenkeepers from effective mowing when doing the bunker surrounds and or may mean more time taken to do the mowing. If you are going to put them inside the bunker make sure they are well away from a relatively normal line of play.

 

[SocketRocket]

But what about the bigger bunkers. We have some large ones and its a decent toss to get it to the middle. Inevitably it would makes a dent or potentially damage the rake, arguably wouldn't get to the intended spot, and golfers being lazy will inevitably rake where the ball is, leave the rake in the middle and not bother with their footprints out so the rake can be in the "right" place.

We have some large bunkers and they have two rakes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have some large bunkers and they have two rakes.

As do ours but I feel the point is the same. They will either get tossed into the middle and leave large marks or damage the rake or people will rake where they played, leave it in the middle thinking they are good members and leave footprints towards the edge. Not sure how well it would work with societies either. We all know some (NOT ALL) can leave the course in bad condition (pitch marks etc) so give them something else to not remember to do is a recipe for disaster

 

[Imurg]

Saw footprints under a rake left with the handle on the edge.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I've always liked the rake that leans against a stand. Usually outside the bunker from memory. The benefit of the stand is that the greenkeeper chooses where it goes and it is pretty clear to all concerned where to return the rake to. Even if one golfer doesn't return it the next is likely to.

 

[SocketRocket]

As do ours but I feel the point is the same. They will either get tossed into the middle and leave large marks or damage the rake or people will rake where they played, leave it in the middle thinking they are good members and leave footprints towards the edge. Not sure how well it would work with societies either. We all know some (NOT ALL) can leave the course in bad condition (pitch marks etc) so give them something else to not remember to do is a recipe for disaster

We've never had much trouble with them. We leave them in the bunker parallel with the fairway and it's not caused any problems.

 

[wjemather]

I disagree. I believe they are there so that bunkers are fair to all players. Imagine being in the last group of a comp where bunkers are not rked, compared to being in the first group!

This simply describes the problem late starters face when there are rakes.

Without raking, conditions would actually be fairer since early starters would have the same variable conditions as later starters, who then wouldn't be disadvantaged by the actions of negligent golfers who either haven't raked or have done a terrible job.

 

[Foxholer]

This simply describes the problem late starters face when there are rakes.

Without raking, conditions would actually be fairer since early starters would have the same variable conditions as later starters, who then wouldn't be disadvantaged by the actions of negligent golfers who either haven't raked or have done a terrible job.

What you are suggesting is that ALL following players should suffer the same- and actually increasing - 'penalty' caused by an earlier player/s poor/lack of action by (an) earlier player(s).
'Variable' perhaps, but with increasing variability/decreasing quality state, therefore unfair to late starters in a sport renouned for its 'fairness'. Unless you are suggesting Greenkeepers (should) also refrain from raking bunkers.

 

[wjemather]

What you are suggesting is that ALL following players should suffer the same- and actually increasing - 'penalty' caused by an earlier player/s poor/lack of action by (an) earlier player(s).
'Variable' perhaps, but with increasing variability/decreasing quality state, therefore unfair to late starters in a sport renouned for its 'fairness'. Unless you are suggesting Greenkeepers (should) also refrain from raking bunkers.

Greenkeeping aside, when there is a need to redistribute the sand, it's only in the last 50 years or so that rakes have become commonplace on golf courses. It's unlikely you would see a rake in or alongside a bunker anywhere before at least the 1920s. As recently as the 1980s, many courses didn't have rakes, and there remain a few highly regarded courses without them.

It would also save clubs money in the long run by necessitating a return to coarser heavy sands instead of the modern trend of light white fluffy rubbish that quickly blows and washes away in the wind and rain.

 

[IanM]

We've had the, "outside the bunker, away from the line of play " instruction..

....that's way beyond the comprehension of some!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

But what about the bigger bunkers. We have some large ones and its a decent toss to get it to the middle. Inevitably it would makes a dent or potentially damage the rake, arguably wouldn't get to the intended spot, and golfers being lazy will inevitably rake where the ball is, leave the rake in the middle and not bother with their footprints out so the rake can be in the "right" place.

Our bunkers are all pretty shallow front to back so there is never any great distance to throw the rake. In fact in most cases I can stand just outside bunker, lean over, and simply dropping it with a very gentle push will see it in a sensible position. The point is that we are putting the rake in the bunker so the head of the rake is well away from any face and handle is aligned so as to not trap the ball close to a face. In large bunkers that can be done without the rake being slap bang in the middle. The design of rake we use means they won’t get damaged.

 

[Foxholer]

Greenkeeping aside, when there is a need to redistribute the sand, it's only in the last 50 years or so that rakes have become commonplace on golf courses. It's unlikely you would see a rake in or alongside a bunker anywhere before at least the 1920s. As recently as the 1980s, many courses didn't have rakes, and there remain a few highly regarded courses without them.
...

So which ball would you advocate returning to also? Haskell? Gutty? Feathery? Ot even Wooden? The evolution of rakes - and their proper use - is exactly that - evolution of the game! Indeed, I've played courses that don't have rakes - both courses at Ashdown Forest and Berkhamsted for example, but that is for a different reason! And Golf at most clubs - and certainly for most players - has changed from primarily matchplay to primarily strokeplay, so fairness to the entire field has become more important.

...
It would also save clubs money in the long run by necessitating a return to coarser heavy sands instead of the modern trend of light white fluffy rubbish that quickly blows and washes away in the wind and rain.

Clubs have that option regardless of the presence or absence of rakes, so that 'argument' is irrelevant.

 

[tobybarker]

Just put them somewhere so that a ball can't be deflected INTO a trap.

 

[rulefan]

Just put them somewhere so that a ball can't be deflected INTO a trap.

and where a ball can't get trapped on a slope between the rake and the back bunker edge