Rakes. Where to leave them

[KenL]

I would go a step further and say no rakes at all. This would make bunkers a proper hazard and not a bale out area for good players.

Ridiculous!

 

[sunshine]

At my club (Hogwarts GC) we use floating rakes that hover about 3 feet in the air above the bunkers. It’s a very practical solution, after you’ve played your shot, a quick flick of your wand and the rake goes to work tidying up any footprints.

Of course, there was the nasty incident when the Slytherins enchanted the rakes to turn into snakes and attack golfers in a bunker, but everyone made a full recovery, even the poor Hufflepuff 1st year who was swallowed by a python.

 

[louise_a]

I am in favour of in the middle of the bunker, nothing worse than your ball being trapped near the back edge because it is held by a rake that was half in half out.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Where should they be left ?

Where your club decides is best...and it will decide taking into account factors specific to the club and the course such as size and numbers of bunkers, and greens team mowing practices; bunker maintenance effort and locations of bunkers and their surrounds.

Ours are to be left in the middle of our, generally, small bunkers - with the rake handle aligned towards the flag.

 

[Dunesman]

Given that there seems no consensus on a single solution, the fairest, and inherently democratic policy, would be for everyone to leave each rake they use, wherever they prefer. Then we have a mix of in, out, middle, upslope, etc, proportional to the wishes of everyone.

 

[bobmac]

Left outside on half in half out, theres a risk of being deflected into the bunker.

If a ball hits a rake that is 2/3rds in and a 1/3 out, it's heading for the bunker anyway.

I’m either for in the middle of the bunker, or completely out of it. There’s nothing worse than your ball rolling into a bunker only to get caught a foot from the back lip by a rake.

That's why they should be 2/3rds in/ and a 1/3rd out, as in my pic in post no. 16

 

[Slab]

I dont buy the greenkeeper stuff. You could easily have some kind of grabber to pick them up with out getting off your mower. After all there are flags , tee markers , seed bins and all sorts that need moving.

Could be diff at your club but where the flags and tee markers are at home club, are all mowed with hand mowers not ride on machines, so GK is already on foot (anyway the tee markers are moved daily, so they already have to be picked up) Sand/Seed boxes are on cart path so don't get moved

On the other hand, the 100 or so rakes outside bunkers are each a delay to mowing (but it's not me doing the cutting so not that bothered)

As it happens there's no stipulation from the club where to leave rakes and consequently most are either outside or half in/half out which i'm fine with

 

[sunshine]

Welcome

Have a search of the forum (top right) and enjoy reading the many various older threads discussing this subject

Please can you post the same message on all the slow play and dress code threads

 

[rulefan]

It doesn't matter what anyone would prefer. There are so many players who 'do their own thing' regardless of club requirements or R&A/USGA recommendations, It will make no difference. Even if a penalty Rule of Golf was introduced they will always be where the last person put it.

 

[Swango1980]

I think they should be propped up against the nearest bush.

 

[hambugerpete]

Could be diff at your club but where the flags and tee markers are at home club, are all mowed with hand mowers not ride on machines, so GK is already on foot (anyway the tee markers are moved daily, so they already have to be picked up) Sand/Seed boxes are on cart path so don't get moved

On the other hand, the 100 or so rakes outside bunkers are each a delay to mowing (but it's not me doing the cutting so not that bothered)

As it happens there's no stipulation from the club where to leave rakes and consequently most are either outside or half in/half out which i'm fine with

You could have a hook on a pole to move then if it was really an issue. Which it isn't.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Charnwood Forest Golf Club has an indisputable solution - no bunkers.

 

[RichA]

Charnwood Forest Golf Club has an indisputable solution - no bunkers.

My former club are considering just keeping greenside bunkers and turning the fairway ones into grass bunkers. They were mostly dandelion bunkers and wildlife litter trays for the last year anyway.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Imagine a none golfer reading this thread

 

[CountLippe]

And if the Green keeper doesn't spot a rake?
It could completely knacker 50k worth of machinery...
We have 69 bunkers, probably 25 of them have 2 or more rakes..that's a lot of time moving rakes so you don't run over them...
Not sure of the last time a mower cut up a rake that was in a bunker......

Robot mowers can't move a rake either

 

[jim8flog]

Whatever a club decides bet your bottom dollar there will always be quite a few that will just leave it the way they want to regardless of any club club guideline.

Ours used to be - 'leave it in the direction of play with just the very edge of the handle resting against the bunker edge'

These days I wish they would leave the rakes we currently use in the rubbish bins, they are so poor for actually raking bunkers particularly when the sand is compacted.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I can't ever remember playing at a club and having this information displayed. Members may know, may not, but visitors certainly would not. On this basis, it is why I return the rake to the last position I found it in. If that was wrong.................first person out could get up to some mischief.

 

[Swango1980]

I can't ever remember playing at a club and having this information displayed. Members may know, may not, but visitors certainly would not. On this basis, it is why I return the rake to the last position I found it in. If that was wrong.................first person out could get up to some mischief.

Even if a club posted where they'd like rakes to be placed, how many actual visitors turn up and seek that sort of information? I'd have thought most arrive, pay their green fee, and then go and play golf.

 

[Bdill93]

Our rakes are often found in the local canal, sometimes the bushes - all thanks to the local teenagers who think they're hilarious!

I don't recommend the canal as a storing place though, ruins the rakes.

 

[hambugerpete]

Robot mowers can't move a rake either

The greenkeeper operating it can.