Would You Mind Crappy Bunkers? Scrapping Bunker Maintenance Could Save Some Golf Courses.

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All of our fairway bunkers are coquina, no one I know hits out of them, they just drop outside. Not going to drag a 120 dollar wedge through that crap or whatever club you would use. It one of those unwritten local rules. 

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, snapfade said:

All of our fairway bunkers are coquina, no one I know hits out of them, they just drop outside. Not going to drag a 120 dollar wedge through that crap or whatever club you would use. It one of those unwritten local rules. 

Are they crushed shells or just have shells in them?

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27 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

Are they crushed shells or just have shells in them?

It is a mix of smaller shells, gravel, crushed shells. 

[boogielicious]

1 hour ago, snapfade said:

It is a mix of smaller shells, gravel, crushed shells. 

And the crushed dreams of those who hit into it. 

[Mhp2020]

I think as a general rule, basically at any level that’s not on television on sunday a local rule of lift take place would go a long way. 
Pros have “bad lies” maybe 1:50 or 1:100 and never due to foot marks. 
it would also speed up pace of play only having to worry About a 1’x1’ surface and move on 

[iacas]

4 hours ago, Mhp2020 said:

I think as a general rule, basically at any level that’s not on television on sunday a local rule of lift take place would go a long way. 

No, please.

It's a hazard (I'm using the standard definition of the word since it's no longer a "hazard" in the Rules of Golf). It's not supposed to be perfect. Don't like the lies you get in bunkers? Don't hit it in them.

[billchao]

On 3/20/2020 at 7:25 AM, boogielicious said:

That's exactly how I read his post, with a NJ accent to boot!

I read almost everything with a NJ accent.

[DuckhookDenny]

Ive played a course with no bunkers on it at all, and found it very challenging, in some places much harder than a course with bunkers.

 

To give an example, on one hole there is a par 3 that plays 185-195 yards usually. The green itself is relatively flat, but the lie of the land around the green is quite significantly left to right.

 

If there were bunkers around the green, your ball would stay in the general area around the green and id fancy myself to hit a decent bunker shot and at least have a putt at par, even if not a great bunker shot i could be say, 12 feet from the hole.

 

However with no bunkers, if you miss the green on the right side, the ball could kick wickedly away from the green perhaps 30 or 40 yards away into some really questionable gorsey type lies, and then youd have to pitch uphill to a green thats quite a bit above you, all whilst getting less spin than from the bunker.

 

A crappy bunker might look ugly, but they are hazards afterall, so if it meant some dodgy bunkers or some needed to be filled in to save a course im not against that

 

 

[Buckeyebowman]

On 3/20/2020 at 8:42 PM, iacas said:

I agree that it's not an "essential business," but I also think a golf course is a pretty safe place. Certainly safer than visiting a crowded grocery store or something.

Never mind the mental benefits of being able to do something other than watch Netflix or something these days.

I hope the Pinehurst area courses are open next week.

I think it might be "essential" from a mental health aspect. That's why Ohio's Governor has let parks continue to be open, just not playgrounds which tend to concentrate people. Also, boat ramps at fishing lakes. Get out of the house. Take a walk. Get some exercise. Why sit and stew and go stir crazy?

On 3/19/2020 at 5:43 PM, Rippy_72 said:

First time I played a dumpy little par 70 course in Celementon NJ, you know the one by the run down amusement park with railroad tracks running thru it and not a single freakin rake on the whole "track".  On the par 3 third hole with a right to left sloping green, my seemingly well struck draw landed on the green but wound up in the bunker.  In a huge foot print!  I was just standing there staring at it.  My buddy comes over and says, "next time, the correct shot is a high cut....welcome to Pine Valley"

Bunkers are hazards from which one can redeem oneself unlike water or OB where you are eternally screwed. 

I'd rather limited maintenance budgets to be focused on putting surfaces.

Yes, I wondered why you'd hit a draw into a right to left sloping green. Your friend was right. And how lucky are you to have played there!