Furrowed Bunkers at The Memorial

[jeffgladchun]

Both Jack Nicklaus and the PGA Tour have finally decided to do something about bunker play: furrowed bunkers. Erik, on location in Dublin, Ohio at The Memorial has reported that the initial reactions are that shots from the sand are definitely harder. The PGA Tour and Jack are doing this in an effort to hold up the course to technological advances.

Are you in favor of such changes?

[muskegman]

Making bunkers serve as true hazards is a legitimate idea. After all, thats why they were created. Fairways and greens are bunkered so that players are forced to hit accurate layups and approach shots. Making bunkers penalizing will force pros to hit accurate shots or pay a penalty.

[allin]

I have heard TV announcers relay player complaints, if the tour bunkers aren't the same week to week or hole to hole, in the past. In the past variation week to week and even hole to hole was common. It seems to me that except for green and fairway conditions there is no reason that players should expect perfectly consistent conditions. Otherwise you are just playing put put.

[Finn07]

I think its a great idea. Like it was stated in the article, the better players will appreciate it and the not so good sand players will not. Its a hazard and should play like one. Sand shots seem easy for a lot of the pros out there now. Good Job Erik, nice reporting.

[TinCup]

I think its a great idea. Most sports are having to adress the issue of extreme technological advances. Tennis has begun using computer tracking to help line judges make more accurate line calls. I like seeing some new challenges thrown at these exceptional players.

[xian]

I'm actually surprised that we haven't seen this much more in recent U.S. Opens. The USGA doesn't have to deal with PGA politics and they are always searching for ways to test the best golfers in the world.

Here's a question. The article mentions that bunkers were, at one time, regularly furrowed on tour. What happned?

[xian]

I forgot to add:

Not only are the furrows deep enough to hide the bottom quarter of the ball, they're raked perpendicular to the line of play to all but ensure problems.

Ouch.

[iacas]

Here's a question. The article mentions that bunkers were, at one time, regularly furrowed on tour. What happned?

Jack takes credit for this. He says that the rakes used on Tour today were developed here at Muirfield Village - round, cylindrical heads with lots of little tines that really provide a smooth raking.

Players demanded better lies. Jim Furyk today said in an interview that he thinks that the combination of the current ball (less spin than balatas) and current wedges (more spin) even out to about how bunker play was ten+ years ago when he started. But we're talking late '70s when the furrows kind of went away...

[xian]

Jack takes credit for this. He says that the rakes used on Tour today were developed here at Muirfield Village

So I guess we can credit Jack either way.

[iacas]

So I guess we can credit Jack either way.

And even if you don't, he'll take the credit anyway.

[thehillgolfer]

as long as i never have to play out of one of those bunkers i'm all for it

[xian]

The wooden rakes used earlier this week were replaced Wednesday by plastic ones with the same 2 1/2 -inch gap between the tines

Saw that on Yahoo.

[Rafcin]

is it really that much harder? I can see that the ball will sit down a bit, but it's still pretty clean lie... Try to play out of mud or cement-like sand... that's what we "normal humans" have to deal with on daily basis. They're Pro's, they shouldn't be in the bunkers, I'm all for it

[TinCup]

yeah I'd love to see them hit out of pinecones and pine needles instead of the fringe stuff they get.

What was that course called where they played the british open that had those massive hole bunkers. Like 6ft deep and stuff???

[xian]

is it really that much harder?

I'm sure Erik will have more to say, but I just heard this. The tour average for sand saves is 49.1 percent. The average today is right around 33 percent. We'll have to see how/if that changes over rest of the tournament.

[neudi]

im all for it...make the ball sit in the bunker...i mean it has to be a penalty sort of shot...bunkers are way too easy these days...

[Baynative]

Are there any rules or instructions for caddies? It seems thaty could rake the bunkers in a penal manner. What if they rake new furrows perpendicular to most of the bunker? Do they get penalized?

[neudi]

i think they have someone follow groups around that you don't see on tv's and make sure that the bunker is the way it was b/f someone hit into it.