What other way can the PGA make a course harder?

[iacas]

Does grooves matter that much for spin out of bunkers? I thought it was the cushion of sand carrying the ball that created the spin.

I think it can. The bigger grooves will grab more sand and create more friction forward underneath the ball, which results in backspin.

I doubt a smooth-faced wedge would generate as much spin from a bunker. But for chunk-and-runs it might be more consistent.

[mcfc_nick]

another idea on the bunkers, why not just make the bunkers so that they always slant quite steeply towards the green so they are always playing on a steep downhill lie

[enduro]

another idea on the bunkers, why not just make the bunkers so that they always slant quite steeply towards the green so they are always playing on a steep downhill lie

Because non-Championship caliber golfers need to play these courses too.

Really, distance and rough length and pins/greens speed are the main things they can do to make the courses harder for these guys. Maybe narrower the fairways a bit. That, and of course adding poisonous snakes to the bunkers when tournaments are happening.