Above Ground Bunker

[Hacker James]

One thing I lack in my back yard practice area is a bunker.  I really am not keen on digging any holes in the artificial turf. One idea I am considering is to simply take either bender board or lawn edging and form a sort of grand piano or kidney bean shaped pattern right on top of the lawn turf, line with heavy vinyl or canvas and fill with playground sand. This way it should be able to be removed easily.  Is this a dumb idea?

[DaveP043]

20 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

One thing I lack in my back yard practice area is a bunker.  I really am not keen on digging any holes in the artificial turf. One idea I am considering is to simply take either bender board or lawn edging and form a sort of grand piano or kidney bean shaped pattern right on top of the lawn turf, line with heavy vinyl or canvas and fill with playground sand. This way it should be able to be removed easily.  Is this a dumb idea?

I don't know about the construction aspect of this, but your choice of sand might not be correct.  I know that sand in bunkers varies regionally, but i doubt that what gets sold as playground sand would be the same as what you see in bunkers near you.  You might want to talk to a superintendent at a nearby course and see what he'd recommend.  

[Hacker James]

Just now, DaveP043 said:

I don't know about the construction aspect of this, but your choice of sand might not be correct.  I know that sand in bunkers varies regionally, but i doubt that what gets sold as playground sand would be the same as what you see in bunkers near you.  You might want to talk to a superintendent at a nearby course and see what he'd recommend.  

Thanks. There is also a materials place nearby that sells all sorts of rocks, gravel, DG, sand by the yard.  One downside might be that the "spray" onto my turf could be a little messy, but maybe it would vacuum up. I figure the depth would be around 4 inches,.and possibly too shallow. The project should I take it up, would more than likely cost less than $80.

[Patch]

I built a bunker in my back yard. Your boarding, and plastic on the bottom will work nicely. I used a 2x10 frame with 15 mil plastic sheet on the bottom. If you have a lot of rain, or sprinklers hitting your bunker, be sure to provide adequate drainage. 

As for the type of sand, I used blow sand, as it was as close to what I see on most courses. Most nursery outlets sell blow sand. Of course I have also seen courser, mortor sand used at some courses. 

[Hacker James]

Just now, Patch said:

I built a bunker in my back yard. Your boarding, and plastic on the bottom will work nicely. I used a 2x10 frame with 15 mil plastic sheet on the bottom. If you have a lot of rain, or sprinklers hitting your bunker, be sure to provide adequate drainage. 

As for the type of sand, I used blow sand, as it was as close to what I see on most courses. Most nursery outlets sell blow sand. Of course I have also seen courser, mortor sand used at some courses. 

we do not get a lot of rain, but this year, a few heavy storms. The water ponded on top of the artificial turf about 2 inches, but the morning after the storm (nearly 2 weeks), it drained right into the ground. The ground cover under the turf is porous.  I had not given thought to drainage through sand however and am not sure it would drain even with the same ground cover.

[DaveP043]

7 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

we do not get a lot of rain, but this year, a few heavy storms. The water ponded on top of the artificial turf about 2 inches, but the morning after the storm (nearly 2 weeks), it drained right into the ground. The ground cover under the turf is porous.  I had not given thought to drainage through sand however and am not sure it would drain even with the same ground cover.

I hadn't thought of the drainage aspect, but you can use a non-woven filter fabric instead of the poly.  The fabric will keep the sand separate from the underlying soil, but allow water to drain through.  

[Hacker James]

7 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I hadn't thought of the drainage aspect, but you can use a non-woven filter fabric instead of the poly.  The fabric will keep the sand separate from the underlying soil, but allow water to drain through.  

that should work. Probably the same stuff that is currently under the turf. It is reinforced poly with holes. One thing I do not have to worry about is killing the grass as it is artificial so the fabric would be between the sand and "grass". There is also a fabric sold by a local artificial lawn place that I used under my rock edge of the lawn that works well. 

[iacas]

Greenside bunker shots aren't that important. They're only an SV② skill. Save yourself the time and hassle.

[Hacker James]

4 minutes ago, iacas said:

Greenside bunker shots aren't that important. They're only an SV② skill. Save yourself the time and hassle.

SV2?    anyway, you are prolly right. Just a passing thought.

[DaveP043]

7 minutes ago, iacas said:

Greenside bunker shots aren't that important. They're only an SV② skill. Save yourself the time and hassle.

But they're kind of fun to practice, and his kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews will enjoy the sandbox.

[Hacker James]

3 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

But they're kind of fun to practice, and his kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews will enjoy the sandbox.

not to mention the neighbor's cats