Managing Bunkers

Selecting a bunker sand that is best suited to your specific needs is critical to producing and maintaining quality playing conditions and maximizing bunker longevity. The two properties of bunker sand that will most influence performance are particle size distribution and sand shape. Factors such as drainage, cost, vulnerability to wind and water erosion, crusting potential, chemical stability, and color all require consideration as well. This article lists nine key bunker sand characteristics, provides practical sand selection guidelines, and answers a few frequently asked questions about bunker sand.

Liners are a common feature of modern bunker construction, but there are a lot of options available and choosing the right one for your bunkers and budget isn’t easy. In this article, we detail the main types of liners and compare cost, performance, durability, and other key considerations to help you make the best decision for the particular circumstances of any project. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each type of liner and recognizing that there are tradeoffs involved with every option, is critical for making a good decision on what can be a significant investment in bunker performance.

Bunkers are an integral part of golf that can add strategic and aesthetic value to a hole. They can also be a source of dissatisfaction due to their placement, appearance or condition. If this is the case at your course, there are some steps you can take to remedy the issues. Read about how to evaluate your bunkers, how to decide what ails them, and how playability can be improved without expensive renovation efforts.

Bunker washouts are one of the most obvious impacts after heavy rain falls on a golf course. At some courses, large numbers of bunkers wash out again and again throughout the season, disrupting play and consuming vast amounts of resources. This article details why washouts occur, the problems they cause, and what superintendents are doing to minimize them.

Golfers often claim there is no sand in certain bunkers. Usually there is plenty and it’s just playing very firm. This article explains why sand gets excessively firm and what courses can do about it.

Maintaining proper sand depth optimizes the playability and functionality of your bunkers, but it’s hard finding time to check bunkers regularly. This article describes a strategy that can help make it easier.

Maintaining consistent playability in all the bunkers on a golf course is impossible because of the variables involved. However, there are techniques that can help bunkers play more uniformly, many of which are described in this video.

Bunker sand that is too hard and compacted is extremely frustrating. Read about some of the common causes of this issue and how superintendents can address the problem to deliver better playability.

Consistent bunker sand throughout a course is nice, but it’s not realistic. This article describes some of the many variables that make it so challenging for sand to play exactly the same from bunker to bunker.

Bunkers take a beating and eventually need renovations to look and play their best. This video explains the main reasons for most bunker projects and what to expect when they’re done.

Wet bunker sand can be tough to play out of, and some bunkers seem to stay wetter than others. This video explains why that happens and what courses can (and can’t) do about it.

The USGA gets questions every year about where bunker rakes should be placed on a golf course. While there is no rule about where to put them, this article explains that some places are definitely better than others.

Once the bunkers are raked by the maintenance staff, it’s in our hands as golfers to keep bunkers looking and playing great. Read about a few things to keep in mind while raking that can help maintain the bunker and surrounding grass areas.

When maintenance departments are stretched thin and budgets get tight, superintendents find techniques to reduce the time and money spent maintaining bunkers so they can focus those resources on other areas.

Algae infestations are often an issue in sand bunkers. This article explains why this is happening and what can be done about it.

Read about a simple, inexpensive method to gauge the extent of sand contamination and help determine when bunker sand replacement is necessary.

Every year around midsummer, prehistoric-looking wasps return to golf course bunkers and begin swarming at our ankles – causing some concern for personal safety. This article explains who these creatures are and what they are doing on the golf course.

This article provides a detailed rating guide to help you evaluate the factors affecting bunker performance and develop a plan for their improvement.

Selective bunker removal is a great way to reduce maintenance costs, save labor and improve playing conditions at your course. Here is one course’s experience with a bunker renovation that included some thoughtful bunker removals.

Golfers often complain that bunker sand is too hard or too soft, but how can superintendents know if it’s a real issue or just someone that needs some practice? This article describes a way to measure sand firmness that can help make the distinction.