Bunkers, grassy hollows, mounding, water hazards, etc., directly influences the approach shot into the green
In relation to a bunker reconstruction and/or renovation programme, where greenside bunkers are still influential to play, they should be retained but it is advisable to rebuild them further way from the putting surfaces to enable better access for maintenance machinery and foot traffic. This will also enable the greenkeeper to spread wear and minimise the build up of bunker sand. Some greenside bunkers, though, could be more effective reshaped as grassy hollows.
Golf courses are now put under a
greater pressure due to increased numbers of golfers. The balance, though, is disproportionate because the greens and surrounds have remained the same size (or even got smaller in some cases). With some bunkers, the edges furthest
from the greens (the front edge) build up due to erosion caused mainly by water washing sand across the bunker surface to the point where there is now actually a rise or small incline running into the bunker (of up to 200mm high in places). This creates a raised feature whose function is contrary to that which is intended - a bunker should be a hollow, designed to ‘trap’ the ball - it should be a depression which the ball easily rolls
into. The collection area should extend outside the sand area so that a ball within a few metres may well still end up in the sand - this design feature is very evident on most links courses. Another associated problem is compaction of sand in the bunker base. This can be attributed to the kind of sand that has been used and contamination with the (clay) soil beneath. It is also due to saturation of sand, either because there is no drainage, or any drains that might have existed have been capped off or become blocked over time. When heavy rain falls, during extreme storms, the sand often ends up being washed off the faces and the water has nowhere to drain away to, so it takes the sand with it.
The most important point to consider about a bunker renovation programme is the style to go with. Whichever style is chosen there must be consistency throughout, in relation to the visual look of the bunkers, their playability, their maintainability and their appropriateness in relation to the history of the course. At West Hill, following my advice, the club chose the turf-topped bunker with heather sods (imported from Hankley Common Golf Club) incorporated into
Jonathan Gaunt at the drawing board
banks of the approach and fairway bunkers. The smooth-shaped bunker banks were inspired by the original designs of Willie Park Jnr. and Harry Colt, which were illustrated on original photographs of the course. This style has worked particularly well in playing, visual and maintenance terms. At Worplesdon, the club chose a higher sand-faced bunker, which they considered to be more in keeping with the design style of John Abercromby, the original golf course architect. Also, because the work was considered to be more of a restoration programme than renovation. Heather was again used on the bunker banks, but the club decided to use pot planted heather plants instead of sods and they did not establish well. Also, the bunker banks were much steeper, making establishment more difficult. Visually, however, they do look very impressive. In all cases, where reshaping is to be
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