Delivering sand to bunkers by pumping

[Bill_Overdorf]

  I am looking for information about a process to "pump" sand to bunker locations using a flex hose setup (perhaps from a gunite pump?). In the not too distant past one operator advertised in GC publications the use of this system, claiming that 200' (or perhaps more?) of pipe could be laid out. Can anyone help me out with this search? I will greatly appreciate anything you have to offer.

[Marty Bonnar]

Bill,
I've never seen such a system but can only assume that what is pumped is a sand 'slurry'. I can't see dry sand being pumped 2 feet never mind 200....!

FBD.

[Bill_Overdorf]

  When I posted my inquiry yesterday about installing bunker sand I think my terminology was dastically misleading with use of the term "pumping". My Google search produced an article from the USGA Green Section Record entitled  "Installing Sand in Bunkers - A Better Way" that touched on the desired topic, but the article dated back to around 1980 and I was looking for an update.

Second to this, the article was written by Robert A. Strait, CGCS Deer Creek CC in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Any word regarding this gentleman and where he might be contacted?

Thanks for your help.

Bill

[Steve Curry]

Bill,

I seem to recall reading/hearing/? something about this recently and to recollection it was a kiln dried sand being blown, air pressure?  I will try to place this thought, ASAP.


Steve

[Forrest Richardson]

Bill,

Sand can be pumped anywhere, usually wet. But a truck can only hold about 25-tons (dry) — so I'm not sure this is efficient. I suppose if you had terribly rough grades — but usually that is not the case as bunkers reside along fairways of more level ground.

In Hawaii it is not uncommon for sand to be off-loaded from barges by pumps. I recall a pile that had been ordered from Australia for Waikaloa. The economy halted construction and it sat there for years. When I last saw it nearly 1/2 of the $3 million pile had blown away!

[Bob Longmire]

Other industries "pump" sand but it is always carried by a liquid and usually contains something to "thicken" the slurry to aid in suspending the sand particles.  Pumping sand
in a relatively horizontal pipe, which sounds like something being contemplated here, would probably have to be done at fairly high pump rates and a low sand to liquid ratio or with a liquid of relatively high viscosity allowing higher sand to liquid ratios.  Sand is not very kind to pump parts either.  I can certainly see the application for this concept if you wish to replenish bunker sand on an existing course . . . hope you locate the supplier/contractor.