[BVince]

The unfinished bunker is the look taking over modern golf course architecture and is consistently used by the top GCA firms.  I personally like the look but now question if it is overused, therefore reducing the appeal.

Can a refined bunker serve the same purpose as a bunker with "unfinished" edges?

What would happen is Doak, C&C, and other firms occasionally switched their styles to finished bunkers?

Since you have to create the look of the unfinished bunker, would it be less 'minimal' to have bunkers with finished edges?  I think not.

Modern golf course architecture is starting to become predictable.  I get a feeling that I know what to expect...rolling mounded fairways, undulated greens, unfinished bunkers, etc.  I want to see a contrast in styles.

This is not intended to bash the current style, but if this movement continues to shape the ‘modern’ look of GCA...it will start to become boring and predictable.  

[Norbert P]

 I'm not exactly sure what defines an "unfinished bunker" but The Renaissance Club (Doak) has some fashionable finished looking bunkers that should be timeless. It was refreshing to see in pictures.  

[Michael Dugger]

In my opinion, the "unfinished bunker," as you are calling it deserves a little more attention.

In other words, a broad sweeping generalization stating that all "non-Augusta" bunkers are "unfinished" is inaccurate.

Some of these "top firms" you mention approach gca from a different place than their competition.  Doak or C & C, since they will receive the brunt of the attention here, fit a golf course to the surroundings.  

What I really enjoy and appreciate about their philosophy is the bunkers often time serve as a transition zone between the green golf grass and the native.

In the Sand Hills, do you really think an Augusta style bunker would work?  How about at Pacific Dunes or Friars Head?

Tom Doak has come in recently and expressed a similar sentiment as yours, Bryon.  I think it was images of Fazio's Gozzer Ranch that did it for him.  He stated perhaps his next course will feature Maxwell clamshells!

What can you do?  From my perspective, it doesn't have as much to do with a "bunker style" as much as it has to do with an all emcompassing philosophy on golf course design.

I think there are trendsetters, and there are followers.  
 

[BVince]

Michael,

Exactly, one of the point is that Doak and C&C really were the trendsetters but it is being adopted by a lot of the designers due to its success.  Now we are seeing a lot of new courses having a similar look.

I know that certain bunkers fit the surroundings better on different properties, but now we are seeing the unfinished look a lot...almost everywhere.

[Michael Dugger]

Bryon

Let's try and compile a list of where this is being done and whether it is "appropriate" per se.

Chambers Bay immediately comes to mind.  But as a faux links I have zero problem with it.

Sebonac is a sandy site, and Doak was involved.  No problem here.

Kingsley Club.  Devries is a Doak disciple.

I guess Gozzer Ranch, and Pronghorn, for that matter, apply, but I do feel the bunkers serve well as "transition" at Pronghorn.

But where else?  I'm serious, let's get a list going.

[Ryan Farrow]

Byron, I think Tom Doak does a great job mixing up the styles of his  bunkers, and in fact most of the others you see to be implying also do the same.  But, I would say C&C have done pretty much the same bunker style which I think is the result of using the bunker Guru, Jeff Bradley, on most of their courses. Can't say there is anything wrong with that as he does a pretty incredible job.

[Tony Ristola]

Byron,

This site gets an OD of such bunkers, but out in the real world courses with these bunkers are anomalies.  Granted, it does seem to be moving to the Dept. of Redundancy Dept. in some cases, but what is one to do if the site loans itself to the style and the course would be different from others in that market?

The other factor is long term maintenance. Not all these bunkers will remain as is. All it takes is one unsympathetic superintendent a few months and these bunkers can revert to standard fare.

Funny, I had some Italian investors who knew little about golf come by and look at a project with ragged bunkers. They had never seen anything like it and used your specific term; "Unfinished". I tried to school with a presentation, pro's and cons about the bunkers, and as their property was remote, the parcel small, severe... in the mountains (only enough to yield 5,800 heaving yards), I thought this would fit, make the course visually distinct from others in the region, and help drive interest. No dice.



The "unfinished" bunkers.

A few sketches I'd made for the investors:



Same hole with grass faced bunkers as a comparison.

[Norbert P]

Tony,  great use of P.A.D.  Tom Simpson would be proud.

[Tommy Williamsen]

This is pretty hot topic at clubs.  My home course was designed with the ragged bunker look but changed when the members bout the club.  Now they are rethinking the concept and are going to go back to it selectively.  I like the look but am not crazy about the severe penalty.  It works at places like Royal County Down but so does the "finished" look of say the Old Course, where they gather shots.  Both work for me.  I think ir depends on the setting.

[Jason Topp]

One thing I found refreshing about playing the original course at Bandon Dunes were the more traditional bunkers.  So many courses I have sought out in recent years have the "unfinished" look that, for me, the novelty has worn off. The unfinished bunkers look to me like they would produce a bunch of unplayable lies but in truth, I do not believe I have seen one.

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