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[Jim_Kennedy]

Gordon,
Thanks for the reply, and again, keep up the good work.  

Steve

“I view Askernish as a museum piece”  Steve we are then just light years apart.

Don’t know about ‘dumbing down the course’ but you certainly seem to convey and confirm my statement to Gordon about the majority of modern golfers. If it is not easy they go running for their Mums. It explains why the West can’t win a war and make peace afterwards
I wonder if there is anything else to say or talk about, if that is you reaction 'Museum Piece'?

Melvyn

"It explains why the West can’t win a war and make peace afterwards"

That remark ought to bring in the crowds from the free world.  

[Steve Salmen]

"Museum Piece" is a positive statement.  It refers to how golf was probably played 100 years ago.  I was not around so I'm speculating.  It does not mean it cannot be enjoyed today.  Just because some hickory clubs can be museum pieces does not mean that they cannot be used positively on the course.

 I have only positive opinions of my experience and the golf course at Askernish.  I would recommend visiting for everyone.  Visitor play will increase as past visitors tell friends and acquaintences of their wonderful time there and as the course itself evolves.

As for the bunker on #12, it's possibly the purest sand from which I've played a shot.

[Jon Wiggett]

Steve,

maybe it is what was going on 100 years ago and maybe it is also, in part, what will become the norm as golf greens up

[Gary Slatter]

That seems like a reasonable question Brian...

Admittedly it does seem unusual to have such a blowout so far from the shore in an area of such mature dune grassland....

But even if cattle or a farmer did create it, we could then argue the true definition of the term "blowout". After all, blowouts are merely holes in the surface of the dunes, created by sand being blown elsewhere after the vegetation has been removed (by rabbit burrowing or even human intervention).

Ally

I have seen blowouts at Pennard nowhere near the coast - relatively speaking.  I had a chat with a geologist about this sort of thing and he believed that blowouts must occur(even without animals) until (and if) grass takes hold and somewhat stabilizes the dunes.  He also said that he is  quite clear why in nature (IE no intervention by man) some area of sand continue to grow while others stabilizes, but he suspects that there is a tipping point at which the dune process can't be stopped unless a natural barrier interferes. 

Ciao

Sean,

Blowouts generally occur nearer the coast because the highly specialised species on the younger dunes (i.e. the ones closes to the coast) are the most susceptible to damage. When you are inland and have more complete vegetation and organic matter, it takes more for blowouts to form naturally. They do however occur, even far inland.

I do not agree with your geologist. It is not blowouts that must occur in the stages until grass stabilises the dunes - that is merely the natural succession of the dunes from strand line through embryo dunes through mobile dunes through semi-fixed through fixed... they of course can, and do occur through most of these stages.... Blowouts specifically occur where vegetation is removed and then the exposed sand is picked up by the wind.

so if cows or sheep lay down in a hollow and kill the grass a blowout bunker might appear

[Ally Mcintosh]

Hi Gary... I'm not sure if you are asking or confirming... But yes, that's how I would see it...

As for lowering the green heights, if you can get them to 6mm with the current undulations, surely that is sufficient for golfers?... Will the course really suffer financially to the extent that you might have to flatten some of the greens?... I really hope not...

[Brian Phillips]

Gordon,

Sorry to ask a stupid question but it just jumped out at me to ask it.  Was the pit dug out by the cattle or the farmer that owns the cattle so that it could be used as a shelter?

Or does no one know who dug it cattle or farmer?

Gordon,

I might have missed your answer somewhere but if not could you answer this question?

Cheers.

[Gordon Irvine]

Hi Brian I dont know the history of where the sand pit came from but certainly that first winter i visited it was the cattle that were sheltering in it.However there was also a ring of stones where someone had had a fire in it probably local kids.
The same goes for the greenside bunker on the 8th we had to dig that one out as it had become overgrown with two feet high stinging nettles. Certainly not what you expect to find so near the beach. Some one had dumped rubbish there. So we dug them out and left the clean sand yes I guess for reasons of maintenance we created a bunker. However the ground contour was not altered.

[Gordon Irvine]

This pic gives a better view of the bunker

[Michael_Hendren]

I'd bet a rabbit warren originally collapsed and over time the animals smoothed out the hillock whilst sheltering. I see those who were criticising the marketing budget and design of the bunkers have gone quiet since Gordon put the true facts down.

I'm back.   While I never commented on the marketing budget, I am intruged by your use of the the term "design" when speaking of the bunkers.  Then again, I'm easily amused.

I'm just teasing - maybe.  I think Askernish is very cool.

Kindest regards,

Mike

[Brian Phillips]

Hi Brian I dont know the history of where the sand pit came from but certainly that first winter i visited it was the cattle that were sheltering in it.However there was also a ring of stones where someone had had a fire in it probably local kids.
The same goes for the greenside bunker on the 8th we had to dig that one out as it had become overgrown with two feet high stinging nettles. Certainly not what you expect to find so near the beach. Some one had dumped rubbish there. So we dug them out and left the clean sand yes I guess for reasons of maintenance we created a bunker. However the ground contour was not altered.

Magic!  Every bunker on a links course normally has history!  I love all the different stories of the bunkers on The Old Course.  You should make a note in a logbook to make sure the evolution of all your bunkers are recorded.  You might not think it important but when gca.com is still going in a hundred years it will make interesting reading.

Thanks Gordon.

[Gordon Irvine]

yes I agree Brian its funny how bunkers can cause such debate.

I have just started refurbishing the bunkers at Hunstanton and cant wait for the comments during work from every golfer that passes.