I am sorry some are having some difficulty regards my question on Greens and Bunkers.
I feel the modern ideas of hazards are defined as the good old sand trap alias the Bunker or some sort of water feature. However, we all know that the designer’s arsenal has a great deal hidden just waiting to surprise and test our own resolve. It’s a pity they seem reluctant to delve deep into the cobweb corners of their storage area to occasionally surprise us.
The tactical or strategic part of today’s game has now centred on the Green leaving the Fairway game devoid of any real test or for that matter substance. One’s mind is not focused these days until the Range Finder is required in earnest which on average is 190yards from the Flag. Now the game is coming to life, friendly banter reduced in favour of concentrating upon the job in hand.
(Pity that we seem no longer to have that same feeling on the Tee as they have just become a means to an end, generating very little interest and minimal challenge. I for one miss the sighting of cross bunkers on various LZ dotted over the fairway. Requiring the golfer to show as much skill with his Driver as he does with his 9 Iron or putter, but alas those where the good old days when equipment still rules but not to the extent they do today . Sorry I digress, back to the topic in hand
Greens are more than just an Oasis of Green in the centre of a horseshoe shape bunker (or for that matter is an Island Green). They are the modern Coliseums where the real cut and thrust of golf takes place (as the fairways have been made more or less pointless) , they are the epicentre of the game, where we take no prisoners, the result makes our day and enhances our record (handicap).
So choice of hazard is important, we keep falling back upon sand and water yet grass and contours are still fairly productive in determining direction of the ball and of course we have the beast of all, the stone wall as the final deterrent for the wayward ball.
Have we focused upon using the land past the Green, I fear not, we use it as a way to stop the ball travelling – an aid to the over generous shot, but should we be assisting the golfer at the Green, making his life easy when we have already minimised the hazards on the fairway. Also why should the course stop at the other edge of the Green/rough/rear Green bunker, why should we not test the golfer due to the error of his shot, why make it easy and trap it by use of a bunker. Perhaps deep Pot Hole Bunkers may suffice when land is in short supply, remember the game is not over until you hear the ball in the tin cup. As for water, I fear you kill the game by using water at the Greens.
I love bunkers, but we should use them wisely and surrounding them around a Green is not my idea of wise. I suppose I just wish the modern game would embrace more various hazards from Tee to past the Green, not forgetting that hazards while they may not outwardly affect the good golfer may disturb the concentration, just knowing they are there thus turning into a mental hazard which can be the worst kind.
MY preference being bunkers are preferable to water near a Green but there are more traps just waiting to be selected and the secret is variation, run very closely after location, location, Location.
Melvyn