Is this a radical bunker idea?

[PCCraig]

Ken,

It's an interesting idea. I've thought before that if a modern "minimalist" was really only using the land given, why would they ever use sand that's not natural to the area? After playing Lawsonia a few times, it is easy to see how fun and playable sandless fairway "bunkers" can be.

My only concern is that a sandless bunker would only be as good as it's shape. While the look is great at Huntercombe, I'm not sure how effective it would be on many run of the mill courses which feature oval, shallow, bunkers.

However, overall I think it's a feature that modern architects should use.

[Mark Pearce]

Pat,

You're absolutely right.  Any hazard, whether a sand bunker, a grassy hollow or even a grassy knoll is only as good as its shape.

[Mike McGuire]

This thread's title is "Is this a radical bunker idea"

The author is exploring the idea of a bunkerless course. I think it is a radical idea and believe a course with a "proper" (define that however you want) amount of bunkers looks better and plays better than one without any. I say that from experience as my home course WBCC has lots of grassy hollows. When we converted one to sand it was a big improvement for that hole.

This thread is not about A bunker hollow at Huntercombe  - it was used as an example - sorry I didn't know it was 30 yards from the green.

As for certain posters being "astonished" and amazed that I could argue for sand in bunkers without having visited Huntercombe  - and not respecting my opinion - well thats your opinion. Im not going to say you are wrong for having it.

[Mark Pearce]

Mike,

It was, I think, you that photo-shopped sand into the grass bunker at Huntercombe (which, by the way, is not 30 yarsd from the green, that was false info when Bill mistook it for a different hole at Huntercombe).  Your suggestion was that, for various reasons, including contrast, sand would improve that hole.  None of those who have played the hole agree.  My point is that without experiencing entire courses without bunkers and the use of these very distinctive humps and hollows, it's impossible to know whether they work or not. 

Mark