But, how do you know how deep the sand is from viewing the surface.
The rules permit you to "take your stance" but, not to dig in and "build a stance".
The definition of a stance, coupled with 13-2 and 13-3 prevent a player from digging in to determine the depth of the sand.
So, again, I'm curious, how do you "read your lie" in a bunker ?[/size][/color]
Pat,
Some of the sandbelt bunkers are natural sand and some have varying amounts of imported sand on the natural sand.
Why wouldn't the imported sand and the natural sand homogenize ?
In areas of some courses where sand is naturally less compacted, ie on top of hills and dunes, the natural bunker sand can be quite 'fluffy' and loose.
On areas where the sands are more compacted and possibly cemented, the sand is not loose or there is a small spread of loose sand disturbed by raking or imported (less than 1 inch) over dense sand.
Are the above two conditions strictly a function of moisture ?
Visual inspection goes along way to identifiying loose sand or dense sand, local knowledge and taking a normal stance can also help.
Jason is right that it advantages the golfer who can play a range of shots.
It is also more natural than consistent bunkers.
Doesn't rain, wind and gravity conspire to make all bunkers "consistent" ?
Patrick,
I have some 900 post and have avoided contributing to any of your post, what I am trying to say is I am a Virgin, fresh meat..so go easy on me! In relation to why the natural sand and the imported sand don´t homogenize is because when you have two different sands that come together you créate a pearched wáter table which is the fundamental component of a USGA Green. A two inch coarse sand layer is installed beneath the 12 médium sand layer. This interface causes the wáter to be trapped in the twelve inch sand layer until it reaches 100% saturation, when it reaches this point its like a magical door is opened and the wáter can now begin to drain and make it way down through the coarse sand layers and into and through the gravel and eventually into the drain pipes installed in the base of the Green. So two different sands layered in a bunker will do the same thing, keeping moisture in the top layer until reaching 100% saturation, then and only then will the wáter work it way down to the next sand layer and eventually into the drain pipes. I agree with you, bunkers should be consistent as posible. Many times I find early in the round wet compacted sand which is difficult and by the eighteenth hole I am finding fried eggs and sugar sand, I don´t like it and feel inconsistency is directly proportional to tricking up the course or making it over diffcult for the majority. However, I also agree its a freaking hazard, so its something I can live with, we have to choose our battles with owners and this a battle not worth fighting in my opinión. I don´t think its the responsibility of the architect directly, indirectly yes, we should recommend to the owner that two speed heads be involved or two seperate sprinklers be added, one next to the other that allows for partial coverage with one sprinkler and partial coverage with another or one of the two being different speeds and different nozzles that throw less distance or less wáter, ect. There are solution but there costly and the owners cut the cake and when presented with the cost differce most will go back to...its a freaking hazard, so what if its inconsistent. There are a few exceptions where they say, yes I want it perfect and my clients(future members) want it perfect so I will pass the cost onto them and they will pay a higher initiation fee and they deserve perfection. I have not found one yet willing to do so and doubt that I ever will, irrigation cost have gone through the roof, something like 700% in 20 years. Normally the scenario is when the irrigation plans arrive there is a big meeting with all those involved and the owner wants to know where can he reduce and what are the consequences of the reduction and when it is explained its, bye-bye sophisticated designs around the greens.
There, I have lost my virginity! Let it rip!
oh and before somebody rips me a new one, let me clarify these sophisticated costly designs, lessen the problem but 100% elimination of the problem is close to imposible.