Matthew and Brian,
My real point was that we have been encouraged to rake bunkers since I was a kid in the 1960's and it wasn't new then, so it has been a similar mind set of reasonable bunker lies, maybe even back to the 1920's. Anyone know when bunker rakes were invented?
It has gone from eliminating footprints, to eliminating plugged lies, to making sure the ball sets up perfectly every time. Every year, someone incrementally ups the ante, with perhaps a bigger jump when JN started designing courses and encouraging "tournament agronomy." Hey, other tour pros are to blame, as well. I don't mind tour courses being "fair" with millions on the line.
But, its like Augusta syndrome, in that it has crept further down the food chain. Maybe the Country Club for a Day and gradual decline of club memberships is a problem too - with more former club players playing public access courses they may put pressure on for exorbitant budgets. Its one thing if you decide your club wants million dollar bunkers, but forcing those on the general public is another matter, at least IMHO.
I believe management companies at non equity clubs push back, as they just don't see the financial gain of grooming bunkers for the most demanding players.