Muirfield Bunkers

[cary lichtenstein]

I love the bunkers, the creativity it inspires the players and their wonderful play. Makes me want to put on my old spikes and dig in.

[David_Tepper]

I like the Muirfield bunkers. Many are neither round nor oval shaped. Some of the bunker walls a very vertical.

[Bill Gayne]

I love the bunkers, the creativity it inspires the players and their wonderful play. Makes me want to put on my old spikes and dig in.

You would have to change to soft spikes first.

[RJ_Daley]

Yes, it seems to me that we should tip our hats to the ongoing restoration, and maintenance of these bunkers, that has taken place over the decades.  The re-positioning needed over the years to take into account the increased distance considerations, and the included collection sphere of influence of them, low entry profile and revetted backside, not to mention the sand texture that these pros are not used to in normal tournament play, all adds to the excitement and huge role the bunkers play.  Just think, Tiger was never in a single bunker at the equally dry and F&F TOC in 2000, and this year, they will take their toll, as his bonehead play on 17 just now demonstrates.

Then one considers the influence of the bunkers on Jimenez, who has shown brilliance but finally succumbed to a failed bunker shot on 16 also just now. 

I just don't know how anyone can not enjoy this golf tournament! 

[Alex Lagowitz]

I love the bunkers, the creativity it inspires the players and their wonderful play. Makes me want to put on my old spikes and dig in.

You would have to change to soft spikes first.

Actually I played Muirfield two years ago with the metals.  Was very fun!

[Grant Saunders]

Still find it a bit nuts that they needed to import sand for them.

http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/Imported-bunker-sand-for-Muirfield/2505/Default.aspx#.Ues04EmN3IU

[Ally Mcintosh]

Has anyone got any good photos of the bunkering at Muirfield by any chance?

Thanks,
Ally

[Benjamin Litman]

Ally, I took this picture in September 2012. I'm not sure if that was before or after the referenced restoration began.

[David Whitmer]

Ally,

I just have a few. These photos were taken in early May, 2013. This is just right of the first green:


This is left of the twelfth green:


This is left of the thirteenth green:


This is left of the fifteenth green:


This is the seventeenth fairway:


This is right of the eighteenth green:


This is short of the eighteenth green:

[Frank Pont]

it seems to me that we should tip our hats to the ongoing restoration of these bunkers, that has taken place over the decades. 

This is how the Muirfield bunkers used to look pre WWII, before they were "restored"







Maybe interesting to read the article Paul Turner and I wrote on the subject some years ago...

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10772736/GolfClubAtlas/BO-bunkers.pdf

[Thomas Dai]

What I've always liked about the bunkering at Muirfield is the gathering effect of the surrounds, the way balls are almost 'encouraged' to roll into a nearby bunker. Makes the bunkers play so much larger than their size. Is there another course where the bunkering has an equal or greater gathering effect?
Atb

[Jaeger Kovich]

it seems to me that we should tip our hats to the ongoing restoration of these bunkers, that has taken place over the decades. 

This is how the Muirfield bunkers used to look pre WWII, before they were "restored"







Maybe interesting to read the article Paul Turner and I wrote on the subject some years ago...

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10772736/GolfClubAtlas/BO-bunkers.pdf

Frank - Those look pretty cool!

[Will Lozier]

I prefer the original.  Like the current, and maybe it functions better with the gathering effect but like the rugged look better.

[Marc Haring]

I much prefer the original bunkers. Could they ever return given a little GCA pressure?

[Ally Mcintosh]

Thanks for your photos David, all....

Have we ever truly investigated what were the primary catalysts for the movement towards revetted bunkers on some of the Open courses like Muirfield?... And when this happened?... And who promoted it?

I like both styles and see pro's and con's for each...

Ally

[Marc Haring]

Thanks for your photos David, all....

Have we ever truly investigated what were the primary catalysts for the movement towards revetted bunkers on some of the Open courses like Muirfield?... And when this happened?... And who promoted it?

I like both styles and see pro's and con's for each...

Ally

Good question. Being in the course maintenance business a while back I do remember the revetted style suddenly being very much in vogue around the late 1980's even on inland courses.