Royal Melbourne bunkers are so firm and smooth that they’re easy.

[mike_malone]

 That may be the only relief afforded on this wonderful course.

[David_Tepper]

Mike -

The best golfers in the world can make any aspect of the best courses in the world look easy.

DT

[Matthew Essig]

Mike -

The best golfers in the world can make any aspect of the best courses in the world look easy.

DT

Yet how many bunker shots were left in the bunkers this week by professionals? More than I can count on my two hands!

[mike_beene]

Easy is not a way I ever describe golf. I haven't seen more than one shot from a bunker holed all week. With the firm greens, there must be a half shot penalty this week which seems similar to most weeks. This is a good group of bunker players when compared to the tour in general

[Mike_Clayton]

They are easy to play from - but the shots are really hard.

[Jim_Coleman]

   I haven’t noticed a lot of footprints and ruts in regular tour bunkers.  Those rakes with teeth are brutal.

[Kalen Braley]

I agree with Mike here.  I think the reason we saw so many left in this week was due to them jamming nearly every pin up tight to a cluster of them.


I mentioned this in the other thread, but given the sand was packed on the faces, they had no downhill or awkward stance lies (in the bunker) and very few fried eggs.


P.S.  Every single green had at least one bunker next to it, with most having several.  The course looks super diverse from hole to hole but would it have been better served with a bit of restraint in bunker usage?

[Pete_Pittock]

I agree with Mike here.  I think the reason we saw so many left in this week was due to them jamming nearly every pin up tight to a cluster of them.
I mentioned this in the other thread, but given the sand was packed on the faces, they had no downhill or awkward stance lies (in the bunker) and very few fried eggs.
P.S.  Every single green had at least one bunker next to it, with most having several.  The course looks super diverse from hole to hole but would it have been better served with a bit of restraint in bunker usage?

I may be wrong (not a first) but I think bunkers are cheaper than grass to maintain in the sandbelt.

[Carl Rogers]

I agree with Mike here.  I think the reason we saw so many left in this week was due to them jamming nearly every pin up tight to a cluster of them.
I mentioned this in the other thread, but given the sand was packed on the faces, they had no downhill or awkward stance lies (in the bunker) and very few fried eggs.
P.S.  Every single green had at least one bunker next to it, with most having several.  The course looks super diverse from hole to hole but would it have been better served with a bit of restraint in bunker usage?

I may be wrong (not a first) but I think bunkers are cheaper than grass to maintain in the sandbelt.

Really?