Why Are Bunkers Built in the Rough? Or Were They?

[Ed_Baker]

One of the unfortunate results of modern irrigation and the "lush and green" preference of the majority modern golfers is that what once were fairway bunkers are now rough bunkers or side hazards. The ability to grow penal rough actually has negated the intent of these bunkers because many slightly offline shots don't reach them. I don't think that this was the design intent.

To me, one of the fundamentals of restoration, is fairway width and the more "restored" golden age classics that I play, I have come to the conclusion that this element of restoration is largely ignored.I am of the opinion that the fairway should extend at least to the far side of the bunker. The "cut" lines should be obvious and the fairway should extend right up to the bunker entrance. What I am seeing is that the "US OPEN" course presentation is creeping in with the lush and green. Extremely penal rough adjacent to narrow fairways is becoming the norm on older courses. I saw it this summer at Winged Foot, Salem, Aronimink and Charles River.

What does the DG think, were these bunkers 30 to 40 yards off the fairway center line built as "rough bunkers" or fairway bunkers? Shouldn't offline shots run in to these bunkers, or were they built only to catch errant "fly balls"?

[John_Lovito]

Ed,

Many courses, including my home course, are guilty of the type of course set-up you describe.  Many an errant shot fail to reach the bunkers because the penal rough sucks them up.  I’m with you; I would be very surprised if this was part of the original intent of the architect (Ross).  The most glaring offenders at my course are the two par fives on the front nine where the fairway bunkers collect very few balls because of the rough.  

I like your definition of fairway width, especially for classic courses where fairway bunkers are often deep and true hazards.    It puts the focus back on the bunkers and introduces more strategy and fun

John

[Dave_Miller]

Ed:

You and I know from studying the field drawings, plans, etc. that courses such as The River were designed this way, to have wider fairways to bring these bunkers into play and the restoration process should address this at the Classic Courses.  We started to but it has fallen somewhat to the wayside.

Is it because the definition of Golf today is that it has to be very hard and 4 or 5 inch rough is harder to exit than a bunker?
 
Does everyone want to be able to say my course is "soooooo hard" that they become tricked up and lose the things that made them challenging and fun.  Lose the very essence that made the designs great with magnificent architecture, wonderful routings and great use of the land.  

Is it a copycat syndrome among Golf Course Supers?  Any Supers out there have an opinion on why the fairways are becoming so narrow and taking these bunkers essentially out of play?  

Could it be that one Super hears - "Hey so and so had fairways 28 yard wide and boy is that a hard course".  He then responds with "Hey I can do that too".

Or could it possibly be that the members want 1 1/2" rough to stop the ball from the bunker so they would have an easier recovery shot. Any Green Chairmen care to chime in?

Are Green Committees dictating these conditions or are they coming as recommendations from the Superintendent??

Don't know but wider fairways that bring these bunkers into play would definitely add another dimension to the game.

Any thoughts from anyone else.

Fairways and Greens,

Dave

[WPM]

Ed-
    This is a great subject.  I too have always wondered why bunkers are to the side of the fairway in the rough and why they aren't just on the side of the fairway.  

Puting the rough around the bunker seems like it could serve no purpose except to stop the ball from going into the bunker or just for looks.  And that is probably why courses today are maintained the way they are.  

Too many golfers care too much about fairness and there scores.  Though it seems like in the past few years courses have been getting farther away from the fairness and beauty factor.  
Since the usually the only way to hit it in a bunker is with an errant shot, players rarely have to worry about them, which takes away the strategy.
BTW, is it really that horrible to hit out of a bunker?

[Mark_Fine]

Ed,
This is a pet peeve of mine (as you know from the email I sent you earlier).  We'll discuss it more next week but just to summarize my opinion on this topic, a bunker in the rough is just penal, and offers little strategic value.  Assuming that "rough" is to be avoided, why would a good golfer ever go near a bunker that is located in the rough?  That bunker is only there to further penalize the weaker golfer and/or a poor golf shot.  Fairway bunkers should be either in the fairway or right next to it.  Rough bunkers may offer asthetic value (sometimes) but as I said above, offer little in the way of strategic value.  
Mark