Bunker Analysis - remove, restore or leave alone?

[Joel_Stewart]

We haven't analyzed a bunker in a while (stolen idea from Tommy) and I always wanted to place this bunker up for grabs.  

Of course it's the lone fairway bunker on #6 at Olympic.  Not only is it the only fairway bunker on the hole it also the only fairway bunker on the course.   ( No arguing on this point please).

The fact is that it was added by Robert Trent Jones prior to the US Open in 1955.  The hole is 439 from the back tee and the bunker is about 250 yards off the tee.  From the bunker it is about 190 yards to the green.   Because of the angle of the bunker it is impossible for mortals to reach the green.

Your thoughts?

[Mike_Cirba]

It looks sort of sad and lonesome sitting there all alone.  

Is there any strategic advantage to flirting with it on the tee shot?

[RJ Daley]

How wide is the fairway where it is at now?  What fronts the green at around 50 yards from the green if a layup is desired for short hitters or one that flirts with it at 250 and goes into it?  It seems to me that most any pro can blow it over the current 250 range, but it should be an effective distance for the mid level player at 250.   How wide is the fairway at about 275yards out and is there any serious strategy in forcing a player to flirt with or avoid a bunker in the fairway on this hole in that LZ?  Anotherwords, if it is replaced to an effective area for long hitters, what will it accomplish?  Will it force them to think of something other than driver off the tee and accept a longer shot into the green for purdence or cautions sake?  

[Matt_Ward]

Joel:

Here goes -- two options.

1). Fill it in and return to the pre-'55 look.

2). Fill it in and redo the bunker at the 290-300 yard range to reflect today's game.

I like the second option but either one works for me.

[Robert Kimball]

Matt, I would take #1, pre-55 look.

 Couple of things -- would it get caught up in committee, and would they want to be a course with no fairway bunkers.

[Joel_Stewart]

RJ:  50 yards in front of the green is a huge swale.  The fairway is probably 70 yards wide at the bunker and 100 yards wide at the 275 mark.  You can see from the first (top) photo that where the person and caddy are standing is about the 275 mark and then it begins to go down hill then up hill to the green.

Lastly, over the bunker is heavy rough.  For the Open the rough is so deep that its a sand wedge sideways to the fairway.  The hole plays differently now than just a few years ago because of the absence of a tree that was on the right side of the fairway.  Previously you would need to hit it at the bunker and fade it.  Now you aim up the right side and draw it.

[RJ_Daley]

Joel, if there is actually 75yards width to the fairway at 275 yards out, I like the option of placing it mid fairway slight diagonal and favoring one side or the other depending on which shot is more favorable into the green, and rewarding a flirtation with that bunker on the most favorable line in, if the bunker is carried, skirted or played just short of it.  I like 275 because it is not so easy to blow over with a slightly mishit shot, and it causes the thought of an iron or fairway metal off the tee as well as the flirtation with the driver.  I like the idea of a swale fronting the green for those weaker players that need three to get on the green, and those who lay back off the tee purposely.  It is hard to believe that that fairway is 75 yards wide at that point, however.  Are you sure of that?

[JakaB]

I thought the bunker in question was one of the many highlights of playing the course...its fun and comes with a good story...I would go so far enough to say its "classic" and needs to stay exactly where it is...How bout posting that aerial in the locker room that would show how it looked when first constructed.

[Joel_Stewart]

RJ:  Maybe its 50yards wide at the bunker area.  Its a driver hole except for a few at the US Open.

JakaB:  I agree that it has some mystery to it being the only fairway bunker but does it add anything?  Personally I don't think so.

Mike:  It is sad and lonesome.  I guess you where the last person to hit into it

[brad miller]

Have not played OC since my enlightenment about GCA, but are there really 50 yard wide fairways at OC?

[Mike_Cirba]

Joel;

Never yet had the pleasure, but I'm hoping to rectify that in the spring.  

You can be certain that my ball will find it, if nothing else than to visit an lonely, elderly loner looking for some action after years of neglect.  

[TEPaul]

On that bunker in the first photo:

I think the club should draw a horizontal line through the middle of it! It would look great in a lipstick ad!

[brad miller]

We have Hell, Strath and Road Hole, now add Revlon