T Paul:
"Otherwise, why do you suppose there has been such a demand that bunker sand surfaces be so consistently maintained?"
Surely you are not referring to the local muni, maybe the privates I can agree with.
I'm curious, if bunkers were not maintained as they are today, would golfers not get so hung up on the concept of 'fairness'?
"I think bunker maintenance practices are driven by the concept of fairness. Grounding the club is not going to address the fairness concept."
I am not as convinced fairness is driving maintenance in a direct fashion, though there is clearly a connection for obvious reasons, but if maintenance didn't exist I think golfers would be less inclined, dare I say become more educated that they are truly in a hazard and the lie is what it is!
Tom Paul:
A lot of this interesting information (great thread by the way) is presented at length in Forrest's and Mark's book and I believe, at least based on many superintendents, green chairman I know who bought the book, it may achieve what you are looking for...but then you would have to actually buy the book