No more bunkers...?

[Bruce Katona]

Back in the day, the sand at each local course holding a PGA event varied by grain size, consistancy and other local condtions.  The touring professionals were not very happy to play out of the sand as it varied so much from week to week.  The Tour then developed specifications to keep the sand somewhat consistant on a week-to week basis.  The sand save percentage on Tour also increased as a result.

I say, just vary the consistancy of the sand from place to place.  The bunkers would become more of a hazard again.  The local population (members or daily fee guests, site dependant) would know how to play out of the bunkers as they would frequent the facility on a continual basis.

[Jason Blasberg]

Look at the bunkering in Ran's review of Cuscowilla.  It's a blend of red clay, and, I believe the bunkers have red clay bottoms.  They don't drain all that well but they vary greatly in texture and firmness and always play tough because of the sand's texture alone and also because of the shape and placement of the bunkers.

Mike Young would know best about the red clay in Eatonton!

[Andrew Summerell]

How about some shells & whispy grass in our bunkers.

[Jim Nugent]

The basic premise of this thread is flawed.  Pro's usually don't get up and down out of bunkers.  And on average they do slightly better out of rough around the green than sand.  Just check the stats at pgatour.com.

[Ryan Farrow]

I think most of those 75+ bunkers that can be removed are on par 3's that have sand on the right side and left and front and back and front left and back right and....you get the picture.

[Jordan Wall]

The basic premise of this thread is flawed.  Pro's usually don't get up and down out of bunkers.  And on average they do slightly better out of rough around the green than sand.  Just check the stats at pgatour.com.

Pros get up and down from rough around the green at an equal height as the green itself.

So I guess maybe so, but if you filled in ten foot deep bunkers with 4-inch rough, then it would be a lot harder to get up and down, especially if your ball felt like sitting down...