Hey guys...just tuning back into this thread.
Garland/Gambers...Sorry if I made some errors in my last post, I tried to get my post in with just minutes to spare before my tee time. However, I still can't seem to come to grips with your argument at all. You are saying, I think, that the sand wedge wasn't an important breakthrough in golf and, therefore, it has had little impact on golf course architecture. I don't think you have said that directly, but it seems that you are implying it again and again. If that is your stance, I suppose we can agree to disagree...as I've tried to see your point of view and can't.
On your point about the grooves not affecting sand shots, I believe you are correct. So, that fact that downhill bunker shots are much harder to stop with my 1890's era hickories would have to be because of the loft difference, correct? If I use the appropriate swing and one stops and the other usually doesn't, and the grooves make no difference, then the only thing that changes is the angle the ball hits the green on. Right? Steeper angle=more chance of stopping. Therefore, the more loft on the club...the easier to get the ball to stop...right?
On your point about getting out of bunkers with clubs other than sand wedges, I think you are correct. I can get out with my hickories...I can get out with a modern PW...I can get out with a modern 3 iron. But, it is much
easier to get out with a modern sand wedge (I prefer 60 degrees). And it is much easier to control distance with the modern clubs as well...and it is much easier to control trajectory. Again, I can do it with hickories...it just takes a much higher degree of skill and, therefore, I really try to avoid greenside bunker when playing hickory...especially if they are steep.
What Tom Doak said makes logical sense to me...about water hazards and the sand wedge. I'll dig around to see if I can see any trends develop around that time.
Again, I think I see your point regarding the main topic of this thread...I don't agree with it...but that really doesn't mean all that much...in fact it may provide support that you are correct