bunker trauma

[Jason Kang]

hi all,

with the Open this week, I was reflecting on the nastiest, "you shouldn't be here anyway" bunkers. The 2 that immediately came to mind are the bunker to the RIGHT of the 8th green at Yale (recovery over the raised right side, good luck with that, champion) and the short right bunker on 10 at RSG (walking past it is traumatic enough, can't imagine actually being in it).  What bunkers keep you up at night/have evoked a visceral reaction?

[Ally Mcintosh]

That bunker in Yale definitely.

There are a few on The Old Course that could be next to impossible when they were keeping the sand flat and barely flashed up.

Talking of TOC, I walked it on Sunday. Even since 2010 (and certainly since 2005) the fairways have narrowed considerably - it's really sad to see.... But that's for another thread.

[BHoover]

Any bunker to the left of #2 green at Kingsley is a death sentence, as I found out last year.

The bunker over #14 green at Brookside is utterly traumatic.

[Sean_A]

I rarely get traumitized by bunkers except for the odd bit of bad luck lie, but that is really quite rare.  I can't think of specific bunkers, but for courses in general, I was mildly traumitized by the bunkering at Yeamans Hall.  Hard packed sand with high, steep banks is a harsh combo for greenside play. 

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

I would suggest that bunker trauma has probably declined as the years have gone by. Indeed sometimes I'm amazed that the game didn't die out from being too hard, especially when there were hazards like this -



and the clubs were like this -



and golf balls were like this -




atb

[Mark McKeever]

The DA bunker on 10 at Pine Valley
Hole 2 at Yale, bunkers left
Hole 15 at Philly Cricket Wissahickon, bunker left
Hole 10 at Myopia, Taft Bunker
Hole 3 at Merion East, Right bunker
Shipwreck hole at Boston GC, bunkering right of green
Hole 16 at Stonewall Bunker short of fairway

[Paul Gray]

Sadly, the widow bunker at Hayling is long gone. I would dearly love to see it reintroduced. Very tough, yes, but you'd always find your ball in it and that can't be said for the rough which now sits where it once was. The picture here is, I believe, actually during it's tamer period.

[Jim Sherma]

Tobacco Road - bunker short of 11's green. Not sure what the plan is if you're down there.

[Pat Burke]

I would suggest that bunker trauma has probably declined as the years have gone by. Indeed sometimes I'm amazed that the game didn't die out from being too hard, especially when there were hazards like this -



and the clubs were like this -



and golf balls were like this -




atb

It was also tougher to bathe, eat and survive.

Maybe a BIT hardier back then?

[Howard Riefs]

Whistling Straits, left of #17.


Yes, that’s me in the bunker; photo courtesy of Dan Moore

[Paul Gray]

Howard,

Who's the umpire signalling for a six? Did you over hit it from there? 

[Howard Riefs]

Howard,

Who's the umpire signalling for a six? Did you over hit it from there? 

I asked my brave caddie to give me an aiming point. Incredibly, I got out of the bunker in one shot ... only to three putt.