The "Disused" Bunkers of Sunningdale

[Mike Hendren]

The depression in the foreground is described in the club website as "disused" as the hole once turned left past it.  



My photograph indicates it's coming back to life quite nicely:




For what it's worth, the bunker is not depicted on the Strokesaver.

Bogey

[Mike Hendren]

Another - the geniune article:



Mike

[Thomas Dai]

Quite a bit of wet mud in this area. Foot marks too, although not sure from the photo if they're animal or manmade foot/hoof/etc marks.

What would be the ruling if you're ball was in the wet mud?

It's not a defined hazard. It's not cut and prepared. Would casual water apply to wet mud? If the ball were 'stuck' in the mud rather than just sitting on top of it, would embedded ball apply? Free drop? Penalty drop? No drop?

Any thoughts?

Atb

[Mike Hendren]

Excellent point Thomas, but for the sake of discussion: 

Must it be "cut and prepared."  Don't we spend a lot of time on this site shouting down manicuring?

I find the ruggedness of this hazard charming and can't help but think this is not-altogether inconsistent with the course presentation back in the day.  Absent the mud, is this not an acceptable penalty for driving the ball way over there? 

I had no trouble hacking out and making 5.

Mike

[Joe Hancock]

Bogey,

Sounds like you're on the trip as we type......enjoy every minute if that's the case!

Joe

[Mike Hendren]

Greetings Joe.  My trip was in late May.  To date, it was the trip of a lifetime.  All six courses played make my top 25 and I am hard pressed to exclude either Sunnindale course, Deal, Sandwich or Walton Heath Old from my top 10.  I remain blown away.  I'm totally comfortable that each is "great."  Even then a day at Huntercombe with GCA's best hockey player was their equal.  Maybe I'll put a thread together.

Hope and your family are well.

Mike

[Bill_McBride]

Great itinerary Bogey.  I have been to Sunningdale but the others you listed, including Huntercombe, really hit my sweet spots.  Throw in Rye and Littlestone and you'd be looking at part of my Top 30.  I love that necklace of gems along England's Southeast coast from Rye to Princes.