Where to leave bunker rakes?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

This course designer has the definitive answer....

As a seasoned golf course architect, Forrest Richardson gives a lot of thought to the minutiae of the game.
Among the topics he has been inclined to ponder: the proper placement of bunker rakes.
If Richardson had his druthers, there would be no need for him to wrestle with this matter, because bunker rakes would not exist.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that they dumb down the game," Richardson says. "But they don't make things better for golf."

Read more:

Where to leave bunker rakes? This course designer has the definitive answer

By: Josh Sens December 5, 2024

[Matt Schoolfield]

The obvious solution the card-and-pencil crew don't want to hear: no rakes, no problems.

[John Handley]

Or here's another take:  don't hit it in the bunker.
 

[mike_malone]

While I prefer “ rake in , handle out” we try to put away from the play side of the green next to the bunker and parallel.

[Tyler Kearns]

I also prefer the rake in, handle out.

[Craig Disher]

Rake in the middle of the bunker, parallel to the line of play.

[Carl Johnson]

Position rakes in front of the bunker parallel to it.  This may help keep some balls out of the bunker.  You can be sure that the players who follow you will be pleased.

[Michael Felton]

I forget where it was, but I played a course once where they had pipes in the ground that the rakes stood up in. It was a bit of an eyesore, but made it far less likely that the rakes would interfere with play. That said, this is not something that will keep me up at night. It's pretty unusual that a rake affects play anyway. Much more important to me that people rake the bunkers than where they put the rake after.

[PCCraig]

They should leave bunker rakes in the trash can. Just pointless clutter.

[Sean_A]

I also prefer the rake in, handle out.

Absolutely for recreational play. Easy to grab and not overly intrusive. Rake in the bunker works of if the bunkers aren’t too big.


Ciao

[Lynn_Shackelford]

95/5 rule is best.  95% in, 5% out.
Mowers can mow without getting off mower.  One can pick up the rake and rake the ball out many times without creating foot prints if the ball is no longer in play.  If the ball is stopped by the rake it will likely be in a reasonably flat spot.

[Cliff Hamm]

At our course in Florida, which is cart only until four, rakes are kept in carts in order to save on maintenance costs. If you walk and use a push cart, it is possible to put the rake on the cart.

[Thomas Dai]

Given how many thoughtless, selfish players there are these days who never rake bunkers even if there’s a rake within a short distance of their ball maybe the game might as well return to a ‘no rakes at all’ game. Imagine that, a sand hazard that’s actually hazardous, something best avoided.
Atb

[Mike_Young]

.

[Pete_Pittock]

when prepping a course for state amateur events it was rakes on the non-fairway side of the bunker and parallel to line of play.


my ultimate bad rake lie was one that was parallel to line of play with the rake tines about 3" into the sand at the front (tee) edge of the bunker, which was also ingress/exit point and furthest point from the greeen.  Only option was an UL with stroke and distance

[Chris Hughes]

Rake in the middle of the bunker, parallel to the line of play.

I like this -- never heard it before!

[Stewart Abramson]

These J handles rakes are interesting. Only the tip of the handle and the tines touch the ground so de minimis chance that rake will interfere with a ball,



Tam O Shanter NY  #15 bunker

[Peter Sayegh]

These J handles rakes are interesting. Only the tip of the handle and the tines touch the ground so de minimis chance that rake will interfere with a ball,



Tam O Shanter NY  #15 bunker

Never saw that before.
I don't know if it's a genius idea or just a golf nerd's fever dream.
Is it featured on the course logo/flags?

[Stewart Abramson]

These J handles rakes are interesting. Only the tip of the handle and the tines touch the ground so de minimis chance that rake will interfere with a ball,

Never saw that before.
I don't know if it's a genius idea or just a golf nerd's fever dream.
Is it featured on the course logo/flags?

 


Here's the logo. The place closed in 2021. It was my 100th NLE course played :'(

tam o shanter logo

[Peter Sayegh]

These J handles rakes are interesting. Only the tip of the handle and the tines touch the ground so de minimis chance that rake will interfere with a ball,

Never saw that before.
I don't know if it's a genius idea or just a golf nerd's fever dream.
Is it featured on the course logo/flags?

 


Here's the logo. The place closed in 2021. It was my 100th NLE course played :'(

tam o shanter logo

Your Centennial Cemetary?
Quite an achievement.
P.S. Please stop playing golf.

[Craig Disher]

Rake in the middle of the bunker, parallel to the line of play.

I like this -- never heard it before!

Bunker in, handle out, ball rolls in and stops at the rake leaving a downhill lie and the ball could move once the rake is removed. That's too much trouble. If the rake is in the center of the bunker it will seldom interfere with the ball and if it does, the ball will be on a flat surface and probably won't move when the rake is moved.  Rake in center also makes it most accessible to anyone in the bunker. If the bunker is large, put in two rakes.  I just don't see a downside.

[Matt Schoolfield]

I probably wasted about five minutes making this.

[Pete_Pittock]

Rake in the middle of the bunker, parallel to the line of play.

I like this -- never heard it before!

Bunker in, handle out, ball rolls in and stops at the rake leaving a downhill lie and the ball could move once the rake is removed. That's too much trouble. If the rake is in the center of the bunker it will seldom interfere with the ball and if it does, the ball will be on a flat surface and probably won't move when the rake is moved.  Rake in center also makes it most accessible to anyone in the bunker. If the bunker is large, put in two rakes.  I just don't see a downside.

Didn't realize it was already the first of April

[Peter Sayegh]

Given how many thoughtless, selfish players there are these days who never rake bunkers even if there’s a rake within a short distance of their ball maybe the game might as well return to a ‘no rakes at all’ game. Imagine that, a sand hazard that’s actually hazardous, something best avoided.
Atb

.


Thanks for another inconsequential post Thomas...but I somewhat agree. Rid all courses of rakes or toss them wherever.

However, they are a reality in golf. Good bounce, bad bounce, their placement/allignment shouldn't affect your day.

I think Charleston National(?) has(d) the best solution if you're concerned about such things.


Traditionalists need not reply.

[Sean_A]

Rake in the middle of the bunker, parallel to the line of play.

I like this -- never heard it before!

Bunker in, handle out, ball rolls in and stops at the rake leaving a downhill lie and the ball could move once the rake is removed. That's too much trouble. If the rake is in the center of the bunker it will seldom interfere with the ball and if it does, the ball will be on a flat surface and probably won't move when the rake is moved.  Rake in center also makes it most accessible to anyone in the bunker. If the bunker is large, put in two rakes.  I just don't see a downside.

One problem I see with rakes in bunkers is folks will hop into bunkers from the high side if it’s the shortest route to the rake. If not, there is often a longer walk through sand which then needs to be raked. It’s fine for real tournaments, but for recreational golf I prefer the rake handle out at the best place to enter the bunker causing the least erosion issues.

Ciao