Yowani Grounds and Greens Committee
Course Bunkers
The purpose of this document is to provide a report on Mr Hewett and Mr Ashton’s findings in
relation to a bunker inspection held on the 28 November 2014.
Background
Yowani bunkers are and have been for a long time, an ongoing concern to members. Aside
from the many inherent and unacknowledged player techniques that are the major cause of
faulty sand play, many bunkers are in need of improved drainage, profile changes and sand
consistency.
It is readily acknowledged that bunkers are inherently labour intensive and therefore time
consuming. But, that does not mean that Yowani bunkers should be given lesser attention
than other maintenance tasks. It was this observation that led to G&G agreeing to a Thursday
volunteer programme specifically to maintain water hazards thus releasing staff for additional
bunker maintenance.
It should also be noted that although bunkers are ‘hazards’ and their condition, good or
otherwise, to be the rub-of-the- green, the majority of members expect Yowani bunkers to be
well presented, have appropriate sand level, and be fair to play.
Yowani’s bunker reprofiling programme (two bunkers per year) has been unfunded for four
years with the likelihood of any funding resumption being extremely low. Accordingly, there
needs to be greater emphasis on maintaining Yowani bunkers to a ‘no worse’ state until full
remedial bunker restoration can be undertaken.
It was in the light of member complaints, volunteer hazard activity and acknowledged funding
limitations that this inspection was conducted. Fairway bunkers were not reviewed as
greenside bunkers were the main source of complaint.
Observations
Edges and Vegetation Growth
It was obvious that edging work had been undertaken recently with the majority of
bunker edges groomed. However, the outcome of excellent work was somewhat
diminished by the amount of residual grass immediately below the edge cut.
Essentially, it is an incomplete job. Further, many bunkers had areas of unwanted
grass/weed growth.
Vegetation growth should be regularly managed either manually or through
appropriate herbicides. Edging remains unfinished at the 4th, 11th and practice
bunkers with tree roots exposed at the face of the 6th RH #2 and 16th rear bunkers.
Sand Condition
The sand in a number of bunkers was heavy to very wet with the RHS of the RH 3rd
bunker exhibiting symptoms of mud. It is apparent that the greenside surrounds’
irrigation is the main cause of wet sand conditions. Consideration could be given to
improving the effectiveness of drainage, adjusting/moving the irrigation, or
redesigning the shape of the most affected bunkers.
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The 1st RH, 3rd LH & RH, 6th LH, 9th, 10th, 14th RH & Practice bunkers require attention
to address the heavy sand caused by irrigation or inadequate drainage.
Bunker raking
Mechanical bunker raking of wet bunkers is of particular concern. Contrary to the
smooth level sand of dry bunkers, wet bunkers following a mechanical rake show
symptoms of grooving and in many cases the batter edge has been gouged to create
a furrow producing an unfair playing condition. In one situation (10th bunker) the
sand was left uneven with a mound across the bunker width. Further, some bunkers
are being raked in a manner that develops a ridge along the bunker edge between
the aerated sand and the side batter. Again, an unfair playing condition.
Bunker ridging is very evident at the 1st LH, 2nd RH & LH, 3rd LH, 5th, 6th LH, 8th, 12th
LH & RH bunkers.
Machinery Access Point
The machinery access to bunkers should be at a place (where practical) that is
unlikely to influence play. It was noted that there were access points where the
ground is being damaged by the machinery and therefore disguising the bunker’s
actual perimeter and detracting from the bunker’s overall appearance. Bunker access
points should be created in such a way as to facilitate machinery access to and from
the bunker without causing damage to the bunker edge or spreading sand beyond
the bunker perimeter. Or providing there is clear definition of the bunker edge, these
points could become part of the bunker.
Bunker access points requiring remediation are at the 4th, 8th, 10th (new point) and
12th LH & RH bunkers.
Sand level
The amount of sand in the majority of bunkers was judged to be satisfactory.
However, in many cases the sand was at the edges and not where it is required – at
the base. Mechanical raking might be an efficient means to level and aerate bunker
sand, but such raking is an inadequate means to maintain an appropriate sand base
level as the sand over time is shifted to the edges either by maintenance practices or
by player activity. Nevertheless, it was found that there are a few bunkers where
additional sand is required.
The specifics are as follows:
1st LH bunker – Requires the sand to be redistributed.
2nd RH bunker – The sand is severely compacted and requires more sand/or
aeration.
3rd RH bunker – This bunker is severely compacted along the left half back
edge and requires more sand/or aeration.
4th bunker – The batter slope (greenside) needs to be increased and the sand
shifted to fill the ball collection point. Sand along the RHS batter should be
moved towards the centre.
5th bunker - Sand along the rear edge requires shifting to the LH centre
(greenside).
6th LH bunker – This bunker requires a load of sand.
6th RH #2 bunker – The RH front is basically clay/soil and requires the sand
to be moved forward to front edge from the bunker’s rear batter.
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7th bunker - Sand level is inadequate and requires a load of sand to increase
the aerated sand level to a minimum of 20mm.
10th bunker – Sand is required at the rear greenside adjacent to the new exit
point.
11th RH bunker – The sand is compacted and requires aeration.
11th Front bunker – Sand needs to be moved from the rear edge to the front.
The loose sand on the RH face needs to be removed.
13th bunker – Requires more sand along the RH side (greenside).
14th LH & RH bunkers – Both bunkers require sand to be moved from the
back edge to the ball collection areas along the front face (greenside).
15th LH #1 & #2 bunkers – Both bunkers require the sand to be shifted from
the rear to the greenside edge facing of the bunker.
16th LH bunker – Requires more sand/or sand shifted from the RH side
(greenside).
17th bunker – Requires some moving of sand from the RH rear edge (fairway
side) to the RH face.
18th LH and RH #1 & #2 bunkers – Requires the sand to be moved around to
provide a consistent sand depth.
Practice bunker – requires the sand to be moved from the rear edge to the
bunker face.
Summary
Bunkers are maintained twice a week (Wednesday & Friday). This maintenance is akin to
greens and fairway mowing as it essentially involves the mechanical raking of sand. No after
activity attention seems to be given to the condition of the sand following the raking or to the
exit points. As the inspection was conducted (coincidently) immediately following the Friday
bunker maintenance, it was observed that there should be more attention to ensuring that
the sand is level and the bunker is in a fair playing condition.
Bunker renovations should be formally scheduled at least twice per year. This will involve:
Trimming the edges;
Reducing bunker edge overhang;
Maintaining the machinery access points;
Removing vegetation growth;
Breaking up compacted sand;
Moving accumulated sand to level the bases;
Adding (where needed) replacement sand; and
Addressing drainage issues.
It is recommended that bunker renovation be included as part of the autumn and spring
renovation programmes, or be formally scheduled for two ’one week’ alternate periods
throughout the year.
Neville Hewett
Chair Grounds and Greens
Stan Ashton
Member Grounds & Greens
1 December 2014
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