DIY Bunker in back garden

blackwaterfish · 02-09-2011 3:32pm #1

Ok so i've dug out a circular area in the lawn out the back at home, 2m in diameter, got myself a short length of perforated wavin for a drainage trench along the bottom, on top of which i'll be putting down some inch & half inch pebble, on top of which will go me weed control layer...

.. all i need now is about half a tonne of actual bunker sand.... any ideas anyone on where one would find some?

this is not a joke btw.... although have recieved several funny looks from normal folk ( non-golf nuts ) when asked what i did at the wknd. Youd swear i was building me own disneyland.

Whyner · 02-09-2011 3:49pm

throws funny look at OP...

ANXIOUS · 02-09-2011 3:55pm

Id say a builders provider, would do the job. The finer the sand the better. Goodluck

Adiaga 2 · 02-09-2011 3:56pm

Don't mind the norms OP. Stick with this project, get a friend to film it and call it Bunker of Dreams!

If you build it they will come...

scubapro · 02-09-2011 5:32pm

blackwaterfish wrote: »

Ok so i've dug out a circular area in the lawn out the back at home, 2m in diameter, got myself a short length of perforated wavin for a drainage trench along the bottom, on top of which i'll be putting down some inch & half inch pebble, on top of which will go me weed control layer...

.. all i need now is about half a tonne of actual bunker sand.... any ideas anyone on where one would find some?

this is not a joke btw.... although have recieved several funny looks from normal folk ( non-golf nuts ) when asked what i did at the wknd. Youd swear i was building me own disneyland.

Hahahahahahaha Very funny thread, fair play to ya, I live in a two bed apt, so no chance to build my own practice area, fair play again hahahahahaha, anyway for sand you could try one of the local builders suppliers or for the authentic links touch you could visit the local beach:)

mike12 · 02-09-2011 5:37pm

Or u could do half of it in rough sand and the other stuff in fine sand.
Mike

chalkie 501 · 02-09-2011 5:37pm

Ask the head greenkeeper at your local club where they get it,or ask if you can buy a trailer load of it off them.
dont know how different it is to builders sand

staker · 02-09-2011 5:53pm

I'd imagine Builder's plastering sand will do, I had it in my backyard doing a bit of work and it doubled nicely as a bunker while there..

Just bury in a few half-clay bricks to add that bit of surprise and toughen up the wrists.

blackwaterfish · 02-09-2011 6:55pm

thanks y'all..... i'll throw down some progress pix later

howeva.... bunker sand is not ordinary sand.... its a specific spec.

might give the clubhse a buzz

Opics · 02-09-2011 7:20pm

Knick it from your local club.

The_Architect · 02-09-2011 10:27pm

blackwaterfish wrote: »

thanks y'all..... i'll throw down some progress pix later

howeva.... bunker sand is not ordinary sand.... its a specific spec.

might give the clubhse a buzz

You're complicating things there. Most links courses source their sand from on site. For a 2m diameter home made job, you should just grab a load from Dollymount beach.

Incidentally, what kind of bunker face did you build?

soundsham · 03-09-2011 8:29am

Builders sand will not work in the rain
Go to the beach

WHIP IT! · 03-09-2011 9:52am

soundsham wrote: »

Builders sand will not work in the rain
Go to the beach

Was just gonna say that - builders sand will go clumpy and sludgey in the rain... either go to the beach or see will ur local club sell u a few bags of it.

sweetswing · 03-09-2011 9:54am

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

Don't mind the norms OP. Stick with this project, get a friend to film it and call it Bunker of Dreams!

If you build it they will come...

Id have no problem lashing my balls around that bunker

k.p.h · 03-09-2011 11:56am

I think it's illegal to take sand from the beach.

But it's pretty cool to see someone getting some inspiration from the McIlroy documentary

Kids play sand (sold at most toy stores) is pretty a similar graded type of sand so might be worth a look. :pac:

nocal · 03-09-2011 12:33pm

k.p.h wrote: »

I think it's illegal to take sand from the beach. But it's pretty cool to see someone getting some inspiration from the McIlroy documentary Kids play sand (sold at most toy stores) is pretty a similar graded type of sand so might be worth a look. :pac:

AFAIK you are spot on there.

searay · 03-09-2011 5:21pm

nocal wrote: »

k.p.h wrote: »

I think it's illegal to take sand from the beach. But it's pretty cool to see someone getting some inspiration from the McIlroy documentary Kids play sand (sold at most toy stores) is pretty a similar graded type of sand so might be worth a look. :pac:

AFAIK you are spot on there.

I think you should go talk direct to the greenskeeper at your club and they might even do you a favour. It would mean your bunker would be consistent with your course.

Otherwise,The kids sand is supplied by a company called glenview stones in 25kg bags for around €3.50 per bag through Smyths, garden centres and woodies. You might need quiet a lot so maybe give them a call about a bulk order. Post some pics when it's done.

tayto lover · 03-09-2011 5:46pm

I find that with practicing bunker shots in my back garden the coal goes everywhere.

stockdam · 03-09-2011 8:22pm

Either try The Great Escape method (take a pocket-full every time you play - not recommended) or try these guys......

http://www.wexfordsanddirect.ie/golf-courses-sand.htm

Or Breslin:

jbreslin@unison.ie

phelixoflaherty · 03-09-2011 8:35pm

You should not be practicing bunker shots but the ones that get you into the bunker.

blackwaterfish · 04-09-2011 12:09pm

phelixoflaherty wrote: »

You should not be practicing bunker shots but the ones that get you into the bunker.

yea.... good thinking... reckon i'll throw me putter away and just go for holes in one all the time.

ProV · 04-09-2011 3:48pm

Don't use builders sand, far too heavy when wet. You will need 2mm washed sand, try Breslin Brothers, Brannockstown,Naas.(045483712) If you know someone with a large van/trailer, fill 2 of those big skip bags and you will have a perfect practise bunker.
On the drainage side, make sure you have an outlet for the drainage pipe, ideally into a gutter drain.If your garden is porous you will be fine.

blackwaterfish · 05-09-2011 9:16am

ProV wrote: »

Don't use builders sand, far too heavy when wet. You will need 2mm washed sand, try Breslin Brothers, Brannockstown,Naas.(045483712) If you know someone with a large van/trailer, fill 2 of those big skip bags and you will have a perfect practise bunker.
On the drainage side, make sure you have an outlet for the drainage pipe, ideally into a gutter drain.If your garden is porous you will be fine.

cheers. if my club cant spare me half a tonne i'll give those dudes a call.

the garden's on a slope with bunker located at top so drainage wise it'll be fine.

I'll also be making a cover for it, not for rain/water but several neighbours poxy cats ( whom dont recognize legal boundaries... wtf like!?) who like to use my garden to do lovely swirly designs... those cynical bastrads will love my fluffy sand.

soundsham · 05-09-2011 9:26am

blackwaterfish wrote: »

ProV wrote: »

Don't use builders sand, far too heavy when wet. You will need 2mm washed sand, try Breslin Brothers, Brannockstown,Naas.(045483712) If you know someone with a large van/trailer, fill 2 of those big skip bags and you will have a perfect practise bunker.
On the drainage side, make sure you have an outlet for the drainage pipe, ideally into a gutter drain.If your garden is porous you will be fine.

cheers. if my club cant spare me half a tonne i'll give those dudes a call.

the garden's on a slope with bunker located at top so drainage wise it'll be fine.

I'll also be making a cover for it, not for rain/water but several neighbours poxy cats ( whom dont recognize legal boundaries... wtf like!?) who like to use my garden to do lovely swirly designs... those cynical bastrads will love my fluffy sand.

You could pee all around the edge of it to keep the cats out ......

Or from a bottle full, if your neighbours are prudes !

blackwaterfish · 05-09-2011 12:10pm

believe me, would happily use a shotgun if it came with a silencer.

...and im a tree hugging hippie!... but cat dung is pure concentrated evil.

david · 05-09-2011 2:18pm

Bunker sand isn't builders sand - silt levels are way too high, it'll turn to concrete sludge when you get your first shower of rain. Breslin sand is the best around in my experience. You'll find it tough to get such a small load for reasonable money. Haulage is the biggest expense.

Your 500kg estimate is optimistic.

Bunker spec sand is usually 1.7 tons per cubic meter.

For a bunker 1m Radius, the surface area is 3.14. You want your depth to be at minimum 180mm compacted to 150mm.

3.14x.18 = .5652 cubes

1.7x.5652 = 960kg minimum.

Good Luck!

conno16 · 05-09-2011 3:33pm

k.p.h wrote: »

I think it's illegal to take sand from the beach. But it's pretty cool to see someone getting some inspiration from the McIlroy documentary Kids play sand (sold at most toy stores) is pretty a similar graded type of sand so might be worth a look. :pac:

drive down there at night and load up the boot
it is illegal but sure listen a bootfull or two wont do any major harm
make sure you cover it over tho with a protective layer

Diageo1 · 05-09-2011 6:22pm

Great project, A few Pics of the progress please??????

GreeBo · 06-09-2011 2:44pm

david wrote: »

Bunker sand isn't builders sand - silt levels are way too high, it'll turn to concrete sludge when you get your first shower of rain. Breslin sand is the best around in my experience. You'll find it tough to get such a small load for reasonable money. Haulage is the biggest expense.

Your 500kg estimate is optimistic.

Bunker spec sand is usually 1.7 tons per cubic meter.

For a bunker 1m Radius, the surface area is 3.14. You want your depth to be at minimum 180mm compacted to 150mm.

3.14x.18 = .5652 cubes

1.7x.5652 = 960kg minimum.

Good Luck!

Minimum 15cm of sand? Over half a foot of pure sand? Not in any bunker I've ever been in...

blackwaterfish · 06-09-2011 5:38pm

its justa hole fulla muck at the mo.

however i'll be building a modest bunker face out of the top layer of turf that saved from the dig. see left of pic.

I'll be revetting this along the face, building up the layers, berming up the outer edge to meet it and resowing some seed on top. trying to create a small vertical face ( maybe about a foot higher than adjacent grade)

bunker face should resemble this - on a much much much smaller & modest scale tho.

its justs hole at the mo tho

once finished i have about 15 yards of open garden to pitch into. however, ive a cunning plan regarding a target to hit to.

just looking back at the pix.... lol... looks as rough as a badgers arse at the min!

irish bloke · 06-09-2011 6:35pm

blackwaterfish wrote: »

once finished i have about 15 yards of open garden to pitch into. however, ive a cunning plan regarding a target to hit to.

I hope there is no windows past the 15 yard mark or you might find you will be filling it back in again!!!:)

blackwaterfish · 07-09-2011 8:39am

id be hitting away from the windows. but sure if i managed to somehow slice one to the right out of a bunker and break glass... hardly the end of the world is it? fcuk it.