Stones in bunkers

John Divney

Played Castleknock today, first time, cracking course. Anyway, on the 8th, par 5, playing out of the greenside bunker, and I strike a stone that effectively made the shot akin to trying to play a bunker shot off concrete, club bounced of it (sand was damp, and stone was immovable iunder wet sand), ball ends up on the right edge of the bunker somehow, I've a dreadful stance, don't get up and down, cursing like a docker.

Watching the highlights of the walker cup, beautiful course (Links of America) but one of the yanks has to pick up a whopper rocks in the bunker (local rule) because there were so many of them.

I think the one in Castleknock was a rogue one the course had more groundsmen out than I have seen probably, no slight on the course, it's in top shape.

My question is should there be stones, in bunkers, is it acceptable because it's a hazard? The walker cup ones were so visible from the camera they were ridiculous.

For us hackers, They utterly destroy wedge grooves, which these days are 100 euro purchases.

PARlance

John Divney wrote: »

Played Castleknock today, first time, cracking course. Anyway, on the 8th, par 5, playing out of the greenside bunker, and I strike a stone that effectively made the shot akin to trying to play a bunker shot off concrete, club bounced of it (sand was damp, and stone was immovable iunder wet sand), ball ends up on the right edge of the bunker somehow, I've a dreadful stance, don't get up and down, cursing like a docker.

Watching the highlights of the walker cup, beautiful course (Links of America) but one of the yanks has to pick up a whopper rocks in the bunker (local rule) because there were so many of them.

I think the one in Castleknock was a rogue one the course had more groundsmen out than I have seen probably, no slight on the course, it's in top shape.

My question is should there be stones, in bunkers, is it acceptable because it's a hazard? The walker cup ones were so visible from the camera they were ridiculous.

For us hackers, They utterly destroy wedge grooves, which these days are 100 euro purchases.

Couldn't believe the amount of stones in bunkers at the Walker Cup.
Our club has a local rule in place, but even at that, I always thought it poor form that there are so many of them in it.
Seeing the Walker Cup having to contend with it, I felt a little better, if they can't sort it out there I shouldn't be too fussed about the local course.

Surely it should be a relatively easy thing to fix, is there that much of a difference in buying a better grade of sand?

The Architect might be the man to give some insight into it. I am guessing I'm missing something, to me, it should be an easy fix.

John Divney

ajcurry123 wrote: »

Couldn't believe the amount of stones in bunkers at the Walker Cup.
Our club has a local rule in place, but even at that, I always thought it poor form that there are so many of them in it.
Seeing the Walker Cup having to contend with it, I felt a little better, if they can't sort it out there I shouldn't be too fussed about the local course.

Surely it should be a relatively easy thing to fix, is there that much of a difference in buying a better grade of sand?

The Architect might be the man to give some insight into it. I am guessing I'm missing something, to me, it should be an easy fix.

Little ones fair enough, but actual rocks, the shot today threw me for six. It was like when you throw a shovel into the ground and crack across a rock just bounced off it., thankfully was just me and my old man so I could eef and blind all the way to the next tee box.

I took it poorly lol

RGS

Always look at the local rules printed on the scorecard. It will mention if you can remove stones in bunkers.

Its the first thing i do when visiting a new course.

John Divney

RGS wrote: »

Always look at the local rules printed on the scorecard. It will mention if you can remove stones in bunkers.

Its the first thing i do when visiting a new course.

Yes, but it's the ones you can't see that can be the problem.