The anatomy of a bunker

While "Operation Agua"  plods along, we shifted our focus temporarily to tackle the renovation of #14.   After much debate, consideration, research, and a little yelling, we have moved forward and rebuilt, tweaked, and even added bunkers to our toughest par-4.

Obviously, there has been quite a few opinions on the plan.  Thank you to all who attended the informational meeting to voice said opinions.  My own opinion is irrelevant, but frankly I think everything came out great.  Some classic features of the hole were preserved, updated, and accentuated, and some new features were added to give the hole more modern, strategic (and even penal) value.  Aesthetically, there will be rolling lines and shadow faces which will offer tremendous visual appeal.  From a playability standpoint, there are some great new features and nuances that will add some new strategies and options for higher handicaps and our better players.  Yes, I said my opinion was irrelevant, but this is my blog, so you have to listen.  

The one opinion of mine that is relevant and most important is this: We performed the work correctly.  Regardless of your opinion of the placement and design, the bunkers were built, drained, and shaped properly.  They will be better to maintain, more consistent, and infinitely re-buildable.  Grades were shot on every contour to make sure surface water moved in the correct direction.  They were done right.  We have an excellent professional golf course architect and hired one of the best golf course shapers in the business today to do the dirt work.  Your maintenance staff did the rest, with great attention to detail.  If there is one upside to doing a great deal of the work in-house, we are really good at trying not to create extra work for ourselves down the road.  In other words, we strive to get it right the first time. 

So if you have been avoiding the cold weather and haven't made it to the club in awhile, below are a few photos of the process and the result.  I evidently suck at taking cohesive photographs showing a natural progression of work, so enjoy these semi-random photos of the work and I will explain them as best I can.  

So far, those that have seen the result have reacted positively.  I know I did.

The BEFORE - Our goals were to 1. Renovate the bunkers with drainage, new sand, and rebuilt faces 2. Open up this narrow approach in order to offer strategic options and improve playability.  3.  Make the hole more aesthetically pleasing

Another "BEFORE" - you could drive a Mack truck between the green and approach.  We wanted to get the bunker up next to the green where it belonged.

When Shawn saw this natural "valley" on the back left, it was just screaming for us to punch a bunker here.  It would offer improved aesthetics as well as protection for dicey back left pins.

We decided to work counterclockwise around the green.  Step one- the maintenance staff removed all sod from the area of disturbance.  Step 2- fill in the front right bunker and create the new "bailout"/collection/run-up area. 

Once the bunker was filled, Shawn and our construction super developed a strategy.  Javier and I worked together on my last golf construction job over 10 years ago.  He is one of the best in the biz and it was a pleasure working with him again.   

Once the right bunker was filled in and collection area completed the front right bunker was turned into a back-right bunker.  It's objective is to collect errant run-ups and protect the newly expanded back right corner of the green.

The shaper Fernando was one of the best operators I have ever worked with.  He was fast, efficient, and paid great attention to detail.  I hope he will build every new bunker we ever do here at HMGC.

The new collection area where the bunker used to be and the new bunker location.  This low area will become fairway that will offer some really fun and new shots to be played on the hole.  Also, the fairway will run dangerously close to the edge of the bunker which should swallow up errant or overly aggressive running shots.

While all the shaping was going on and once the sod was stripped, it was time for our crew to start cutting in drainage.

Your maintenance staff hard at work doing all of the detail work.

The biggest obstacle our bunkers face towards being consistent is lack of drainage.  No more problems here. 

In the blink of an eye, Fernando had the back left bunker knocked out too.  The crew had it compacted and ready for sod.

Time to remove the sand and get going on the front bunker.  This was only day two and 1 bunker was gone and two new had already been finished.  I cannot say enough about the proficiency and care with which this crew worked.  

Another blink and the front bunker is shaped.  Notice that the high face was kept and moved closer to the green.  An homage to the old bunker but closer to the green and a little deeper.

Compacting the bunker bottoms.

What would a blog post be without comments about trees.  My glove is in what is about to become fairway.  Those sticks around my glove are tree roots from the pin oak in the background.  We are well outside the drip line of the tree.  These roots would cause havoc for this part of the fairway were it to remain.  Not to mention it hides all our work on the left side and someday will obstruct the green itself.  Also, positioned right next to the cart path, it makes an already stressed, high traffic area struggle even more.  It's gotta go!  

With the rough sod laid it was time to start rebuilding the new fairway lines.  Sod was removed from the start of #10 fairway.  There is no reason a fairway should run all the way up to the front of the tee box.  We have about 50 yards of unnecessary fairway cut.  Using it will have an added benefit of opening up traffic paths for the Marathon.

This sod is where the old bunker used to be.  We added about 8-10 feet of flat run-up.  The intention was to protect the left side of the green from the spine to the left edge.

This is thursday.  It was miserable, rainy, cold, and just plain wet all day.  Your maintenance staff busted their ass transplanting almost 6000 square feet of fairway sod from the start of #10.  NOTE how the fairway runs right into the bunker!  Should swallow up some failed recovery or run-up shots.  And you thought we were making it easier.

You used to be able to drive a Mack truck between the green and the bunker, now you can barely get a golf cart in there.  Also, the collar is pitched towards the green which will punish short shots to tight front pins.

Another look at the BEFORE.  Narrow neck, bunkers almost pushed up in an unnatural look and few strategic options on our longest par-4.

The AFTER :The end of Day 4.  There is no sand in the bunkers yet, so their aesthetic impact can't be fully realized just yet.  The new collection/run-up points straight to the new back bunker.  Once sand is added, I think the back left bunker will jump right out.  Check it out in person and you will see all the small contours, creative lines, and natural feel.  Much more nuanced, strategic,  and aesthetically pleasing.

We did get a tremendous amount of work done in only 4 days but we still have quite a bit of finish work remaining to complete the project.  Unfortunately, the cold weather looks like it will be bearing down on us soon.  We will tidy things up as soon as we can in hopes you may get to play it before the season is over.

I hope this is the start of a great journey for our club.

Cheers!