1. Bunker Maintenance and Bunker Renovations
Mark Kingora Golf Course Manager Golf Course Superintendent Bethesda Country Club

2. Early bunker maintenance begins in late winter or early spring
Early bunker maintenance begins in late winter or early spring. A simple depth check is performed to insure that the sand depth is consist at 4 inches throughout each bunker.

3. A standard soil probe is marked at 4 inches and is used to check the sand depth. During this pre-season check, we typically discover that sand depths vary where the depths are usually less than 4 inches nearest to the green and depths are usually greater than 4 inches in the low areas or farthest away from the green, which is normal due to water flow and normal raking. Any areas of a bunker with excess sand above 4 inches is re-distributed to areas that need additional sand. When sand cannot be moved within the bunkers to maintain the consistent depth, additional new sand is purchased and added as needed.

4. Bunker Maintenance Process
Begins in late winter or early spring
A simple depth check is performed to insure that the sand depth is consist at 4 inches throughout each bunker.
Re-distribute sand or add new sand
Periodic depth checks
- In heavily concentrated collection areas
- After heavy rainfall
Maintenance raking is normally 5 times/week
Grass bunker face mowing is weekly during the growing season

5. Factors affecting bunker playability
Weather
- Rain makes the sand heavy and compacted
- Golf balls don’t bury
- May appear that sand is too shallow
- Dry conditions make the sand fluffy
- Golf balls may bury (“fried egg”)
- May appear sand is too deep
- Normally does not occur because of irrigation
2. Irrigation can have the same affect as rain

6. Bunker Renovations
Bunker Face Re-grassing
Bunker Sand Replacement

7. Bunker Face Re-grassing
First, the sand is pulled away from the edge approximately 3-6 feet to give ample room to work. Soil was added to this greenside part of this bunker so that the grass face could be re-built and to reduce the 12 inch depth of sand on the perimeter to a 2 -4 inch taper to reduce the likelihood of plugged balls.

8. Some of this sand was re-distributed throughout the bunker to maintain a consistent 4” depth.

9. Sand Splash
Several of the last photos also represents sand buildup from 20 years of bunker shots or “sand splash.”

11. Three to six feet of the surrounding turf was removed and replaced with zoysiagrass as was specified in Arthur Hills golf course re-design from the early 1990’s.
Zoysiagrass was chosen due to it’s ability to withstand drier, sandy soil conditions and shorter mowing heights.
Zoysia also has a great brown/tan contrasting color to the white sand and the dark green grasses throughout the golf course in the fall through early spring.

12. Soil was added to reconstruct the bunker face and edge.

13. Sod or turf was removed between the bunker and the green and the soil was lowered a foot to its original elevation.

14. All reconstructed areas are compacted with a vibratory plate tamper to stabilize the soil.

16. The sand is being redistributed for a consistent 4” depth
The sand is being redistributed for a consistent 4” depth. The mechanical rake has a plow attachment to aide in this process.

17. Vibratory Plate Tamper
The vibratory plate tamper is also used on the sand to minimize plugged “fried egg” lies in the bunker.

19. Completed, number 8 greenside bunkers
Completed, number 8 greenside bunkers. These three bunkers were completed in 3 days.

20. Local Rule
Please follow the Local Rule for all renovated bunkers. It is a mandatory drop from all new sod marked with white paint.
It will take 4-6 weeks to establish the turf. Bunkers that are renovated include all on #7 and #8, plus the fairway bunkers on #10 and #15.
Please do not walk up the steep, greenside face of the grass bunker surrounds and keep all traffic on the new sod to a minimum.

21. Bunker Sand Replacement
Our most recent Bunker renovations were completed in 2006
Bunker sand usually last 5-7 years
All bunkers have been evaluted
Bunker Sand Replacement Project
Complete replacement of the sand
Left bunker on #15 green
Left front bunker on #18 green
Possibly the right bunker on #14 green
Partial replacement of the sand
Remove top contaminated layer
Add new sand to the 4” depth
Add sand to the 4” depth as needed

22. Most bunkers fall into the categories of partial sand replacement or just a need for additional sand.
Our goal is to extend the life of the bunkers from 5-7 years to years.
We will evaluate the bunkers annually and may repeat this process in 3 or 4 years to even further extend the life of the bunkers and reduce the need of major bunker reconstruction.