Bunkers/Bunker Raking
Gordon and I have complied a couple of short video clips on how we(greenstaff) rake our bunkers and how we would like to see members rake them too.
View video clip 1 -
Step 1 - Gordon starts by lightly raking the sand from the face of the bunker down towards the base, this is to prevent plugballs in the face of the bunker.
Step 2 - As he finishes raking from the face he then proceeds to rake in a light pushing motion ensuring the sand from the face is level and the correct amount distributed around the middle(base) of the bunker.
Step 3 - Once raking is complete he leaves the rake half in, half out of the bunker and not in the line of play. By doing so a ball that enters the bunker will not be obstructed by the rake, leaving the ball close to the edge of the bunker will restrict your back swing.
View video clip 2 -
Gordon has placed his ball in a popular spot in the bunker, he plays his shot extremely well and proceeds to rake his footprints in a push and pull motion to level off the sand taking care, he is not pulling sand towards the back edge of the bunker. Raking sand in a push and pull motion will contain the sand in the middle of the bunker until the quantity falls below the correct depth therefore requiring a top up by greenstaff.
As we all know our bunkers are now in need of repair/reconstruction. Myself and the greens committee are currently are finalising our winter programme for 2013/14 of which bunkers are on the agenda. If reconstruction is the way forward then this will require to be done over a period of 3-5 year programme assuming our greenstaff are involved, remembering drainage is still our priority.
Thank you
Douglas McIntosh
