Returning bunkers to the hazards players love to hate

Ever since sheep stamped down the grass from the lee side of dunes on the ancient links grounds, bunkers have been the classic hazards of our beloved sport. Over time, however, the perfectly machine-raked, mostly level bunker floors which prevail today have lessened the hazard function making bunker shots repeatable and easy. Sadly, skilled players often prefer to play from a greenside bunker instead of from a grassy hollow.

As a player and golf course architect, I see this absurd development in bunker design as detrimental to the way golf was meant to be played – and should still be played.

When I design a golf course layout, I prefer creating bunkers with slightly concave floors. This prompts players to need different stances: uphill, downhill, above or below the ball – so have to adapt their technique and use different skills. As a consequence, getting up and down in two shots is far less promising than from the regular even lie.

Placement of bunkers

For greenside bunkers, a sound and fair design strategy is to have a wider open entrance for the low-running balls from longer regular approach shots, thus positioning the bunker(s) parallel to the greenside or defending just a small proportion of the green. The shorter the regular approach shot, the higher the defended green proportion may be. In these cases, I advise at least a small entrance remains open for the low-running balls of weaker players.

Fairway bunkers should be positioned out of reach for lesser, weaker players and in the distance for better players. Less able players have more problems with hazards around the greens because they need to play from a much greater distance and use longer clubs for their approach shots. Placing fairway bunkers to defend the longhitter tee shots of better players is a fair strategy to balance a golf course’s degree of difficulty.

Hole strategy

The strategy of a hole is normally enhanced by positioning a fairway bunker in the inner angle of a dogleg. This forces the player to make choices: carrying the bunker, laying up short of it or playing a precise drive through the narrowed fairway gap. Another design ‘trick’ to create options is to place bunkers on both sides of the fairway at different distances, duplicating the strategic challenges which players have to take on.

A golf course layout which gives options provides players with challenges, creates an interesting course with individual character to each hole and contributes to player enjoyment and the overall quality of the golf course.

Final thoughts

My credo in bunker design is: “Less is more”.

There are too many courses with an abundance of bunkers – generally 30-50 are sufficient for a well-designed golf course layout – which make for a boring game and a course lacking in character. An experienced and qualified golf course architect understands and appreciates that one well-placed bunker can make a hole, too many can break it.

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