Adding Sand to Bunkers - UPDATE

Now that the course has healed from aeration, we have finally been able to devote some time to adding new sand to our bunkers.  As per my blog post from a few weeks ago (http://qgolfclub.blogspot.ca/2012/04/bunker-sand.html), we will first be adding sand to the green-side bunkers as they are a bigger priority over the fairway bunkers.  Again, the budget allows for 80 total tonnes of new sand so if there is any left over after completing the green-side bunkers, we will then begin freshening up the fairway bunkers.  Here is a photo taken late yesterday morning of new bunker sand being distributed in the front right green-side bunker on #9:

distributing the new sand in the bunker

There is a common misunderstanding that our bunkers don't have enough sand in them.  This is certainly not the case.  Believe it or not, on average our bunkers have between 6"-12" of sand in them.  The problem is that the sand in our bunkers is old and contaminated and therefore it no longer possesses the physical characteristics and qualities that make up an "ideal" bunker sand.  The playability of it is poor at best.  This misconception is nothing new for older golf courses that are long overdue for a bunker renovation.

Guidelines for bunker sand depths are to aim for 4" of sand in the bellies of the bunkers and 2" along the bunker faces.  Any more than 2" of sand in the bunker faces increases the potential for a ball to "plug" upon impact and not roll down into the belly as it should.  We are constantly surveying the sand depths in our bunkers to ensure that they perform as expected.  Again though, how well or poor our bunkers play is strictly dependent on the quality of the sand in them at this time, not the quantity; I can not stress this point enough.

We hope to have all the green-side bunkers completed by the end of next week.  We started working on the front 9 yesterday and completed #9 and #8.  As the bunkers are being worked on, they are to be considered as Ground Under Repair.  Our Turf Care staff members have been advised to inform golfers of this temporary GUR and signs are being posted around the bunkers as they work in them.