In the Article Bunkers: Can your golf course afford them? Jim Moore the author discusses the issues that surround bunkers. The issue are bunkers becoming less about their appearance and more about cutting costs for golf courses. He believes that they are becoming more about cutting cost for the golf course. You can still have a beautiful golf course and beautiful bunkers even without spending the time and money on them.
Many of the top golf courses have been maintaining their bunkers to raise the question are they still hazards? With the sand being the same depth, the face being compacted so no ball gets plugged. They are becoming less of a challenge because of the way they are manicured. Some golf courses spend 200 man-hours a week working on bunkers. They are spending more money on bunkers than greens. By spending so much money on the bunkers something had to be cut off the budget.
Maintenance on bunkers is in a decline based on the time and amount of money it takes to make them look so well manicured. With the challenge out of the bunkers for the players it becomes less of a hazard. By lowering the maintenance on bunkers this will bring back in some of those factors that made them a hazard to begin with. Courses cannot find the money to hire enough staff to look after their bunkers the way the PGA tour likes them. So be prepared your next lie in a bunker could be a fried egg!
