#7 Bunker

 

This week we started yet another project--the much needed rebuilding of #7 bunker.  From outside, the bunker appears large, but when you are down in it and walk from one end to the other, its enormity truly becomes apparent.  Of course, when a single bunker is 1/3 of an acre, this makes sense. 

The rebuilding process has several steps to it.  To start, the existing sand was scraped down and used for re-grading, or removed from the bunker.  Next, the entire bunker was re-edged to a depth of 7" to allow for the barrier material and new sand.  We then addressed the two grass islands in the bunker, chopping down and hauling away the existing vegetation, then softening the slopes of the mounds.   As these mounds will be converted to Fescue, we incorporated many loads of sand into them with a rototiller to provide a good growing medium for this turf.

The next step is the drainage.  The old, contaminated drainage was dug up, and replaced.  A fresh bed of pea gravel is placed in the trench under the plastic drain pipe, followed by the perforated pipe, and then more pea gravel to the surface.



The crew begins to address the bunker drainage as Apollo takes a cool dip.

A new and unique process will be used to prevent contamination of the new sand by the sub-soil.  We'll discuss this in depth as the project progresses.

While this project is going on, the bunker should be considered "Ground Under Repair."  Based on play and our activity during the construction process, we may either: 1) relocate the tee markers on #7 so you're not hitting over the bunker, or 2) create a temporary par 3 on #9, with two cups in the green.

We apologize for any temporary inconvenience, but feel certain that the finished product will be well worth it.


Buster and new crew member, Thor, watch as sand is rototilled into the grass mound.