Geoff Shackelford: Sand Blasting
In his column for the Fall 2024 issue of LINKS Magazine, Geoff Shackelford writes that bunkers are supposed to be hazards, not hell holes.
Donut Greens: 5 Holes with Bunkers on the Putting Surface
When George Thomas designed Riviera Country Club’s championship layout during the late 1920s, he introduced a unique element that gave the course instant notoriety: a pot bunker set smack dab in the middle of the par-three 6th hole’s putting surface. Since then, the design feature has been replicated in other parts of the country (and […]
7 Golf Holes with Tremendous Amounts of Sand
“A water hazard is like an airplane crash, [if you hit your ball into one] there’s no hope,” Rees Jones once said. “Being in a bunker is like being in a car crash,” he continued. “There’s a chance of survival.” There’s sound logic in the 82-year-old’s perspective, but its degree of truth can fluctuate from […]
Golf’s Boldest Bunkers
Golf’s boldest bunkers belong to Royal Melbourne A bemused smile would crease my face every time PGA-Championship-winner-turned-broadcaster Dave Marr described a par four or par five on TV as “a good driving hole.” What exactly did he mean? The same goes for an expression: “Bold bunkering.” Does that infer the most artistic bunkers? The most […]
6 Design Traits of Residential Community Golf Courses
What architects do—and don’t do—when creating residential community golf courses It’s hardly a revelation to say that golf course architects are charged with delivering attractive, compelling designs with every new course they construct. In the case of courses for residential communities, however, there are some different considerations at play. Because each development is unique, requiring […]
The Conundrum of Centerline Bunkers
Redundant and poorly managed trees cop most of the criticism aimed at golf courses these days, but another feature many don’t care for is the bunker located in the middle of the fairway, known nowadays as “centerline” bunkers. Professionals regard them with total disdain because they swallow apparently good shots. Architect Bill Coore remembers the […]
The Old Course’s Baddest Bunkers
When Tiger Woods won his first Open Championship in 2000 at the Old Course at St. Andrews, people marveled at his 8-shot margin of victory. But what’s arguably more impressive is the fact that not once during the four days did he hit into a bunker. This would be remarkable on any golf course, but […]
7 of the Strangest Bunkers in Golf
For almost 50 years, golfers have encountered (or avoided) a greenside bunker at the par-three 6th hole at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course that’s shaped like Mickey Mouse’s head. It is, quite literally, “Mickey Mouse golf.” The iconic and ironic bunker was completely rebuilt in 2017 and shortly thereafter two more Mickey-shaped bunkers were added at […]
Characters: Bunker Shaper Jeff Bradley
Bunker shaper Jeff Bradley plays the excavator with a musician’s touch You’d better be good at your craft if your job is to make Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw look like geniuses in the field. Jeff Bradley shapes the bunkers that have made courses like Cuscowilla, Talking Stick, Old Sandwich, Friar’s Head, Bandon Trails, Chechessee […]
How Bunkers Show the Evolution of Golf Course Architecture
To understand how golf course architecture has evolved, just look at bunkers Don’t plan on a discussion about Donald Ross’s bunkers being a quick one, especially if you’re talking with architect Ron Forse. After two hours on the phone with the Ross-renovation specialist (well over 50 courses, plus others by Seth Raynor, A.W. Tillinghast, William […]
