Sand Depth & Moisture

  • Maintain Sand Depths: Maintain minimum sand depths at all times for consistent playability.
  • The Ideal Profile: Target a 1/4-inch (6mm) dry surface over firm, moist sand.
  • Wet Areas: If bunker floors stay wet, add 1 inch of sand to that specific
    zone to improve consistency.
  • Routine Probing: Regularly check and audit sand depths.

Edging Best Practices

  • Establishment: Allow surrounding turf to encroach slightly into the sand during the first season so roots can establish securely.
  • Approved Method: Edge exclusively into the sand using a string trimmer (or approved herbicides like Specticle Total on cool-season grasses) to achieve a clean, thatched look.
  • Soil Boundary: Never cut back into native soil. Keep a minimum sand depth along all edges to protect the drainage layer during trimming.

Annual Sand Addition

  • Budget Annually: Wind erosion and regular play naturally deplete sand over time. Budget for routine annual top-offs to maintain required depths and refresh the playing surface.

What to Avoid

  • Aggressive Tools: Do not use reciprocators, shovels, or mechanical edgers. They can easily strike and damage the drainage layer.
  • Exposed Soil: Prevent native soil from contacting or spilling into the bunker. Soil migration causes sand contamination and ruins drainage percolation.
Edge after 6 months of established growth
Roots are able to establish into sand eliminating contamination
A string trimmer is the approved method oftrimming edges
Edge after string trimming. Sod is stillestablished into sand

Sand Firmness Over Time

  • Natural Compaction: Sand naturally compacts and plays firmer months and years after installation.
  • Outside Contamination: While the drainage layer prevents subgrade contamination, outside debris (dust, dirt, grass clippings) will still enter, reducing percolation and increasing firmness.
  • Slope Stability: For exceptionally fast-draining sands, slight outside contamination can actually be beneficial, making sand easier to pack and stabilize on steep slopes.

Adjusting Playing Conditions

To Achieve Firmer Conditions

  • Minimize Disturbance: Limit deep mechanical disruption of the sand profile.
  • Aussie Method: Use rollers, squeegees, or brooms instead of traditional rakes on bunker slopes.
  • Routine Irrigation: Run dedicated irrigation or misting cycles to keep moisture locked in.

To Achieve Softer Conditions

  • Aggressive Raking: Use deep, aggressive raking techniques to loosen compacted sand.
  • Equipment Upgrades: Use normal hand rakes, short 1-inch tines on mechanical raking units, or specialized "Wizard" rakes.
  • Reduce Water: Cut back on irrigation cycles to let the surface dry out and fluff up.

Rolling Bunker Edges

Rolling bunker edges packs the sand firmly, significantly reducing routine grooming maintenance while ensuring golf balls naturally collect in the raked bottom areas.

Leaf Rake Attachment

Using a leaf rake attachment effectively smooths the bunker surface and creates an excellent visual finish without tilling up the underlying compacted sand, preserving a firm and consistent playing surface.

Drying

To manage moisture extremes, prevent buried lies in deep dry sand by hand watering, compacting, or applying wetting agents; conversely, eliminate wet bunker bottoms and algae by increasing sand depths to elevate the playing surface.

Raking

Hand-rake edges to prevent soil contamination and use toothed leaf rakes to aerate sand, dry wet spots, and deter algae. Avoid deep cultivation, plows, and scarifying blades, which cause fried egg lies and risk damaging the drainage layer. Save labor by raking on an "as-needed" basis or grooming footprints only to maintain a firm, consistent playing base.

Other Tips

  • Modern bunker construction methods (such as Better Billy Bunker) provide “low maintenance” bunkers. There is no such thing as “no maintenance” bunkers!
  • Create an annual program which removes any significant contamination
  • Budget for a few loads of maintenance sand annually – sand can exit bunkers many ways - extensive play, wind, etc. This sand needs to be replenished
  • A bit of care combined with a solid annual maintenance program will ensure quality bunkers for many years