Here’s one reason: Bunker construction. All these great liner products — and most of them are great products, because they do exactly what they claim to do — have significantly driven up the cost of rebuilding bunkers. So have the choices in sand type – some costing upwards of $100 per ton delivered. In the old days, supers largely rebuilt bunkers on their own, using local materials. When an architect was brought in, it was usually to make a strategic design change, but it was fairly straightforward and cost-efficient.
Yes, these state-of-the-art liners keep sand on the bunker face and free from migrating dirt, like gangbusters… That white sand is eye-catching, especially when it reflects the sun’s glare!
But is that worth the money? Does that flashed, white sand face affect course strategy? Is that eye candy worth a 90% increase in bunker costs? Does a pristine sand surface really meet the requirements of something that’s supposed to be a hazard?
How long will the liners typically last?
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Ted Fist with SandMat. I would like to address the perceived high cost of bunker renovation. The cost to install a geosynthetic bunker liner will be about $1.05 to $1.25 per square foot, depending on contractor and the grade of product. Is that too expensive? Hopefully, after reading this you will not think so. I believe that using a high-lofted geotextile bunker liner is a wise investment when building or renovating a bunker.
ReplyDeleteBunker renovation projects are capital expenditures. The installation of a liner is part of that investment and it pays for itself in a short period of time. It is no different than the purchase of a new, more efficient furnace or windows for your home. The higher initial cost is offset by future savings.
The capital purchase of bunker liners creates instant savings to operating budgets. They reduce the labor required to repair bunkers after rain events. We estimate ROI to be about 2 to 2.5 year in most parts of the country.
Bunker liners protect any type of sand, regardless of what the sand costs. Bunker liners separate the sand from the subgrade and the liner’s matrix of fibers creates a channel for water to flow. That’s what keeps the sand from flowing down the slopes during a rain event. Water drains through the sand, into the geotextile fabric and then into the internal drainage system of the bunker.
Bunker liners protect the sand from contamination of fines in the subgrade and extend the life expectancy of a bunker. Since the sand is never displaced, the subgrade is never exposed to harsh water flows and the subgrade erosion is prevented. Rain drops fall at 20-30 ft/sec and displace significant amounts of soil due to their impact. Without protection, the subgrade is exposed to erosion and these unwanted fines cause most of the drainage system failures. Bunker liners also prevent gravel from migrating into the sand.
The USGA expects bunker features to last about 7 to 10 years. We really don’t know how long geotextile bunker liners will last. I do know that SandMat in particular is constructed from nonbiodegradable high-tenacity fibers that are bonded with water-insoluble resins. In a perfect world, bunker liners should last indefinitely. However, we know that golf courses are dynamic, and although we can control subgrade contamination, we cannot control dust, grass clippings, and chunks of sod and soil from getting in the bunker sand and ultimately affecting playability and the potential need to renovate again. I do think it’s safe to expect a bunker liner to last 12 to 15 years in a properly designed, constructed and adequately drained bunker.