Rakes left in bunker or out of bunker

[Bags]

I say IN IN IN all day everyday

 

 

 

Bags

[MDGolfHacker]

Depends on the course. Some have them outside the bunker, some in it. Regardless where they are at, my ball seems to always nestle up next to them😂🤣

 

MDGolfHacker

[TheWahoo]

My personal preference is rakes outside the bunker because I might get lucky and it will keep my ball from going in the bunker.

[tony@CIC]

I say IN IN IN all day everyday

 

 

 

Bags

IN the bunker for me as well

 

 

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[Bags]

My personal preference is rakes outside the bunker because I might get lucky and it will keep my ball from going in the bunker.

but it could hit rake and kick it in bunker - if rake is in bunker only chance it has is to maybe hit rake and bounce out of bunker - in Ill never change my mind - thnx for your post

 

 

Bags

[STUDque]

Good thread. It would make a nice poll.

 

I say OUT

 

Rakes in the bunker are an absolute eyesore. Plus, if your ball is rolling in the bunker, it has a chance to hop out of the bunker so the last thing you want is a rake to stop the momentum.

 

The ideal place out of the bunker is a few feet in the grass parallel to the hole. It presents the smallest risk to stop your ball (or even knock it in), looks the most presentable, and is still easily within reach for those needing it.

 

You're supposed to rake your footsteps up to the edge anyway so you're already holding the rake outside the bunker once finished with it.

 

 

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[GolfJunkie302]

All depends on the course. Some like to have the rake in, some like to have the rake out, and some like to have the rake half-in, half-out.

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

Went straight to the source on this, even though I already knew the answer.  From our Superintendent, it is a RESOUNDING,...IN the Bunker.   It saves countless minutes on every hole from the maintenance staff while cutting the grass, not to have to stop and get off the mower and move the rake.  For a course with 36 holes and...let's just say lots of bunkers, this can be a huge savings.

 

As for where in the bunker,  near the low end entry point, ideally parallel to the hole on the far side from the fairway.   Also having at least two rakes in some large bunkers, properly placed will encourage "some" golfers to use them more often, if they are too lazy to walk 10 steps to grab it before their shots. 

[Larryw]

I would think the Superintendent is more concerned with his total cost and not how the game of golf is or should be played - maybe rightfully so?

 

The rules of golf do not address the position of rakes in/out of bunkers. However, they have a decision that addresses it and the recommendation is that they should be OUTSIDE of the bunkers. Decision misc-2.

 

Once heard a story about a ball against a rake on a severe side slope of bunker. Player had to take a drop (with penalty) outside the bunker since he could not get it to stay on the slope. Not allowed to "press" it into the sand to make it stay etc. Don't know if the story is true but sounds like an extreme case that would not come up to often. Here is the USGA decision answer:

 

A.

There is not a perfect answer for the position of rakes, but on balance it is felt there is less likelihood of an advantage or disadvantage to the player if rakes are placed outside bunkers.

It may be argued that there is more likelihood of a ball being deflected into or kept out of a bunker if the rake is placed outside the bunker. It could also be argued that if the rake is in the bunker it is most unlikely that the ball will be deflected out of the bunker.

However, in practice, players who leave rakes in bunkers frequently leave them at the side which tends to stop a ball rolling into the flat part of the bunker, resulting in a much more difficult shot than would otherwise have been the case. This is most prevalent at a course where the bunkers are small. When the ball comes to rest on or against a rake in the bunker and the player must proceed under Rule 24-1, it may not be possible to replace the ball on the same spot or find a spot in the bunker which is not nearer the hole – see Decision 20-3d/2.

If rakes are left in the middle of the bunker the only way to position them is to throw them into the bunker and this causes damage to the surface. Also, if a rake is in the middle of a large bunker it is either not used or the player is obliged to rake a large area of the bunker resulting in unnecessary delay.

Therefore, after considering all these aspects, it is recommended that rakes should be left outside bunkers in areas where they are least likely to affect the movement of the ball.

Ultimately, it is a matter for the Committee to decide where it wishes rakes to be placed.

 

 

[PlaidJacket]

Personally I don't think I care. I just wish our club would spring for a few new rakes here and there. So many times and at large bunkers there may only be one freaking rake!! Am I ranting where I shouldn't be ranting?

[downlowkey]

Went straight to the source on this, even though I already knew the answer. From our Superintendent, it is a RESOUNDING,...IN the Bunker. It saves countless minutes on every hole from the maintenance staff while cutting the grass, not to have to stop and get off the mower and move the rake. For a course with 36 holes and...let's just say lots of bunkers, this can be a huge savings.

 

As for where in the bunker, near the low end entry point, ideally parallel to the hole on the far side from the fairway. Also having at least two rakes in some large bunkers, properly placed will encourage "some" golfers to use them more often, if they are too lazy to walk 10 steps to grab it before their shots.

This is accurate all the way around. More specifically positioned like a wagon wheel spoke with the handle of the rake resting on the edge of the bunker. Establishing a regular rake placement in the preferred entry/exit area also helps prevent damage from golfers climbing in/out from the steeply sloped sections and damaging the base.

[revkev]

Out all the way. I know that is preferred by the rules of golf.

 

It creates huge inconsistency in regards to the condition of the bunker to leave them in.

 

The USGA and PGA tour leave them outside of the bunker.

 

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

This is accurate all the way around. More specifically positioned like a wagon wheel spoke with the handle of the rake resting on the edge of the bunker. Establishing a regular rake placement in the preferred entry/exit area also helps prevent damage from golfers climbing in/out from the steeply sloped sections and damaging the base.

yes, I meant to mention the damage from golfers going up and down the steep slope and pushing several pounds of sand out of place down into the bunker. 

 

Out all the way. I know that is preferred by the rules of golf.

 

It creates huge inconsistency in regards to the condition of the bunker to leave them in.

 

The USGA and PGA tour leave them outside of the bunker.

 

 

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Rev, with all respect I know the condition of bunker issue could be argued back and forth on the assumption of how poorly or properly they are placed.   I don't think you can operate under assumption they are going to be misplaced so often it causes damage, I can tell at our course we see a lot more damage form improper entry and exit as DLK mentioned above. 

 

As the USGA and PGA practice, well let's just say there maintenance budget and amount of staff at an event is a bit different than those of us at a public daily fee course 

[hckymeyer]

As a player it's out of the bunker.  There is the small chance it would stop a ball from entering.  There also won't be any disturbed sand from the rake being thrown (I mean very carefully placed so as not to disturb the wonderful rake job you just did) in the bunker.  Plus if my ball is on the opposite side from the rake I don't have to step in to the bunker to retrieve the rake.

 

So as a player, out of the bunker all day.

 

Carolina brought up a great point though, and I'd never considered the saved mowing time from not having to stop and take out 70 rakes from bunkers.  We are a links style course so there are plenty of bunkers and rakes.  If the maintenance staff gave those reasons and asked to put them in the bunker I'd be completely fine with that.  Fortunately our staff continues to leave the rakes outside the bunkers.

[Peaksy68]

I'd prefer out, but I'm not sure how many people would bother to pick it up and rake.

 

Our course it's in, with recommendations to place the rake in the bottom of the bunker, parallel to the hole. The number of times I see the rake place carefully across the edge of the inside off the bunker, perpendicular to the whole drives me crazy. We used to have stickers on the handle telling people where to put them, but they were ignored. I'm forever gently flipping rakes to the bottom of bunkers.

 

The main reason for in is similar to CG2s superintendent's, our thinks similarly and that people won't rake if the rake isn't actually in the bunker. I think they trialled some in some out a few years ago.

[Reesedw]

If anyone who has played Couer d'Alene they ate kept out of the bunker with the handle straight down into a tube with the rake parallel to the hole.. way cool

 

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[e11iot15]

I prefer them out.

 

 

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[JTexGolfer]

I've never seen them left in at the courses I have played here in Texas. The in the bunker argument makes sense but I would be afraid to do it since they are never there down here. Don't want to be the guy trying to change everything up! 

[Flipper554]

I prefer out. Our course has deep bunkers and folks tend to leave them near the edge so you end up with some ugly shots because the ball doesn't feed back into the bunker like it normally does.

[BigtazzGolf]

Like them in the bunkers myself. I've never hit one in a bunker but I have hit a few that sat on the edge of them. And some of those ended up leaving my ball in a bunker.

So leave them in lol

 

 

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[Rusty1885]

I don't mind either ways but when I'm done using it I'd put it down outside.

[Peaksy68]

In Australia I've only seen one course (that I can remember) that has the rakes outside the bunker. It's one of the more exclusive clubs in the country, just down the road from home. They have a yellow "T" sprayed on the ground to mark where the rake should be left, about mid bunker, opposite side to the green or fairway. They don't get a lot of hacker traffic. It seems to work pretty well.

[Golfspy_CG2]

Good topics Bags!! Has had some good comments for both methods.

 

 

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[Kenny B]

Went straight to the source on this, even though I already knew the answer.  From our Superintendent, it is a RESOUNDING,...IN the Bunker.   It saves countless minutes on every hole from the maintenance staff while cutting the grass, not to have to stop and get off the mower and move the rake.  For a course with 36 holes and...let's just say lots of bunkers, this can be a huge savings.

 

As for where in the bunker,  near the low end entry point, ideally parallel to the hole on the far side from the fairway.   Also having at least two rakes in some large bunkers, properly placed will encourage "some" golfers to use them more often, if they are too lazy to walk 10 steps to grab it before their shots. 

I guess it all depends on your staff.  At my muni they mow the grass on Monday morning, but they groom the bunkers every day.  So rakes left in the bunkers have to be taken out each day.  They groom every day because... well, it's a muni and many people don't rake at all.  Rakes are normally out of bunkers, but since there is so much uncertainty about in/out, people do it any way they want.  Personally, I would just like to have a rake somewhere nearby... which doesn't happen much.  

[Rtracymog]

Out

 

 

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[JAGolfore]

I personally like them out of bunkers. I know guys I play with at our course like them in the bunker. It's funny how we can't agree on something like this.

 

But i can understand raked in the bunker for maintenance purposes.

 

 

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[STUDque]

FWIW, I played a course in NJ last year that had a ton of bunkers but not a single rake on the property. They had that "sand" that feels like you're hitting off a fairway.

 

At first I thought I was going crazy not finding any rakes but then I realized they're just not necessary. You can still dig your feet in and hit behind the ball cleanly but only need to kick the dirt around a bit after and it's good as new.

 

 

For groundskeeping and players, I'd say this is the ideal situation but I'm sure it comes at a price.

 

 

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[ddryan]

My personal preference is rakes outside the bunker because I might get lucky and it will keep my ball from going in the bunker.

 

And Wahoo, we know how much you love the sand!!!  Hope you are well my friend!

[revkev]

Carolina - if it means that the rest of the course will be in better condition or that maintenance budgets are reduced I can live with the rake in the bunker.

 

But the question is which it should be. Since it's mentioned in the rules that there's a preference I'm going with that. Particularly since it matches my preference.

 

 

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[Sluggo42]

Out