The most common criticism concerning course conditions at Hidden Glen is the quality of the bunkers, specifically the amount of stones within the bunkers and their lack of consistency. Both of these concerns are valid, but unfortunately do not have an easy solution.
When the course was constructed, all bunkers were built using the same sand. Over time, varying conditions in each bunker have caused the sand to become contaminated and degrade at different rates. The amount of organic debris from grass clippings and leaves, the introduction of the underlying clay, and varying moisture levels all play a role in the contamination. The majority of small stones in the bunkers have migrated up from the underlying drain lines that run below the sand.
Recently, the golf course maintenance staff has replaced the sand in a few of the small bunkers on the course that were almost unplayable. All existing sand and small stones were removed, the drain was checked for proper function, and new sand was added. Staff completed the pot bunkers on 5 (front and left of green), 8 (front of green), 9 (front of green), and 17 (2 right of green). The installation of sand was expedited using the conveyer arm on our Dakota 440 material handler. This is the same machine that we use to apply sand topdressing to tees, approaches and fairways. Until the sand has a chance to settle and become more firm, expect some soft, fried egg lies. This is unavoidable and will improve over time.
While only a complete bunker renovation will solve the problem, the quantity and size of the bunkers at Hidden Glen make this a very costly project. Until a project of this scale occurs, staff will continue to employ all tools in our arsenal to make the bunkers as consistent as possible including varying raking techniques, checking sand depths, removing stones, and adding sand.