Bunker Renovation this fall

 

This video does a wonderful job of showing the history of the bunkers at Highlands CC.  In 1998, the bunkers were constructed with a native soil bottom in which sand was quickly contaminated.  In 2004, they were rebuilt to the Billy bunker spec which included a 2" layer of gravel and a textile liner.  Now, this fall, we are rebuilding to the Better Billy spec, which has NO liner but a 2" layer of gravel covered with an adhesive developed by DOW. 

The new bunkers will contain a new sand known as a tour angular bunker sand that has far better playability characteristics compared to the SP55 bunker sand mined in Spruce Pine, NC.  It contained too many fine particles, causing the sand to harden like concrete.  There is no question our bunkers are very weak.  Any bunker that is over 10 years old will be very weak.  The USGA says the life of a bunker is 5 years.  However, our new sand will be great and your opinion of our bunkers is sure to change.