Methods and apparatus for reducing sand erosion in golf course bunkers

An improved apparatus for reducing sand erosion caused by water impinging upon and soaking into sloped zones of a golf course bunker having a layer of sand disposed atop a substrate layer and including an upper lip, a water fall line and a bunker bottom, said golf course bunker including within the substrate layer

• (i) an upper drain trough disposed adjacent an upper portion of the bunker sloped area and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line,
• (ii) at least one intermediate trough disposed down-slope from the first trough and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line of the golf course bunker, and
• (iii) a bottom drain trough disposed substantially at the bunker bottom;
• said apparatus comprising:
• drainage means for draining said respective upper, intermediate and bottom troughs, said drainage means containing substantially upwardly directed aperture means for receiving the impinging water within each of said upper, intermediate and bottom drainage means;
• and
• connecting means for operatively interconnecting said respective drainage pipes to reduce substantially the amount of water contained within
• the sand of each of the respective upper, intermediate and bottom areas of the golf course bunker.

A golf course bunker having improved characteristics resistance to sand erosion caused by water impinging upon and soaking thereinto, said golf course bunker comprising:

• an upper lip portion including a sloped zone and a bunker bottom portion, and at least one water fall line area defining a sloped zone therebetween, each of said upper lip, at least one water fall line area and bunker bottom comprising a substrate layer and a layer of sand disposed atop said substrate layer, said substrate layer having formed therewithin
• (i) an upper drain trough disposed adjacent an upper portion of the bunker sloped zone and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to one of said water fall line areas,
• (ii) at least one intermediate trough disposed down-slope from the first trough and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to one of said water fall line areas of the golf course bunker, and
• (iii) a bottom drain trough disposed substantially at said bunker bottom;
• and
• respective drainage pipes containing substantially upwardly directed apertures for receiving the impinging water disposed within each of said upper, intermediate and bottom drain troughs;
• a drain pipe connector operatively connecting said respective drainage pipes to drain, the impinging water from each of said respective upper, intermediate and bottom portions of the golf course bunker;
• and
• a vacuum source operatively connected to one of said drainage pipes.

An improved method for reducing sand erosion caused by water impinging upon and soaking into sloped zones of a golf course bunker having a layer of sand disposed atop a substrate layer and including an upper lip, at least one water fall line and a bunker bottom, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming within the substrate layer
• (i) an upper drain trough disposed adjacent an upper portion of the bunker sloped area and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the waterfall line,
• (ii) at least one intermediate trough disposed down-slope from the first trough and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line of the golf course bunker, and
• (iii) a bottom drain trough disposed substantially at the bunker bottom;
• (b) disposing respective drainage pipes containing substantially upwardly directed apertures for receiving the impinging water within each of said upper, intermediate and bottom drain troughs;
• (c) operatively interconnecting said respective drainage pipes;
• and applying a vacuum to one of said operatively interconnected drainage pipes to drain the impinging water from each of the respective upper, intermediate and bottom areas of the golf course bunker at a drainage outlet.