# US 2018/0021654 A1 · Golf course sand bunker with liner and method of making the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021654 A1 - Document ID: US20180021654A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/723,621 - Filed: 2017-10-03 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-06 - Assignees: Bunkersplus LLC - Applicants: BunkersPlus LLC - Inventors: Mark Doble; Eric Doble; Bryan Doble; Kip Wolfe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021654A1 ## CPC - A63B 57/50: specially adapted for course maintenance - E01C 13/02: Foundations, e.g. with drainage or heating arrangements {(E01C13/003, E01C13/083, E01C13/10 take precedence; drainage of soil E02B11/00)} - E01C 13/06: Pavings made in situ, {e.g. for sand grounds, clay courts E01C13/003}, (E01C13/08, E01C13/10 take precedence) - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) ## Abstract A stabilized course sand bunker and method of making the same is disclosed. The soil making up the bunker is contoured and stabilized so that it is in the form of a pit having a downward angularly extending keyway surrounding the opening at the top edge of the pit. A semi-solid precursor material is applied over the pit and keyway and allowed to cure to form a barrier liner having a flanged anchoring portion for location under some additional soil and turf grass. Bunker sand is disposed over the barrier liner. The barrier liner when cured enables water in the bunker to pass through it, is sufficient flexible to dampen and absorb the impact of a golf ball strike, all the while stabilizing and protecting the edge of the bunker where the turf grass meets the sand in the bunker. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stabilized golf course bunker in a desired configuration, said bunker being configured to be covered with sand and comprising: soil and a surrounding landscape in said desired configuration of the bunker having turf, an opening, a top edge, a keyway surrounding said opening at said top edge, an interior surface including sides and a floor formed by compacted soil, and a hinge point located between said key way and said sides, said sides having a downward sloping grade immediately adjacent said hinge point, said key way extending at an acute angle to said grade of said sides inside said bunker, said turf being located above said key way and extending to said hinge point; and a barrier liner formed by a curable semi-solid barrier material applied on said floor, said sides and up and over said top edge for a predetermined distance on said key way and under a portion of said turf surrounding said opening of said bunker, said barrier liner having a thickness at said key way which is greater than a thickness of said barrier liner at said sides, said barrier liner being configured to cure and thereafter be covered with bunker sand to complete said bunker, whereupon said barrier liner enables water to percolate therethrough to reduce water accumulation in said bunker and is sufficiently flexible to dampen or absorb impact when a golf ball hits said bunker. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 1, wherein said curable semi-solid barrier material comprises a mixture of a dry binding agent, lightweight aggregate and water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 1, wherein said barrier liner includes an outer surface at said sides and floor and wherein said barrier liner additionally comprises a thin layer of finishing sand fixedly secured to said outer surface of said barrier liner at said sides and floor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 3, additionally comprising bunker sand disposed over said thin layer of finishing sand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance is approximately 4 to 6 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 1, wherein said thickness of said barrier liner at said key way is in a range of ¾ to 1 inch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 1, wherein said thickness of said barrier liner at said sides is in a range of ⅝ to ¾ inch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 1, wherein said thickness of said barrier liner at said sides is in a range of ⅝ to ¾ inch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 1, additionally comprising an opening at said floor in fluid communication with a drain pipe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The stabilized golf course bunker of claim 9, wherein said drain pipe is disposed in gravel. ### Claim 11 A method of stabilizing and lining a golf course bunker to be covered with sand comprising the steps of: a. preparing soil of the golf course by forming said soil and surrounding landscape into a desired configuration of a bunker having an opening, a top edge, a lip surrounding said opening, a floor, sides and turf surrounding said opening, said sides having a downward sloping grade; b. grading said top edge and said lip surrounding said opening to form a key way surrounding said opening, said key way having a grade extending outward and downward from said opening at an acute angle to the grade of said sides to form a hinge point therebetween, said key way extending underneath a portion of said turf surrounding said opening; c. compacting said soil to produce a compacted soil surface; d. forming a barrier liner for said bunker by applying a curable semi-solid barrier material on said compacted soil surface of said floor, on said sides, up and over said hinge point, and on said key way, said curable semi-solid material on said key way extending under a portion of said turf surrounding said opening for a predetermined distance outside said hinge point, said barrier liner having a thickness at said key way which is greater than a thickness of said barrier liner at said sides; and g. allowing said barrier liner to cure, whereupon said cured barrier liner is configured to be covered with sand and which allows water to percolate therethrough to reduce water accumulation in said bunker and is sufficiently flexible to dampen or absorb impact when a golf ball hits said bunker. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said barrier liner is cured for 24 hours. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said curable semi-solid barrier material comprises a mixture of a dry binding agent, lightweight aggregate and water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, said predetermined distance is approximately 4 to 6 inches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said thickness of said barrier liner at said key way being in the range of ¾ to 1 inch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said thickness of said barrier liner at said sides being in the range of ⅝ to ¾ inch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said thickness of said barrier liner at said sides being in the range of ⅝ to ¾ inches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said barrier material is applied by hand. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said barrier liner includes an outer surface and wherein said method additionally comprises fixedly securing a layer of finishing sand onto said outer surface of said barrier liner to form a finished outer surface for said barrier liner. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, additionally comprising applying bunker sand over said finished outer surface.