{"id":24285,"date":"2024-04-23T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/?p=24285"},"modified":"2026-10-12T22:51:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T22:51:19","slug":"bunker-maintenance-tasks-for-better-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/bunker-maintenance-tasks-for-better-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Bunker Maintenance: 7 Tasks for Better Play"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>@import url(\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Poppins:wght@500;600;700&family=Roboto:wght@400;500;700&display=swap\");\n.tgb{font:17px\/1.65 Roboto,sans-serif;color:#333}.tgb h2{font:700 25px\/1.2 Poppins,sans-serif;color:#00505F;margin:1.9em 0 .6em;padding-bottom:.35em;border-bottom:1px solid #BCD9DC}.tgb a{color:#00505F;text-underline-offset:3px}\n.tgb .info{width:100%;height:auto;margin:1.6em 0;display:block}.tgb .svg-bg{fill:#F2FAFA}.tgb .svg-dark{fill:#00505F}.tgb .svg-card{fill:rgba(255,255,255,.1)}.tgb .svg-t{font:700 20px Poppins,sans-serif;fill:#00505F}.tgb .svg-tw{font:700 20px Poppins,sans-serif;fill:#fff}\n.tgb .svg-line{stroke:#BCD9DC;stroke-width:2}.tgb .svg-line2{stroke:#00F4F4;stroke-width:2}.tgb .svg-hex{fill:#008092}.tgb .svg-hex2{fill:#00F4F4}.tgb .svg-n{font:700 16px Poppins,sans-serif;fill:#fff}.tgb .svg-n2{font:700 16px Poppins,sans-serif;fill:#0B2E35}.tgb .svg-i{font:400 16px Roboto,sans-serif;fill:#333}.tgb .svg-c{font:400 15px Roboto,sans-serif;fill:#fff}\n.tgb figure{margin:1.6em 0}.tgb .scene{width:100%;height:auto;aspect-ratio:16\/9;display:block;border-radius:10px}.tgb figcaption{font-size:13px;color:#55666B;margin-top:6px}\n.tgb .faq{border:1px solid #BCD9DC;border-radius:10px;margin:.6em 0;padding:.2em 1em;background:#fff}.tgb .faq summary{cursor:pointer;font:600 16px Poppins,sans-serif;padding:.6em 0;color:#00505F}\n.tgb .cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#008092,#00505F);color:#fff;border-radius:10px;padding:28px 30px;margin:2.2em 0}.tgb .cta h3{color:#fff;margin-top:0;font:600 22px Poppins,sans-serif}.tgb .cta p{margin:.4em 0;color:#fff}.tgb .btn{display:inline-block;margin-top:14px;background:#00F4F4;color:#0B2E35!important;text-decoration:none;font:700 15px Roboto,sans-serif;padding:12px 28px;border-radius:99px}\n.tgb .rel{padding-left:1.1em}.tgb .rel span{display:block;font-size:14px;color:#55666B}.tgb .src{font-size:15px;color:#55666B}\n.tgb .ph{margin:1.8em 0}.tgb .ph img{width:100%;height:auto;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover;display:block;border-radius:10px}\n.tg-float{position:fixed;left:0;top:50%;z-index:9999;transform:translateY(-50%);writing-mode:vertical-rl;transform-origin:center;rotate:180deg;background:#00F4F4;color:#0B2E35!important;font:700 14px Poppins,sans-serif;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase;text-decoration:none!important;padding:20px 11px;border-radius:0 12px 12px 0;box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(0,80,95,.35);transition:padding .2s,background .2s}\n.tg-float:hover{background:#3EF9DA;padding-left:16px}\n@media(max-width:767px){.tg-float{writing-mode:horizontal-tb;rotate:0deg;left:50%;top:auto;bottom:14px;transform:translateX(-50%);border-radius:99px;padding:13px 26px;letter-spacing:.06em;font-size:13px;white-space:nowrap}.tg-float:hover{padding:13px 26px}}<\/style><div class=\"tgb\"><a class=\"tg-float\" href=\"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/#demo\">Request a demo<\/a><p>Bunkers are part of a course&#8217;s strategy and identity, but they are also one of the areas that consume the most hours and generate the most complaints. Well-planned <strong>bunker maintenance<\/strong> delivers uniform sand, effective drainage and crisp edges without driving up the team&#8217;s workload.<\/p><p>We review seven tasks that make the difference, how to spread them across a weekly routine, and how to record them so you can spot early which bunkers need a major intervention.<\/p><svg class=\"info\" viewBox=\"0 0 720 538\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"In this article\"><rect width=\"720\" height=\"538\" rx=\"6\" class=\"svg-bg\"\/><text x=\"28\" y=\"42\" class=\"svg-t\">In this article<\/text><line x1=\"28\" y1=\"54\" x2=\"120\" y2=\"54\" class=\"svg-line\"\/><path d=\"M73.1,89.0 L73.1,111.0 L54.0,122.0 L34.9,111.0 L34.9,89.0 L54.0,78.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex\"\/><text x=\"54\" y=\"106\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n\">1<\/text><text x=\"94\" y=\"97\" class=\"svg-i\">Task 1: Bunker maintenance starts with a diagnosis of each<\/text><text x=\"94\" y=\"117\" class=\"svg-i\">bunker<\/text><path d=\"M73.1,153.0 L73.1,175.0 L54.0,186.0 L34.9,175.0 L34.9,153.0 L54.0,142.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex\"\/><text x=\"54\" y=\"170\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n\">2<\/text><text x=\"94\" y=\"161\" class=\"svg-i\">Task 2: Keep drainage working<\/text><path d=\"M73.1,217.0 L73.1,239.0 L54.0,250.0 L34.9,239.0 L34.9,217.0 L54.0,206.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex\"\/><text x=\"54\" y=\"234\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n\">3<\/text><text x=\"94\" y=\"225\" class=\"svg-i\">Task 3: Rake to a uniform standard<\/text><path d=\"M73.1,281.0 L73.1,303.0 L54.0,314.0 L34.9,303.0 L34.9,281.0 L54.0,270.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex\"\/><text x=\"54\" y=\"298\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n\">4<\/text><text x=\"94\" y=\"289\" class=\"svg-i\">Task 4: Control sand depth and quality<\/text><path d=\"M73.1,345.0 L73.1,367.0 L54.0,378.0 L34.9,367.0 L34.9,345.0 L54.0,334.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex\"\/><text x=\"54\" y=\"362\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n\">5<\/text><text x=\"94\" y=\"353\" class=\"svg-i\">Task 5: Define and care for edges and control weeds<\/text><path d=\"M73.1,409.0 L73.1,431.0 L54.0,442.0 L34.9,431.0 L34.9,409.0 L54.0,398.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex\"\/><text x=\"54\" y=\"426\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n\">6<\/text><text x=\"94\" y=\"417\" class=\"svg-i\">Task 6: Plan major works without losing the thread<\/text><path d=\"M73.1,473.0 L73.1,495.0 L54.0,506.0 L34.9,495.0 L34.9,473.0 L54.0,462.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex\"\/><text x=\"54\" y=\"490\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n\">7<\/text><text x=\"94\" y=\"481\" class=\"svg-i\">Task 7: Train the team and record every intervention<\/text><\/svg><h2>Task 1: Bunker maintenance starts with a diagnosis of each bunker<\/h2><p>Not all bunkers need the same thing. One in a hollow collects water; another on a slope suffers erosion; one on a windy fairway gets different sand every morning. Before organising the work, walk them all with a simple checklist and note:<\/p><ul><li>Sand condition: depth, contamination with mud or turf, compaction.<\/li><li>Drainage: puddles after rain, blocked outlets, eroded areas.<\/li><li>Edges: definition, turf encroachment, collapses.<\/li><li>Access points and slopes: wear from player and machine traffic.<\/li><\/ul><p>This diagnosis lets you set priorities and distinguish between routine maintenance and bunkers that call for renovation.<\/p><p>Repeat it at least once a season. Good bunker maintenance relies on this snapshot of each bunker, because it lets you compare from one year to the next whether the situation is improving, holding or deteriorating.<\/p><h2>Task 2: Keep drainage working<\/h2><p>Drainage is the foundation of everything. A bunker that holds water becomes contaminated, generates complaints and forces more raking. After heavy rain, check the outlets, bases and channels, and remove sediment before it compacts.<\/p><p>If a bunker floods repeatedly, make a note of it. The cause may be insufficient slope, a blocked drain or a contaminated sand layer. Fixing the cause is cheaper than cleaning up the same problem every week.<\/p><p>In bunker maintenance, drainage is the invisible task: nobody thanks you when it works, but everybody suffers when it fails. After a storm, spend the first hour going round the lowest bunkers on the course before the water does its washing-out work.<\/p><figure class=\"ph\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ph-28-1.jpg\" alt=\"Freshly defined edge during bunker maintenance\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>Freshly defined edge during bunker maintenance<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Task 3: Rake to a uniform standard<\/h2><p>Raking defines the player&#8217;s experience. A clear standard stops each operator from doing their own thing:<\/p><ol><li>Remove stones, branches and debris before using the machine or rake.<\/li><li>Smooth the surface with a consistent pattern, respecting slopes and shapes.<\/li><li>Avoid dragging sand towards the edges or onto the turf.<\/li><li>Leave an even depth, with no puddles or mounds.<\/li><\/ol><p>Frequency depends on use and on the type of course, and can be adjusted hole by hole. The most exposed or visible bunkers deserve more attention than those rarely played.<\/p><p>If you have a bunker rake machine, do not use it as an excuse to forget hand finishing on edges and slopes: bunker maintenance combines both methods, and the machine performs better when the ground is properly prepared beforehand.<\/p><h2>Task 4: Control sand depth and quality<\/h2><p>Over time, sand mixes with soil, leaves, seeds and turf debris. Depth drops, the surface hardens and players complain about uneven lies. Measure with a ruler at several points and adjust with periodic top-ups.<\/p><p>Good bunker maintenance also considers the origin and consistency of the sand brought in. Avoid mixing different types of sand without a technical reason, because they change ball behaviour and drainage. If contamination is severe, consider partial or full replacement.<\/p><p>A practical habit is to keep a small, labelled reserve of each bunker&#8217;s sand in storage, so you can top up without changing how the hazard plays. That way bunker maintenance preserves the original character of the design.<\/p><figure class=\"ph\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ph-28-2.jpg\" alt=\"Bunker with uniform sand after bunker maintenance\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>Bunker with uniform sand after bunker maintenance<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Task 5: Define and care for edges and control weeds<\/h2><p>Edges are the face of the bunker. A well-defined edge frames the hazard, stops turf from invading the sand and makes life easier for the machines. But it is also one of the most labour-intensive areas.<\/p><ul><li>Trim periodically with a suitable tool and a consistent shape.<\/li><li>Remove sand that has built up on the turf so it does not smother it.<\/li><li>Repair collapses and reshape the lips when they have lost their form.<\/li><\/ul><p>Note the areas with the most erosion: they usually point to runoff problems that should be corrected at source.<\/p><h3>Weeds, stones and debris<\/h3><p>Weeds appear in bunkers that are raked too little, have contaminated fine sand or receive a lot of seed from the surroundings. Remove them as soon as possible, preferably by hand or mechanically, and consider preventive measures with technical advice. If any treatment is needed, an authorised adviser must decide on it and it must be applied according to the label and current regulations.<\/p><p>Stones deserve special attention for safety and for their effect on machinery. A quick check each week, especially after storms, avoids problems for players and equipment.<\/p><h2>Task 6: Plan major works without losing the thread<\/h2><p>Bunker maintenance does not end with raking. Each season it is worth reviewing which bunkers need a major intervention: reshaping, a sand change, better drainage or removal of invasive turf. Prioritise according to condition, visibility and impact on play.<\/p><p>Within bunker maintenance, these major works are the ones that most change the player&#8217;s perception. Grouping the work into low-activity windows reduces disruption and costs. Tell the club which bunkers will be out of play and for how long, and record the before and after with photographs.<\/p><h2>Task 7: Train the team and record every intervention<\/h2><p>The last task is the one that supports all the others. If the team knows the quality standard and has a simple record, bunker maintenance becomes consistent even when staff change. Some useful guidelines:<\/p><ul><li>Define what a well-finished bunker looks like, with reference photos.<\/li><li>Note the date, bunker, task and observations when finished.<\/li><li>Review each month which bunkers take the most hours and why.<\/li><\/ul><p>With this bunker maintenance data you can show management where time is being spent, defend improvements such as new drainage, and decide on solid grounds whether it is worth redesigning an especially problematic bunker.<\/p><svg class=\"info\" viewBox=\"0 0 720 420\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Key takeaways\"><rect width=\"720\" height=\"420\" rx=\"6\" class=\"svg-dark\"\/><text x=\"28\" y=\"44\" class=\"svg-tw\">Key takeaways<\/text><line x1=\"28\" y1=\"58\" x2=\"120\" y2=\"58\" class=\"svg-line2\"\/><rect x=\"24\" y=\"76\" width=\"336\" height=\"96\" rx=\"4\" class=\"svg-card\"\/><path d=\"M75.3,114.0 L75.3,134.0 L58.0,144.0 L40.7,134.0 L40.7,114.0 L58.0,104.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex2\"\/><text x=\"58\" y=\"130.0\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n2\">1<\/text><text x=\"90\" y=\"119\" class=\"svg-c\">Diagnose each bunker with a<\/text><text x=\"90\" y=\"139\" class=\"svg-c\">simple checklist<\/text><rect x=\"372\" y=\"76\" width=\"336\" height=\"96\" rx=\"4\" class=\"svg-card\"\/><path d=\"M423.3,114.0 L423.3,134.0 L406.0,144.0 L388.7,134.0 L388.7,114.0 L406.0,104.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex2\"\/><text x=\"406\" y=\"130.0\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n2\">2<\/text><text x=\"438\" y=\"119\" class=\"svg-c\">Drainage is the foundation of<\/text><text x=\"438\" y=\"139\" class=\"svg-c\">any maintenance<\/text><rect x=\"24\" y=\"184\" width=\"336\" height=\"96\" rx=\"4\" class=\"svg-card\"\/><path d=\"M75.3,222.0 L75.3,242.0 L58.0,252.0 L40.7,242.0 L40.7,222.0 L58.0,212.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex2\"\/><text x=\"58\" y=\"238.0\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n2\">3<\/text><text x=\"90\" y=\"227\" class=\"svg-c\">Rake to a uniform standard for<\/text><text x=\"90\" y=\"247\" class=\"svg-c\">the whole team<\/text><rect x=\"372\" y=\"184\" width=\"336\" height=\"96\" rx=\"4\" class=\"svg-card\"\/><path d=\"M423.3,222.0 L423.3,242.0 L406.0,252.0 L388.7,242.0 L388.7,222.0 L406.0,212.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex2\"\/><text x=\"406\" y=\"238.0\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n2\">4<\/text><text x=\"438\" y=\"227\" class=\"svg-c\">Measure depth and watch for<\/text><text x=\"438\" y=\"247\" class=\"svg-c\">sand contamination<\/text><rect x=\"24\" y=\"292\" width=\"336\" height=\"96\" rx=\"4\" class=\"svg-card\"\/><path d=\"M75.3,330.0 L75.3,350.0 L58.0,360.0 L40.7,350.0 L40.7,330.0 L58.0,320.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex2\"\/><text x=\"58\" y=\"346.0\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n2\">5<\/text><text x=\"90\" y=\"335\" class=\"svg-c\">Look after the edges and<\/text><text x=\"90\" y=\"355\" class=\"svg-c\">correct erosion at source<\/text><rect x=\"372\" y=\"292\" width=\"336\" height=\"96\" rx=\"4\" class=\"svg-card\"\/><path d=\"M423.3,330.0 L423.3,350.0 L406.0,360.0 L388.7,350.0 L388.7,330.0 L406.0,320.0Z\" class=\"svg-hex2\"\/><text x=\"406\" y=\"346.0\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"svg-n2\">6<\/text><text x=\"438\" y=\"335\" class=\"svg-c\">Record every task to decide on<\/text><text x=\"438\" y=\"355\" class=\"svg-c\">improvements with data<\/text><\/svg><p class=\"src\">Further reading: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.randa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">R&amp;A<\/a>. If you want to know the rules that affect play in bunkers, you can consult the official website of The R&amp;A.<\/p><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><details class=\"faq\"><summary>How often should a bunker be raked?<\/summary><p>It depends on use, the time of year and the importance of the hole. The usual approach is to set a base frequency and increase it after rain, wind or tournaments. The most important thing is to have a common finishing standard and to record the work, so you can adjust the frequency based on results.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"faq\"><summary>What should I do if a bunker floods with every rainfall?<\/summary><p>First check the outlets and drainage channels, the slope of the base and the contamination of the sand. If the problem recurs, note it and plan an improvement at source: drain cleaning, reshaping or partial replacement. Solving the cause usually costs less than repeatedly cleaning up the symptom.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"faq\"><summary>When should sand be renewed in bunker maintenance?<\/summary><p>When the sand is heavily contaminated, compacted or has persistently lost depth and top-ups no longer solve the problem. Plan the replacement for a low-activity period, tell the club about the closure and check that the new sand offers adequate drainage and playability.<\/p><\/details><aside class=\"cta\"><h3>Total Greenkeeper<\/h3><p>When bunkers consume hours and nobody knows how many, it is hard to improve. With Total Greenkeeper you can record tasks, hours and course areas, digitise maintenance processes and get simple, intuitive reports to decide where to intervene.<\/p><p>Request a demo at totalgreenkeeper.com and take control of the work on your bunkers.<\/p><a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/#demo\">Request a demo<\/a><\/aside><h2>Keep reading<\/h2><ul class=\"rel\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/complete-guide-to-golf-course-turf-maintenance\/\">complete guide to turf maintenance<\/a> <span>Complete guide to turf maintenance on golf courses<\/span><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/greenkeeper-tasks-in-april-key-jobs\/\">greenkeeper tasks in April<\/a> <span>Greenkeeper tasks in April: 7 key jobs<\/span><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/greenkeeping-team-key-roles-responsibilities\/\">roles and duties in a greenkeeping team<\/a> <span>Greenkeeping team: 6 key roles and responsibilities<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How often should a bunker be raked?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"It depends on use, the time of year and the importance of the hole. 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We describe seven bunker maintenance tasks, from drainage to edges, with a simple weekly routine and criteria for recording what is done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":26107,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-turf-and-soils"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24285"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25698,"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24285\/revisions\/25698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totalgreenkeeper.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}