Methods and apparatus for reducing sand erosion in golf course bunkers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to improved golf course bunker drainage systems and methods for reducing sand erosion caused by water impinging upon and soaking into sloped zones of a golf course bunker. Such bunkers have a layer of sand disposed atop a substrate layer, and include an upper lip, at least one water fall line and a bunker bottom. Formed within the substrate layer of the golf course bunker are an upper drain trough, at least one intermediate trough, and a bottom drain trough. Disposed respectively therein are respective upper, intermediate and bottom drainage pipes, with each containing substantially upwardly directed apertures for receiving the impinging water disposed within the troughs. A drain pipe connector operatively interconnects to each of the drain pipes, and a vacuum source is operatively connected to one of said respective drainage pipes to create a pressure differential across the sand layer to drain excess moisture therefrom, and thereby to reduce substantially sand erosion within the bunker.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to apparatus for treating the sand in a golf course bunker, and more particularly to improve methods and apparatus for ameliorating sand erosion by reducing the water content of the sand particularly within sloped zones of a golf course bunker.

Golf course sand bunkers may be built in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and contours. Such golf course bunkers may be constructed to include sections having a relatively steep surface and comprising a sloped zone or area included within portions of the sand contour thereof. In such sand bunkers, keeping the sand raked smoothly, and especially upon the sloped contours may be a daily task of golf course ground-maintenance crews. Such steep sand slopes, however, tend to be at least somewhat subject to crumbling and/or displacement during or shortly after heavy rain storms. At these and other times, maintenance crews may be tasked with replacing sand on the slopes, rather than the lesser duty of merely raking the sand surface.

The mechanisms that cause sand displacement include, inter alia, crumbling, creeping and fluidized flow. Together these phenomena of sand displacement may be collectively or individually referred to in the trade as “washout.” Each of these mechanisms is created by the presence of saturated sand regions that cannot support the weight and motion of infiltrated water. Washout can start at the upper slopes and proceed down the face of the contour, or it can start at the bottom when the sand becomes saturated with water and becomes a fluidized puddle that cannot support adjacent layers above.

Repairing a washed-out region can be time-consuming and costly. Indeed, a large bunker typically may require a crew of two to three to shovel and rake for one-to-two hours in order to restore the sand contour. Inasmuch as a single golf course may contain as many as fifty (50) or more sand bunkers, and heavy washout rain can occur 15-20 times a year in many regions of the country, bunker repair is a considerable golf-course maintenance expense that can easily exceed $50,000 annually (3 men×2 hrs×$9/hr×20 rain events/year×50 bunkers=$54,000+cost of dirty sand replacement). Additionally, there is frequently a general loss of revenue (due to golfers' reluctance to play washed-out bunkers), as golfers may tend under these negative circumstances to cancel tee times.

Another consequence of bunker washout may further include the delay of play that can result when rain storms occur during major golf tournaments. Typically, if more than several bunkers have been affected, those bunkers must be repaired before play can resume, potentially further resulting in the loss of valuable broadcast time and/or causing a major inconvenience to attending patrons.

Given the prevalence of the washout phenomenon, and the resulting substantial costs associated with rebuilding/repairing a bunker, golf-course architects may be unduly constrained in their design parameters related to the structure of bunkers, which may further and preemptively negatively impact the challenge and character of the course layout. Accordingly, the availability of an improved sand bunker maintenance system would enable architects to enjoy greater freedom in their golf course designs through the utilization of more diverse and challenging sand bunkers. Moreover, such an improved sand bunker maintenance system would reduce the maintenance costs that would otherwise be incurred if sand bunker hazards were to be replaced in golf course designs with grass bunkers having undulating turf contours that thus must be trimmed by the labor intensive method of hand mowing.

The relevant prior art may be described, as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 1,151,608, entitled “Method of Resecuring Slipped Slopes of Cuts and Dams,” is directed to a method of securing slipped slopes of cuts and dams, and consists of temporarily removing the soil down to the slipping area and embedding fascines into the slipping area. Fascines are defined as bundles of sticks or wood bound together and used for such purposes as filling ditches and making revetments for riverbanks. The fascines are embedded into the slipping area and are thereafter covered with soil, thereby restoring the slope.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,866,826, entitled “Hill Draining System,” is directed to a hill draining system that utilizes a trench of substantial depth extending from an upper portion of a hill downwardly and having a groove in the bottom thereof with a porous drainage pipe laid in the groove and extending downward to a point of discharge. Porous drainage material is disposed in the trench.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,348, entitled “Subsurface Irrigation and Drainage System,” is directed to a surface irrigation and drainage system for supplying and extracting water and similar liquids through a subsurface conduit network automatically responsive to the ground water table occurring above or below a predetermined subsurface reference level. A plurality of elongated subsurface perforated conduit lines are located throughout the field at a uniform depth below ground along one or more ground elevation contour lines for the outflow or inflow of water through the conduit line perforations when the ground water is respectively below and above the predetermined subsurface reference level.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,376, entitled “Hillslope Landslide Stability Drain,” is directed to a hill slope landslide stability drain. The system includes a porous walled conduit positioned within the hillside substantially parallel the face of the hillside. This system may also include a saddle section or chamber that essentially surrounds the conduit and provides a region of increased permeability contiguous to the conduit.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,080 entitled “Process for the Construction of a Drain System,” is directed to a process for the construction of a drain system that includes a plurality of vertical shafts which are in communication with a horizontal hole as drilled for use as a catchment body.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,345 entitled “System for Construction of Golf Course Sand Bunkers,” is directed to a system for constructing golf course sand bunkers having a drainage ditch in the floor which also utilizes a plastic liner.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,546 entitled “Soil Stabilization Composition and Method,” relates to a soil stabilization composition and method for use in golf course bunkers. The invention employs the use of a stable resilient surface layer which comprises a particular aggregate having particles of a particular size and including fiber strands and a selected amount of water-absorbent, water-activated adhesive particles having a specified swell volume when absorbing water. When subjected to a sufficient amount of water, the water-absorbent particles swell and bind the aggregate and fiber strands forming a high shear strength flexible resilient layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,856 entitled “Subsurface Fluid Drainage and Storage System,” relates to the use of a drain core structure to collect and drain water in a system which promotes efficient drainage of water such as in a football field.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,718 entitled “Subsurface Fluid Drainage and Storage Systems,” is related to a similar structure described above for '856 patent.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,795, entitled “System for Stabilization of Sandy Shores,” is directed to a system for the stabilization of sandy shores such as beaches, and selectively adds moisture as needed to the sand in order to stabilize the shore.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,778, entitled “System and Method for Preventing Bluff Erosion,” is directed to a system and method for preventing bluff erosion and involves using a horizontal wick drain positioned along the length of a bluff top to prevent erosion.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,335, entitled “Erosion Control Rolls,” is directed to an erosion control roll which includes an elongated core member and which functions to control sedimentation and debris flow by use of a filter member and a flow member.

U.S. Published application No. 2003/0082004, entitled “Bunker Drain System,” and U.S. Published application No. 2003/0118403, entitled “Drainage System for Sports Fields,” are directed to bunker drainage systems for the bottom of a bunker utilizing a perforated-type collection system and a receptacle having a cover member.

U.S. Published application No. 2003/0198514, entitled “Riser for Subsurface Drainage Pipe,” is directed to a riser for a subsurface drainage pipe in a bunker. More specifically a pull up riser is disclosed with at least one drainage port near its upper end for attachment to a subsurface drainage system to facilitate drainage in low areas when submerged with water.

Although the above prior art may be construed to have taught in part some concepts of seeking to control earth erosion from banks, hills, and/or perhaps golf course hazards, the improved benefits of carrying out such substantial reduction in erosion of golf course bunker sloped areas through vacuum-assisted differential pressure means, as accomplished by the unique structure and methods of the present invention, are not taught or suggested by such prior art references.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described and claimed herein provides in preferred embodiments structure and methods for removing material and selected amounts of water from the sand comprising and disposed upon the relatively steep slopes in sand bunkers, and doing so at such selected rates as to materially reduce the formation of the sand fluidization phenomenon and thereby bunker washout during heavy rainstorms and/or during irrigation cycles. As may be come more apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawing, detailed description of preferred and other embodiments, and the appended patent claims, certain of the embodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention may consist of one or more of the following features, whether individually or in combination:

1. One or more troughs are dug within the substrate forming the steep contour slope such that the trough longitudinal dimension is disposed generally perpendicular to the water fall line at such portion of the contour.

2. Drainage pipes containing perforations, apertures or other suitable openings are disposed within the troughs, and may be covered with gravel thereby to fill the troughs back to the contour of the bunker substrate in some embodiments.

3. Additional troughs, drainage pipe and gravel are set forth at dispositions described herein and at several levels of contour including the bottom or lowest contour region of the golf course bunker.

4. Discharge pipe or conduit is interconnected to the drainage pipe together to form a continuous drainage network leading to one or more outfalls where water can be permanently discharged from the bunker.

5. A vacuum source, such as an air blower powered preferably by an electric motor, is interconnected to the drainage network to provide a suitably defined and sufficient level of vacuum to the interconnected drainage pipes.

6. A check-valve or water trap may preferably be connected to the outfall(s).

7. A layer of fabric may be disposed beneath the sand that covers the substrate and the gravel-filled troughs, in some preferred and alternative embodiments.

8. A controller, preferably including a rain gage and/or a moisture sensor for automatic on/off control of the blower/motor when rain water exceeds a predetermined level, may further be included in preferred embodiments.

9. A means for direct on/off control via existing or new irrigation satellites or remote control modules may likewise be incorporated in preferred embodiments.

Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention may function according to the following and above described parameters. Specifically, as rain or irrigation water begins to infiltrate the sand layer, a sensor in some preferred embodiments signals the controller that the rate of rain fall and/or the amount of rain or other water has exceeded a predetermined level, and accordingly turns on the blower/motor, thereby creating a vacuum at a suitable selected level within the drain network. The pressure differential across the sand layer created by the vacuum promotes water flow from the layer into the drain lines and eventually exiting as effluent from the outfall(s). A check valve may preferably be provided to ensure that the vacuum is not broken by air leaking back into the network from the outfall(s).

Because the pressure differential across the sand layer is greater in preferred embodiments than that caused by natural drainage or siphoning effects, the rate of water removal is significantly greater than either the natural drainage rate or the rate of rain fall. Accordingly, excess water is removed before the sand saturates and begins to crumble, creep, or move as a fluidized mass or slurry to cause bunker erosion.

Moreover, and because water must be removed from the sand layer before water and sand form a fluidized slurry on steep slopes, spacing and location of drain troughs on the contour faces are deemed to be important factors that determine effectiveness of sand retention. While exact spacing depends upon contour slope and drainage rate from adjacent grassy areas into the bunker, location of the upper trough is an important factor in determining overall effectiveness of the vacuum-assisted drainage system of the present invention. The upper trough, for instance, should in preferred embodiments be located within approximately two feet of the upper lip of the bunker, and the second trough less than about five feet below that, thereby to assure optimal levels of erosion reduction. Otherwise, a slurry may form that moves the mixture of sand and water down the slope resulting in bunker erosion.

Location of the drain trough at the bottom of the bunker also may be important, in that fluidized sand tends to puddle at the bottom and erode the steep surface from beneath. Thus, vacuum-assisted drainage of the apparatus and methods of the present invention ensures that water is removed before sand saturation occurs.

The vacuum-assisted bunker drainage apparatus and methods of the present invention have, inter alia, provided certain objects and advantages over prior art structures and methods. For example, and not by way of limitation:

It is a material object of the vacuum-assisted bunker drainage system of the present invention to provide positive displacement of water into the troughs on steep contours, as the system begins to move water out of the sand before the sand becomes saturated.

It is a further material object of the vacuum-assisted bunker drainage system of the present invention to provide for functioning with or without a fabric liner. Without the optional liner the bunker can be raked by machine, which is less costly than manual raking.

It is also a material object of the vacuum-assisted bunker drainage system of the present invention to reduce the need for repairing sand bunkers after heavy rainfall, thereby significantly reducing golf-course maintenance costs.

It is an additional material object of the vacuum-assisted bunker drainage system of the present invention to materially reduce play-postponement caused by bunker washout.

It is a yet further material object of the vacuum-assisted bunker drainage system of the present invention to enable golf-course architects to create a more diverse and challenging range of bunker designs without substantially increasing maintenance costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of these and other objects and advantages of the improved methods and apparatus of the present invention, reference is made hereinbelow to the detailed description of preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention, which is to be read in association with accompanying drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged partially fragmented schematic front view of a golf course bunker having some of the sand removed to display a preferred embodiment of the present invention installed within the bunker;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 2 of FIG. 1, and showing the sand and substrate layers of the bunker, with drainage pipes installed within trenches and disposed at upper, medial and lower levels of the golf course bunker;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged top view of a preferred embodiment of the drainage conduit or pipe, showing one form of apertures disposed at a top surface thereof and in longitudinally spaced array; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3, and yet further showing schematically water draining into such drainage pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf course bunker generally 10 is depicted and further includes a vacuum-assisted golf course bunker drainage system generally 12 functions according to the descriptions herein to materially reduce sand erosion caused by water impinging upon and soaking into sloped areas or zones 14 of the golf course bunker 10. Such bunker 10 includes preferably a sand layer 16 disposed atop a substrate layer 18 (as shown in FIG. 2), which may comprise disturbed or undisturbed soil, or other equivalent underlayment. Such bunker 10 further structurally includes an upper lip 20 abutting upon turf 22 and has at least one water fall line 24 (as shown in FIG. 1) which culminates in a bunker bottom area 26.

The substrate layer 18 of the golf course bunker 10 includes at least one upper drain trough 30, at least one intermediate trough 32, and at least one bottom drain trough 34. Each of upper drain trough(s) 30, intermediate trough(s) 32, and bottom drain trough(s) 34 contains therein respective drainage pipes 30a, 32a, and 34a. Additionally, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respective upper, intermediate and bottom drainage pipes 30a, 32a, and 34a, contain substantially upwardly directed apertures 36 for receiving the impinging water disposed within said troughs 30, 32, 34.

The respective upper, intermediate and bottom drainage pipes 30a, 32a, and 34a are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Therein, upper drain pipe 30a is disposed within the upper drain trough 30 and adjacent an upper portion 40 of the bunker sloped area or zone 42 which has a longitudinal dimension 44 (see FIG. 1) extending generally transverse to the water fall line 24. Similarly, the intermediate pipe 32a is disposed within the intermediate drain trough 32 and accordingly down-slope from the first trough 30, and likewise having a longitudinal dimension 48 (see FIG. 1) extending transverse to the water fall line 24 of the golf course bunker 10. Moreover, the bottom drain pipe 34a is disposed within the bottom drain trough 34 and substantially at the bunker bottom area 26 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and has a longitudinal dimension 58 (as shown in FIG. 1).

Drain pipe connectors 52, 54 are operatively connected to the upper, intermediate and bottom drain pipes 30a, 32a, 34a to drain the impinging water from each of the respective upper, intermediate and bottom areas generally 51, 53, 55 of the golf course bunker 10.

A vacuum source 59 is operatively connected by means of connector 61 to one of said respective drainage pipes, such as for example bottom drain pipe 34a, as shown in FIG. 1.

The longitudinal dimension 44 of the upper drain pipe 30a is shown to extend generally transverse to the water fall line 24 and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the water fall line 24 of golf course bunker 10. Such upper drain pipe 30a is shown in FIG. 1 to be disposed at a distance of less than approximately two feet from upper lip 20 of golf course bunker 10. Additionally, the most proximate intermediate drain pipe 32a, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is likewise disposed substantially perpendicular to water fall line 24 of golf course bunker 10 and at a preferred distance of less than approximately five feet from the first or upper drain pipe 30a. Additional medially disposed intermediate drain pipes 32b (not explicitly shown) may be provided in other preferred embodiments.

The vacuum source 59, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, comprises an air blower which is powered preferably by an electric motor of known structure, and may be, for example, Model 7.5 horsepower Elite, available from SubAir Systems, LLC located at Aiken, S.C. FIG. 1 further shows schematically a rain gauge 60 operatively connected to the vacuum source 59 comprising for example an air blower 59a to automatically start the air blower 59a when the rain level exceeds a selected amount. Alternatively, or coordinately, a moisture sensor 62 may be operatively connected to the air blower 59a to automatically start the air blower 59a when the moisture level in selected areas of the sand exceeds a selected amount.

Such bunker 10 may also include a barrier material 64 (partially cut away in FIG. 1) disposed substantially atop the substrate layer 18 of golf course bunker 10. Yet additionally, an aggregate material 68, which may be gravel, may be disposed within troughs 30, 32, 34 and beneath, and/or substantially covering the drainage pipes 30a, 32a, 34a. A check valve 70 and a water trap 72 may be operatively connected to one of the drainage pipes 30a, 32a, 34a. and disposed near the drainage outlet 74.

The vacuum-assisted apparatus 12 hereof functions by creating a pressure differential within the sand layer of said sloped zone 14 to reduce substantially the level of water within said layer of sand 16 at said sloped zone 14 to a level below that sufficient for fluidization of the sand, thereby to reduce substantially erosion of the sand within sloped zone 14.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a drainage pipe or conduit 30a, 32a and/or 34a is depicted and functions to drain said respective upper, intermediate and bottom troughs 30, 32, 34 and include substantially upwardly directed apertures 36 for receiving the impinging water within each of the upper, intermediate and bottom drainage pipes 30a, 32a, 34a (see Arrow A of FIG. 4). The shape and size of the apertures 36 may vary, however, in some embodiments the diameters may be 2-6″. The piping used can be round, flat or other shapes, and may be in some embodiments polypropylene, or other polymeric piping of known construction and composition, and may be approximately 2-6″ in diameter.

While the present invention has been explained with reference to certain structure and methods as disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not confined to the details as set forth in such preferred embodiments, and changes, modifications or variations are intended to come within the scope of the present invention and within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. In a golf course bunker drainage system 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, and having formed within the substrate layer of the golf course bunker an upper drain trough, at least one intermediate trough, and a bottom drain trough, the improvement comprising:

respective drainage pipes containing substantially upwardly directed apertures for receiving the impinging water disposed within said troughs, said respective drainage pipes including

an upper drain pipe disposed within the upper drain trough and adjacent an upper portion of the bunker sloped area and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line;

at least one intermediate pipe disposed within the intermediate drain trough and down-slope from the first trough and having a longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line of the golf course bunker; and

a bottom drain pipe disposed within the bottom drain trough and substantially at the bunker bottom;

a drain pipe connector operatively connected to each of said upper, intermediate and bottom drain pipes to drain the impinging water from each of the respective upper, intermediate and bottom areas of the golf course bunker; and

a vacuum source operatively connected one of said respective drainage pipes.

2. The improved apparatus of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal dimension of said upper drain pipe extending transverse to the water fall line is disposed substantially perpendicular to the water fall line of the golf course bunker.

3. The improved apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper drain pipe is disposed at a distance of less than approximately two feet from the upper lip of the golf course bunker.

4. The improved apparatus of claim 1 wherein the most proximate intermediate drain pipe is disposed substantially perpendicular to the water fall line of the golf course bunker and at a distance of less than approximately five feet from said first drain pipe.

5. The improved apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum source comprises an air blower.

6. The improved apparatus of claim 5 wherein said air blower further includes an electric motor.

7. The improved apparatus of claim 5 wherein said air blower further includes a hydraulic drive.

8. The improved apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a rain gauge operatively connected to said air blower to automatically start said air blower when the rain level exceeds a selected amount.

9. The improved apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a moisture sensor operatively connected to said air blower to automatically start said air blower when the moisture level exceeds a selected amount.

10. The improved apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a barrier material disposed substantially atop the substrate layer of the golf course bunker.

11. The improved apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an aggregate material disposed within at least one of said troughs at least beneath said drainage pipes.

12. The improved apparatus of claim 11 wherein said aggregate material substantially covers said drainage pipes.

13. The improved apparatus of claim 11 said respective drainage pipes contained within said respective troughs are substantially covered with said aggregate material.

14. The improved apparatus of claim 11 wherein said aggregate material is gravel sized.

15. The improved apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a check valve operatively connected to one of said drainage pipes and disposed near said drainage outlet.

16. The improved apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a water trap operatively connected to one of said drainage pipes and disposed near said drainage outlet.

17. The improved apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises soil.

18. An improved apparatus for reducing water within the wet layer of sand of a sloped zone of a golf course bunker, said apparatus comprising means for creating a pressure differential within said sand layer of said sloped zone to reduce substantially the amount of water within said layer of sand at said sloped zone to a level below that sufficient for fluidization of the sand, thereby to reduce substantially erosion of the sand within said sloped zone.

19. 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.

20. The improved apparatus of claim 19 further comprising vacuum means operatively connected one of said respective drainage pipes for providing a vacuum thereto sufficient to reduce substantially the amount of water contained within the sand of each of said upper, intermediate and bottom areas of said golf course bunker.

21. An improved apparatus for reducing water within the wet layer of sand of a sloped zone of a golf course bunker, said apparatus comprising means for creating a pressure differential within said sand layer of said sloped zone to reduce substantially the amount of water within said layer of sand at said sloped zone to a level below that sufficient for fluidization of the sand, thereby to reduce substantially erosion of the sand within said sloped zone.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. The improved method of claim 23 wherein the longitudinal dimension extending transverse to the water fall line is substantially perpendicular to the water fall line of the golf course bunker.

25. The improved method of claim 23 wherein the upper trough is located at a distance of less than approximately two feet from the upper lip of the golf course bunker.

26. The improved method of claim 23 wherein the most proximate intermediate trough is located substantially perpendicular to the water fall line of the golf course bunker and at a distance of less than approximately five feet from the first trough.

27. The improved method of claim 23 wherein said vacuum is formed by means of an air blower.

28. The improved method of claim 27 wherein said air blower is powered by means of an electric motor.

29. The improved method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a rain gauge operatively connected to said air blower to automatically start said air blower when the rain level exceeds a selected amount.

30. The improved method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a moisture sensor operatively connected to said air blower to automatically start said air blower when the moisture level exceeds a selected amount.

31. The improved method of claim 23 further comprising the step of disposing a barrier material substantially atop the substrate layer of the golf course bunker.

32. The improved method of claim 31 wherein the barrier material comprises polymeric sheeting.

33. The improved method of claim 23 further comprising the step of disposing an aggregate material within said troughs at least beneath said drainage pipes.

34. The improved method of claim 33 further comprising the step of substantially covering said drainage pipes with said aggregate material.

35. The improved method of claim 33 further comprising the step of substantially filling said drainage pipe containing troughs with said aggregate material.

36. The improved method of claim 33 wherein said aggregate material is gravel.

37. The improved method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a check valve disposed near said drainage outlet.

38. The improved method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a water trap disposed near said drainage outlet.

39. The improved method of claim 23 wherein said substrate comprises soil.

40. An improved method for reducing water within the wet layer of sand of a sloped zone of a golf course bunker, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a pressure differential within said sand layer of said sloped zone of said golf course bunker; and

reducing substantially the amount of water within said sand layer at said sloped zone to an amount below that sufficient for fluidization of the sand, thereby to ameliorate substantially erosion of the sand within said sloped zone.

41. The improved method of claim 40 wherein said pressure differential is created by vacuum means.

42. The improved method of claim 40 wherein said reducing substantially the amount of water within said sand layer is carried out by means of draining the water from the sloped zone.

43. The improved method of claim 40 wherein the golf course bunker has an upper lip and said pressure differential is applied to said sloped zone at a distance of less than approximately two feet from the upper lip of the golf course bunker.