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.

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.