Beached Balls

   If you have a chance to visit the new PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida, you'll be able to sample a set of eight practice bunkers containing four different types of sand.  

   The bunker designs and sands were inspired by various golf regions around the the globe.  Different types of sands - from the clay-based sand found in the Carolina Sandhills to the fine silica of Augusta National and the heavy-grained varieties common to Scotland - are represented. 

• Fine silica sand: usually found at resorts and private clubs   around the USA.

• Semi-coarse washed river rock sand: usually found in Great Britain and Ireland.

• Coarse concrete sand (similar to Cocina Shells): often found in Florida.

• Clay mixed with fine sand: usually found in the Carolinas, Hawaii and Costa Rica.  

                                                    When visiting a new golf course, hit a few shots from the practice bunker to see how club and ball react.  Usually the finer the sand, the more likely it is that a ball will plug and club head will dig in; you'll want to open the clubface, exposing the bounce, to keep it from digging too deep.  The coarser the grain, the more a ball will sit up and the clubhead will bounce off the sand; square or close the face to help it dig in.

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