Every course is different, with varying numbers of bunkers in different shapes, sizes, and locations. Some courses have hundreds of bunkers, while others have few to none. Courses often measure their bunkers in square feet to calculate costs and the materials needed. Every course has a different budget and / or demands for conditions.
How much does it cost to“ refurbish” a bunker? Well, that’ s likely a loaded question. I’ ll refer back to all the factors and costs associated with bunkers previously mentioned. But on average, sand can cost between $ 2 and $ 4 per square foot. Liners cost about $ 3-4 per square foot. If an average bunker is 2,000 square feet. It can cost between $ 7,000 and $ 13,000( or more) to renovate just one bunker. Courses can have, on average, between one and three acres of bunkers. Renovations can range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars. An average golf course can spend roughly $ 500,000 on complete bunker renovations with new drainage, liner, and sand. If bunkers are renovated“ in-house” by the maintenance staff, the renovation process takes longer than when subcontracted to an outside company. Courses that do the work in-house are usually able to complete 7-10 bunkers per year, with the cost to complete the bunkers possibly less expensive; however, the labor and cost are spread out over 4-5 years, depending on the number of bunkers the course has.
Get Your Junior in U. S. Kids Golf
The U. S. Kids Golf Local Kansas City Tour offers one-day family fun. Giving young golfers and parents the chance to experience tournament golf in a welcoming atmosphere. Parents are encouraged to caddie during the one-day events, where young players learn to shoot low scores by competing over yardages scaled to their age and ability.
U. S. Kids Golf Local Tours, founded in 2002, allows players at all levels to enjoy tournament participation while learning, competing, and spending time with new friends. There are now more than 115 U. S. Kids Golf Local Tours operating worldwide.
Bunkers add beauty and challenges to a course. However, there is a price to pay for both golfers and the course. Help maintain them by raking the sand smooth after your shot.
After 4-5 years, some of those first renovated bunkers are again in need of repairs. It’ s a never-ending cycle for golf course maintenance. Because of the expenses associated with bunkers, courses are removing them from their designs to save money wherever possible. Most golfers and superintendents would agree that sand bunkers can make a golf course look amazing, but no matter how well the bunkers look, golfers still don’ t want to hit their ball into one— me included!
Jacob Rockhold is Director of Agronomy at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Blue Springs. Rockhold is from Chillicothe, MO, where during high school, he worked on the grounds crew at Green Hills Golf Course. While attending Mizzou, he worked at A. L. Golf Course in Columbia, MO. He served his agronomy internship in New Jersey at Baltusrol Golf Club in 2012. He then became an assistant superintendent at Shadow Glen Golf Club for two years after graduation. In 2015, Rockhold accepted the position as superintendent at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Blue Springs. In 2019, he became the Golf Course Superintendent at Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate. In late 2023, Rockhold returned home to Stone Canyon Golf Club.
Junior golfers ages 6 to 18 start at a Local Tour level, and can advance as they improve to State, Regional, and even international competitions. The top-performing players, as determined by our Priority Status Rankings, can earn invitations to events above Local Tours up to and including the World Championship.
The Local Kansas City Tour is designed for beginner to mid-level competitive golfers, as each event provides a fun environment where kids in the same age groups can develop their skills. Additionally, there are two-day tournaments, such as Regional Championships, that rank players by a Junior Golf Scoreboard and are the natural next step for competitive junior golfers. At each level, players may earn“ Priority Status” in hopes of qualifying for the World Championship held annually in Pinehurst, N. C. Averaging more than 1,200 players from 50 countries since 2013, players vie for the title of World Champion in 13 age divisions. Since 2013, several Kansas City area junior golfers have played in the championship.
U. S. Kids Golf Kansas City Tour – Remaining Spring Event and Summer / Fall 2026 Schedule( Summer schedule coming soon.)
● June 21 – Paradise Pointe Golf Complex
● The Fall schedule is planned to be released later this month. Please check the U. S. Kids Golf website( see below) for updates.
To sign up your junior golfer, contact Todd Misemer, KC Tour Director, at tmisemer @ aol. com or 913.927.6854. Learn more at www. USkidsgolf. com, then go to the“ Tournaments U. S. Page,” then“ Local Tours,” then“ Spring Local Tours,” and then the Missouri – Kansas City Tour for events and see sign-up details.
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