Bunkers and methods for use in providing the same

Abstract

Bunkers and methods for use in providing the same may use slidably connectable slat members. For example, ground material may be removed at a perimeter of a bunker and the slidably connectable slat members may be driven into the ground material at the perimeter of the bunker forming a barrier.

1 . A method for use in providing a bunker on a golf course comprising:
 providing a plurality of slat members, wherein each of the plurality of slat members is formed of solid material and defines:
 a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end, 
 a width perpendicular to the length extending from a first connection interface to a second connection interface, wherein the width is less than the length, wherein the first connection interface of each slat member is slidably connectable to the second connection interface of a different slat member, wherein the first connection interface of each slat member comprises a tongue portion and the second connection interface of each slat member comprises a groove portion, and further wherein the tongue portion of the first connection interface of each slat member is receivable within the groove portion of the second connection interface of a different slat member to slidably connect the first connection interface to the second connection interface, and 
 a thickness perpendicular to the width and the length, wherein the width is greater than the thickness; 
   removing ground material along at least a portion of a perimeter of a bunker to an excavation depth exposing an excavation ground surface;   driving a first slat member of the plurality of slat members into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker such that the distal end of the first slat member is driven beneath the excavation depth;   inserting the tongue portion at the distal end of a second slat member of the plurality of slat members into the groove portion at the proximal end of the first slat member;   sliding the second slat member towards the excavation ground surface such that the distal end of the second slat member contacts the excavation ground surface; and   driving the second slat member into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker such that the distal end of the second slat member is driven beneath the excavation depth,   wherein at least the first and second slat member of the plurality of slat members, after being driven into the excavation ground surface, form a portion of a barrier of slat members along at least the portion of the perimeter of the bunker configured to restrict movement of material into the bunker from ground area adjacent the barrier outside of the bunker.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second slat members are driven into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker to a depth such that the proximal ends of the first and second slat members are proximate a height of a non-bunker ground surface adjacent the perimeter of the bunker. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second slat members are restricted in a direction perpendicular to their lengths from disconnection from each other after being slidably connected. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue portion of each of the plurality of slat members defines a T-shape. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing sand inside the bunker to a height proximate the proximal ends of at least the first and second slat members after they have been driven into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising locating sod over the proximal ends of at least the first and second slat members after they have been driven into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second slat members defines a plane, and wherein the first and second connection interfaces are configured such that the plane of the first slat member is restricted from moving more than 15 degrees away from the plane of the second slat member when the first slat member is slidably connected to the second slat member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the width of each of the plurality of slat members is greater than at least twice the thickness of each of the plurality of slat members. 
     
     
         9 . A method for use in providing a bunker on a golf course comprising:
 providing a plurality of slat members, wherein each of the plurality of slat members is formed of solid material and defines:
 a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end, 
 a width perpendicular to the length extending from a first connection interface to a second connection interface, wherein the width is less than the length, and wherein the first connection interface of each slat member is slidably connectable to the second connection interface of a different slat member, and 
 a thickness perpendicular to the width and the length, wherein the width is greater than the thickness; 
   removing ground material along at least a portion of a perimeter of a bunker to an excavation depth exposing an excavation ground surface; and   driving each of the plurality of slat members into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker such that the distal end of each of the plurality of slat members is driven beneath the excavation depth, wherein the plurality of slat members are slidably connected to each other using the first and second connection interfaces while being driven into the excavation ground surface forming a barrier of slat members along at least the portion of the perimeter of the bunker configured to restrict movement of material into the bunker from a ground area adjacent the barrier outside of the bunker.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of slat members are driven into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker to a depth such that the proximal end of each of the plurality of slat members is proximate a height of a non-bunker ground surface adjacent the perimeter of the bunker. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of slat members are restricted in a direction perpendicular to their lengths from disconnection from each other after being slidably connected. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first connection interface of each slat member comprises a tongue portion and the second connection interface of each slat member comprises a groove portion, and further wherein the tongue portion of the first connection interface of each slat member is receivable within the groove portion of the second connection interface of a different slat member to slidably connect the first connection interface to the second connection interface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tongue portion of each of the plurality of slat members comprises a T-shape. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein driving each of the plurality of slat members into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker comprises:
 driving a first slat member of the plurality of slat members into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker,   inserting the tongue portion at the distal end of a second slat member of the plurality of slat members into the groove portion at the proximal end of the first slat member,   sliding the second slat member towards the excavation ground surface such that the distal end of the second slat member contacts the excavation ground surface, and   driving the second slat member into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising placing sand inside the bunker to a height proximate the proximal ends of the plurality of slat members after they have been driven into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising locating sod over the proximal ends of the plurality of slat members after they have been driven into the excavation ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of slat members defines a plane, and wherein the first and second connection interfaces are configured such that the plane of a first slat member of the plurality of slat members is restricted from moving more than 15 degrees away from the plane of a second slat member of the plurality of slat members when the first slat member is slidably connected to the second slat member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the width of each of the plurality of slat members is greater than at least twice the thickness of each of the plurality of slat members. 
     
     
         19 . A bunker on a golf course defining a perimeter and a bunker ground surface beneath the material located in the bunker, wherein the bunker comprises:
 a plurality of slat members, wherein each of the plurality of slat members is formed of solid material and defines:
 a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end, 
 a width perpendicular to the length extending from a first connection interface to a second connection interface, wherein the width is less than the length, and wherein the first connection interface of each slat member is slidably connectable to the second connection interface of a different slat member, and 
 a thickness perpendicular to the width and the length, wherein the width is greater than at least twice the thickness, 
   wherein each of the plurality of slat members are driven into the bunker ground surface at the perimeter of the bunker such that the distal end of each of the plurality of slat members is driven beneath the bunker ground surface, and wherein the plurality of slat members are slidably connected to each other using the first and second connection interfaces while being driven into the bunker ground surface forming a barrier of slat members along at least a portion of the perimeter of the bunker configured to restrict movement of material into the bunker from a ground area adjacent the barrier outside of the bunker.   
     
     
         20 . The bunker of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of slat members are restricted in a direction perpendicular to their lengths from being disconnection from each other after being slidably connected to form the barrier.