ZLine introduces synthetic bunkers

Sand bunkers are expensive items for golf courses to maintain, given the standards now expected by golfers. This level of maintenance is only justifiable for bunkers that get plenty of use: if a lot of players visit a bunker, then it is worth spending the money to keep it in primo condition. 

But on practice ranges, where bunkers are purely aiming tools, and never get any actual play, bunker maintenance is a waste of money. It is tempting for course operators to dig holes on their range, fill them with sand, and leave them be. But this approach too has its problems: wind and rain will cause the bunker sand to move around and become contaminated with other substances, reducing and even possibly eliminating the value of having the bunker on the range in the first place.

Enter the newly launched RANGEline product from ZLine Products.

RANGEline consists of sand-colored synthetic material, which is installed on the range in lieu of bunkers. It is UV-coated to ensure that the color can withstand sunlight exposure and seamlessly replicates the aesthetic value of sand bunkers on the range, giving golfers a powerful aiming tool, but it is essentially maintenance-free. The product was formerly known as SRL-16 but has been redesigned to be thicker and denser in order to better absorb impact.

“RANGEline helps course operators improve the playability and shot-making of their practice ranges, without increasing maintenance costs,” ZLine international operations manager Casey Jones said. “It is very cost-effective — the cost of the product is roughly the same as sand — and over time it will produce an excellent return on investment. Ball picking from RANGEline is much easier than from a sand bunker, as the picking machine can drive over it. Even if the ‘bunker’ is inaccessible to the picker, it is far easier to rake up the balls than to pick them from sand — which has to be done by hand.”