Whether you are a seasoned professional or just getting into the sport, it is almost certain that you will find yourself in a bunker. When you do, know that specific Rules are to be followed when playing golf from a bunker. Knowing these Rules allows you to make better decisions around your actions and gives you insight into the available options. This knowledge also allows you to play faster golf since you will have the answers to the oddball scenarios in which we all find ourselves.
Below is a video that we recently shared on our social media that breaks down the do’s and dont’s for bunker play.
It is easy to come away from this video with a few thought processes that help you cover most situations—contacting the sand, with any item, with the intent of gaining knowledge about the bunker and how it will play is against the Rules of Golf. Don’t even take a practice swing in the same bunker; if you are playing with someone that knows the rules, they may call you out on it.
Building off that thought, try not to disrupt anything in the bunker. If you do not have to move any sticks or leaves or anything like that, then don’t. The goal is to get into the bunker with a mission, hit your ball, and move on. If your ball is unplayable, use one of the approved options from the video to get you back on track.