Bunker etiquette

Everyone:

Following Kelly’s recent reminder about the care of our bunkers I wanted to

follow up with a few more reminders. These are not Rules as such, but bunkers

are addressed in Rule 1.2 Standards of Player Conduct, “Taking good care of the

course.” There are no penalties for not raking a bunker, damaging the side of a

bunker when you climb in and out, or tracking sand across the putting surface,

but as a matter of etiquette all players are expected to show consideration to

others by keeping the course in the best playing condition possible!

1. Entering and exiting on the high side.

Many golfers enter and exit bunkers from the high side, clambering up and down steep faces like mountaineers. That a no-no. For starters, it produces deep and sloppy footprints, which take longer to smooth over. But that’s not all. Over time, all that tramping can harm the integrity of the bunker itself. Take a little more time, even if it requires you to take a few more steps, and always enter and exit on the low side of the bunker.

2. Half-hearted raking.

Many golfers take the lazy way, dragging the rake behind them — with sloppy results. In the long term it’s the maintenance crew’s job to ensure that bunkers remain in good condition but in the short term — as in right after playing a bunker shot — it’s the golfer’s job. Spend a few extra seconds and take a little extra effort to rake with two hands, smoothing over the sand while backing slowing out of the bunker. You know you’ve done the job right when it’s hard to tell that you were ever there.

3. Leaving rakes in the line of play.Many golfers’ errant shots have been saved from going into the bunker by hitting a rake which was probably left in the wrong place. Different courses have different protocols where they want the rakes placed. Our course likes them half in and half out of the bunker, but try to ensure they are not left directly in the line of play for the oncoming players. A bad ricochet off a rake could send a player’s ball into a lake!

4. Tracking sandy footprints.

We have all complained about sandy footprints left on the putting surface by some inconsiderate golfer up ahead who played from the bunker and forgot to tap their shoes clean. These sandy footprints can also, in some cases, send putts off line. The solution is simple. As you exit the bunker, tap your shoes gently with your wedge, dislodging any lingering sand from your shoes and letting it fall back where it belongs. Show consideration to your fellow players as the sand you left behind might make the difference of a par putt rather than a birdie putt.

I hope this helps you.

Hilary