Bunker (Sand Trap)
Course Areas
Explained Simply
A hazard area filled with sand. Can appear next to the fairway (fairway bunker) or around the green (greenside bunker). Often called a 'sand trap' casually.
Example
“Your approach shot lands in the greenside bunker. You use a sand wedge to blast the ball out onto the green.”
Why it matters
Bunkers add challenge and strategy to the game. Special rules apply — you cannot ground your club in the sand before your swing.
Common beginner mistake
Trying to scoop the ball out of a bunker. The correct technique is to hit the sand behind the ball, letting the sand 'splash' it out.
Related
beginner
Course Areas
Related
- WedgeThe highest-lofted irons, built for short, high shots around the green and into it. Common types are pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedge — each with more loft than the last.
- Fried Egg LieA lie in a bunker where the ball is buried in the sand with only the top visible — like a fried egg in the center of a round crater.
- Fairway BunkerA sand bunker positioned along the fairway, usually to penalize long or errant drives. Different from a greenside bunker — you typically need distance as well as height to escape.
- Free ReliefTaking a drop without a penalty stroke — allowed when your ball is in or near certain conditions like casual water, ground under repair, or a cart path.