Bunker or sand trap is one of the five major areas on the golf course, where players' skills and bravery are challenged. So what's a bunker in Golf? Let's learn some interesting things about Bunker with HS Golf in the article below.
1. What's a bunker in Golf?
Bunker (or sand trap, sand hole) is an obstacle on the golf course, to increase the challenge for players. Bunker is an area with a specially prepared subsidence sand form, which has eliminated all the soil, growing grass, etc. And filled with sand.
On the golf course, Bunker is arranged in many positions, but the most is around Fairway and Green.
The tee shot out of Bunker is called Bunker Shot and is a difficult technique in Golf, which requires players with good technique not to break the rules, the ball goes up high and out of the sand trap.
2. Is it right to call Bunker a Sand Trap?
As a habit, many Golfers often use Sand Trap (sand traps) to refer to the Bunker area. It is because of Bunker's sand-filled characteristics, so "Sand Trap" is easier and closer to call. But, Sand Trap is not the official term in Golf Law. According to the Rule 12 of R&A and USGA (American Golf Association), Bunker is the correct term used.
Therefore, when communicating in a competition or academic environment, it is best to use the term "Bunker" only for the obstacle area filled with sand on the golf course. For the rest, you can use both the terms "Bunker" and "Sand Trap" as well.
3. Bunker types are common on golf courses
According to the location of appearance on the Golf Course, sand traps usually have the following 5 types:
3.1. Fairway Bunker
This sand trap is usually placed along the Fairway sides, making it difficult for Golfer to return the ball to the Green area.
There are even Fairway Bunker Design Golf Courses located inside the Fairway area of some pits.
3.2. Greenside Bunker
This sand trap is designed around Green, creating a challenge when players want to put the ball on Green.
3.3. Cross Bunker
This is a sand trap designed across Fairway, which is usually long and narrow, creating a big challenge for Golfer to take the ball towards Green.
At this time, Golfers will usually choose one of two options:
- Bunker Overrun: This could potentially put the ball into another danger zone or be thrown out of Fairway
- Bunker side batting: This will increase the distance to Green, making it difficult for the next hit.
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3.4. Pot Bunker
It is a kind of round or oval sand trap, with a small size and a fairly large depth, making it difficult for Golfer to hit the ball outside.
Pot Bunker is also called the Pothole Bunker or the Pothole and often appears on Golf Link courses (coastal golf courses with sand mound topography).
3.5. Church Pews Bunker
This is a relatively rare bunker, which is a long sand trap divided into many small compartments, alternately by high grasslands.
One of the famous golf courses with Church Pews Bunker is Oakmont Country Club in the US.
4. Is the Waste Area a Bunker?
The answer is no. The Waste Area is easily mistaken for Bunker, because it also contains sand inside.
According to the Golf Law of R&A and USGA, Bunker is a subsided sand area prepared in advance and carefully cared for. And Waste Area is the term for all the sand storage areas on the field and is not in a pre-prepared area.
The Waste Area is part of the General Area. Therefore, Golfer has a stick that touches sand, Swing draft on the Waste Area. But it is not allowed to "remove, press down or move" the sand at the back of the ball, intentionally improving the conditions affecting the hit – According to Rule 8.1a (4).
Go back to the 2010 PGA Tour at Whistling Straits Golf Course. At the 72nd hole of the tournament, Golfer Dustin Johnson mistakenly thought Bunker was Waste Area and let the bat touch the ground. But he was immediately reported to be breaking the law and subtracted 2 strokes.
5. R&A and USGA Golf Law on Bunker in 2023
So you know what Bunker in Golf is and what kind of sand traps are common. Next, let's learn about the latest regulations on golf laws in sand traps with the Golf Students.
5.1. Removable natural objects and moving obstacles can be removed
According to R&A and USGA laws 12.2a, players are allowed to remove naturally separated objects (loose impedance) and movable obstacles (movable objects) on the Bunker, as long as the ball does not move.
- Natural separated objects: Includes pebbles (rocks), split grass, leaves, branches, dead animals and animal waste. Also, worms, insects and similar animals, which can be easily moved.
- Reliable obstacles: It is possible to move easily without damaging that obstacle or the yard. And if that obstacle is part of a fixture or yard object, it shall not be moved (e.g. a detached stone of a stone wall).
However, there are also cases where objects can be moved but are specified as fixed obstacles by the Organizing Committee.
5.2. Rules of Golf for Bunker Bunker
5.2.1. When do we hit the sand in the bunker?
According to the laws 12.2.b (1) of R&A and USGA, before hitting the ball in the Bunker, the player must not:
- Touch the sand in the Bunker with your hand, stick or any other object to check the sand surface in the Bunker
- Touch the sand in the Bunker when performing Swing Draft or the Backwing stage of the stroke, moving the sand before and after the ball
- Remove non-natural objects and moving obstacles
In this case, the player's act of touching sand in the bunker will be considered to improve conditions that affect the hit, violate the 8.1a Law, and suffer General Penalty: Loss in confrontation or penalty of 2 strokes in stick fighting
5.2.2. When will the sand in the bunker not be penalized?
According to R&A and USGA rules 12.2.b (2), before a Bunker hit, players are allowed to touch the sand when:
- Press your feet on the sand to get into the swing position
- Rake sand in Bunker for yard care.
- Place sticks, equipment or other objects inside the Bunker by throwing or putting down
- Lean on a stick for balance or rest
- Hit the sand in anger or anger
After the hit, the ball escaped from the Bunker, the player could touch the sand in the sand trap without penalty. But if the ball is still stuck on the Bunker, the rules of Golf on the sand trap are still applied.
5.3. The rules of free golf in Bunker
According to the Golf R&A and USGA laws on Bunker, players can apply the ball release law in the following situations:
- Influenced by abnormal field conditions (including stationary obstructions) (Law 16.1c)
- Influenced by a dangerous animal condition (Law of 16.2)
- The ball is not hitting (Law of 19.3)
In case the ball fails to hit on the Bunker, the player has 4 options:
| # | Penal number of strokes | Option |
| Case 1 | 1 stick | Return to the position of the previous hit and perform the hit again |
| Case 2 | 1 stick | Drop the ball at the back of the original ball position, further away from the chess hole but still located in the Bunker. Accordingly, the drop position must be on a straight line from the chess hole to the original ball position, extending back and forth. |
| Case 3 | 1 stick | Drop the ball within 2 strokes of the base ball, but stay further away from the hole and stay in the bunker. |
| Case 4 | 2 stick | Drop the ball behind the original ball position, further away from the chess hole and located outside the Bunker. The drop position will be on a straight line from the chess hole to the original ball position, stretching back. |
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