Global Sports: How To Rake Bunkers And Sand Traps

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

How To Rake Bunkers And Sand Traps

By Jamie Faidley


Some golfers never seem to rake out a bunker or sand trap after blasting a shot out of one. This is probably because they don't understand how to properly rake out the trap, or are just too lazy to do it. Some golfers do not even know where to put the rake after they have cleaned up the outer surface of the sand trap.

These two procedures are an important part of golf etiquette. This is a courtesy given to the golfers playing behind you and will be done to provide the best playing surface for other golfers on the course. It is difficult enough blasting the ball out of a sand trap. But it is more frustrating to try to blast out of a sand trap that hasn't been raked by the player ahead of you.

Raking the sand trap is easy enough to do when you learn these procedures. It'll also help you to grasp where to put the rake so it is back in its proper spot.

1. For you to rake out the bunker less complicated, you must choose the lowest spot to enter and exit the bunker. Selecting to step into the bunker from the very highest point will cause the bunker to wear away rapidly and creates a larger area to rake out.

2. It is fantasically legal for you to bring the rake with you when you enter the trap, and it lets you speed up play as well. Just make sure that you do not use the rake to boost the ball's lie or to align your shot. Lay it out of the way before proceeding to make your shot, and use the rake after.

3. After making your shot, rake the divot you took with your club first. Go to an area where your feet went into the sand. Level the surface of the sand as you pull the rake toward you. Ensure you don't take too much sand as you pull the rake towards you, while maintaining the contour of the sand.

4. Follow yourself out the trap as you level the surface of the sand from where you entered and left the trap. Once you've reached the edge, review the raked trap, making sure the surface is as smooth as possible. The tines of the rake will make tiny grooves in the sand, but that is normal. Except for those left by the tines of the rake, there shouldn't be any gouges, divots or any other indentations in the sand.

There is not one generally accepted place that you can put the rake after it's used by you. Some golfing courses may have specific rules on the placement of rakes around the sand bunker, but the United States Golf Association doesn't have a rule that covers this part of the game.

Decide where it's best to place the rake if there isn't any mentioned placement rule. Most experienced golfers would lay the rake on the exterior of trap, but on the side of the trap where it is away from where most balls enter the trap. The best place to lay the rake is along the side of the trap closest to the rough. You shouldn't place the rake in any place where it may result in a distraction for other golfers.

Lay the rake at the highest spot of the bunker if it is located along the side of the golfing green, but you must also ensure that it is out of the customary line a golfer hits the bunker from. If the bunker can be hit from the tee box, then find the line from the tee box to the bunker. Make sure that you do not lay the rake anywhere within that line. Always place the rake at the other side of the tee box and the bunker. Never place it in between.

These straightforward instructions on properly raking a trap and where the rake should be correctly placed should keep the game more delightful for everyone, including the golfers behind you. Always use your best judgment when you come on such a situation. Consider how you would want the trap to look and where you would want the rake to be placed when you're about to play a hole. Showing the right golf etiquette will make the game more nice for everyone and won't take away much of your time.




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