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Find the Best Entry and Exit Point
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Locate the lowest spot around the edge of the bunker that is convenient to your golf ball. This will be your entry and exit point. Identifying this spot keeps you from walking down a steep facing (possibly damaging the turf), stepping off a higher rim (leaving deeper footprints), or having to walk a longer distance which would require raking a greater area of sand.
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Play Your Shot
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Play the shot. Notice that the golfer has dropped the rake directly behind the area where he has taken his stance. You should drop the rake at a convenient spot, within reaching distance. Otherwise, in retrieving the rake, you’ll just add more area of sand that needs to be tended.
04 of 06
Smooth Over the Sand as You Back Out of the Bunker
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Begin raking over the signs of play from the sand - the area where your club made contact with the sand, and your footprints. Pull the tines of the rake toward you as you begin moving back to the rim of the bunker. But be careful not to pull too much sand toward you. The idea is to restore an even surface to the sand without displacing too much sand. If you are pulling too much sand toward you, try pushing the tines outward a few times, too. All the while, you should be progressing back to the edge of the bunker.
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Admire Your Work
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When you are finished, the sand’s surface should be evened out, with no signs of divots or footprints, and no excess sand having been pulled toward the bunker’s edge. There will be little furrows left from the tines of the rake.
The important thing is that the sand is in as good or better condition than that which you found it in. Make sure golfers following behind you have a good quality bunker from which to play any necessary sand shots.
01 of 06
Find the Best Entry and Exit Point
Locate the lowest spot around the edge of the bunker that is convenient to your golf ball. This will be your entry and exit point. Identifying this spot keeps you from walking down a steep facing (possibly damaging the turf), stepping off a higher rim (leaving deeper footprints), or having to walk a longer distance which would require raking a greater area of sand.
01 of 06
01
of 06
02 of 06
Enter the Bunker With Rake
Once you’ve identified the most convenient low spot from which to enter and exit … enter! Notice that the golfer is carrying the rake into the bunker with him. Contrary to what some golfers believe, it is not only within the rules to take a rake into a bunker with you, it is advisable to do so because it speeds up the process.
02 of 06
02
03 of 06
Play Your Shot
Play the shot. Notice that the golfer has dropped the rake directly behind the area where he has taken his stance. You should drop the rake at a convenient spot, within reaching distance. Otherwise, in retrieving the rake, you’ll just add more area of sand that needs to be tended.
03 of 06
03
04 of 06
Smooth Over the Sand as You Back Out of the Bunker
Begin raking over the signs of play from the sand - the area where your club made contact with the sand, and your footprints. Pull the tines of the rake toward you as you begin moving back to the rim of the bunker. But be careful not to pull too much sand toward you. The idea is to restore an even surface to the sand without displacing too much sand. If you are pulling too much sand toward you, try pushing the tines outward a few times, too. All the while, you should be progressing back to the edge of the bunker.
04 of 06
04
05 of 06
Exit the Bunker and Complete Raking
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05
06 of 06
Admire Your Work
When you are finished, the sand’s surface should be evened out, with no signs of divots or footprints, and no excess sand having been pulled toward the bunker’s edge. There will be little furrows left from the tines of the rake.
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06
The important thing is that the sand is in as good or better condition than that which you found it in. Make sure golfers following behind you have a good quality bunker from which to play any necessary sand shots.
