What Is the Name of a Golf Course Hazard That Is Filled with Sand?

That sand-filled nuisance designed to swallow errant golf shots is officially called a bunker, but simply knowing its name is just the first step. To truly conquer an opponent, you have to understand it. This guide will walk you through exactly what a bunker is, the different types you'll face, the official rules for playing from the sand, and most importantly, a simple, step-by-step method to get your ball out confidently every single time.

The Official Definition of a Bunker

According to the USGA and R&A, the governing bodies of golf, a bunker is a "specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed." That's the technical term. In simpler language, it's an intentional hazard. It's not just a patch of dirt that happens to be there, the course architect put it there on purpose to test your skill and add a strategic challenge to the hole.

This is an important distinction because some courses have "waste areas" or "sandy areas" that are filled with sand but are not considered bunkers. Waste areas are part of the "general area," meaning you can ground your club and even take practice swings that touch the sand, things you absolutely cannot do in a true bunker. How can you tell the difference? Bunkers are typically more maintained, Raked, and have a clear, defined edge or lip. If you're unsure, treat it as a bunker to be safe.

Not All Bunkers Are Created Equal: Common Types

When you hear "bunker," you might picture one specific classic shape, but architects use different styles of bunkers to ask different questions of your golf game. Here are the main types you'll come across.

Greenside Bunkers

These are the most common bunkers you’ll find, positioned to guard the green and punish missed approach shots. They can be anywhere around the putting surface - front, back, or off to the sides. The main goal when playing from a greenside bunker is to get the ball out softly, have it land on the green, and stop relatively quickly near the pin. This requires a very specific technique focused on loft and control, not distance.

Fairway Bunkers

As the name suggests, these are found along the sides of the fairway, waiting to catch an offline tee shot or a stray layup. Fairway bunkers are typically larger and less deep than greenside bunkers, with a lower lip in front. This is because the objective is completely different. Here, you're not trying to pop the ball up a few feet, you're trying to advance it a significant distance down the fairway. The shot from a fairway bunker feels more like a normal iron shot, but with a few important adjustments.

Pot Bunkers

Popular on links-style courses found in Scotland, Ireland, and coastal areas, pot bunkers are the stuff of nightmares for many golfers. They are small, deep, circular, and often have very steep, revetted sod faces. They are extremely penalizing. If you find your way into one, forget about advancing the ball toward the green. The primary, and often only, objective is to get the ball out in any direction, even if it's sideways or backward, just to escape. Trying to be a hero from a pot bunker is how you make a very big number on your scorecard.

Know the Rules: What You Can (and Can't) Do in a Bunker

Before you even think about your swing, you need to know the rules. Violating one of them in a bunker will typically cost you a two-stroke penalty, turning a tough situation into a disaster.

• Don't Ground Your Club: This is the golden rule. Prior to making your actual swing at the ball, your club cannot touch the sand. This means no practice swings that touch the sand and no resting your clubhead on the sand behind the ball as you take your stance.
• Don't Test the Sand: You're not allowed to touch the sand with your hand or club to test its condition or depth. What you see is what you get.
• Don't Move Loose Impediments: Loose impediments are natural objects like Leaves, rocks, twigs, or pebbles. In a bunker, you are not allowed to move any loose impediment that is near your ball.
• Digging In Is Allowed: You are absolutely permitted, and in fact encouraged, to dig your feet into the sand to create a firm, stable stance. This is not considered testing the sand.
• Rake It When You're Done: While not a rule that impacts your score, it's one of golf's most important points of etiquette. Always smooth over your footprints and the mark made by your shot. Leaving a bunker a mess for the group behind you is a major faux pas.

Your Escape Plan: How to Hit a Greenside Bunker Shot

Alright, let's get down to the technique. Fear of bunker shots often comes from hitting the ball thin and skulling it over the green. This simple, repeatable method is designed to use the sand, not the ball, to lift your shot out softly and reliably.

Step 1: Club Selection - Grab Your Sand Wedge

This might sound obvious, but the sand wedge is built for this shot. It has two built-in superpowers: high loft (usually 54-58 degrees) and "bounce." Bounce is the angled sole on the bottom of the club. Instead of digging into the sand like a shovel, the bounce helps the club skim or "bounce" through the sand, splashing a cushion of sand out that carries the ball with it. It's your best friend in the bunker.

Step 2: The Setup - Open Up and Dig In

The setup is responsible for about 80% of your success in a bunker. Get this right, and the swing becomes much simpler.

1. Open the Clubface: Before you even take your grip, rotate the club in your hands so the face points up at the sky. A good visual is to have the leading edge of the club point a couple of hours right of your target (for a right-hander). This fully engages the bounce.
2. Take Your Grip:After the face is open, take your normal grip. If you open the face by twisting your hands after gripping, you'll subconsciously twist them back to square at impact, defeating the purpose.
3. Open Your Stance: Now, aim your feet, hips, and shoulders significantly left of your intended landing spot. By aiming your body left but keeping the clubface aimed at (or slightly right of) the target, you create the "out-to-in" swing path that cuts across the ball and helps it pop up softly.
4. Wiggle In Your Feet: Get a solid base by digging your feet an inch or two into the sand. This also lowers the bottom of your swing, which is good since you're trying to hit behind the ball.
5. Ball Position: Place the ball forward in your stance, opposite the instep or heel of your lead foot. This encourages you to hit the sand before the ball on the downswing.

Step 3: The Swing - Hit the Sand, Not the Ball

This is the most important concept to grasp. You are not trying to hit the golf ball. You are trying to hit the sand behind the ball.

• Pick Your Spot: Draw an imaginary line in the sand about two inches behind your golf ball. This line is your new target. All your focus should be on hitting this line with the bottom of your club.
• Swing with Speed: A common fault is decelerating into the sand. You need to accelerate through the shot. The sand provides a lot of resistance, so take a healthy backswing (at least three-quarters) and commit to swinging aggressively through to a full finish. Think about "splashing" a bucket of sand out of the bunker and onto the green. The ball will just go along for the ride.
• Follow Through: Don't stop your swing after you hit the sand. Keep your body rotating and finish your swing in a balanced position, with your chest facing the target. A full, committed follow-through ensures you've accelerated properly.

The Long Game: Playing from a Fairway Bunker

Hitting out of a fairway bunker requires a slightly different mentality and technique. Here, stability and clean contact are the priority, as you want to advance the ball as far as possible.

• Take More Club: The sand will take some energy off the shot, and you need to ensure you clear the lip of the bunker. A safe bet is to take one more club than you'd normally hit from that distance (e.g., a 7-iron instead of an 8-iron).
• Grip Down and Wiggle Less: Choke down on the club about an inch and don't dig your feet in as deeply as you would greenside. This raises the low point of your swing slightly, encouraging you to hit the ball first.
• Focus on a "Clean Pick": Unlike the greenside explosion shot, here you want to hit the ball first and then the sand. Think of it as hitting the top half of the ball. The goal is to make a "thinner" strike with minimal sand interaction.
• Stay Stable: Quiet your lower body during the swing. You won't get as much power as a normal fairway shot, but you gain control, which is the top priority from a fairway bunker.

Final Thoughts

So, the sand-filled area is a bunker, but as you now see, it's far more than just a sand trap. By understanding the type you're in, knowing the rules, and applying a solid, repeatable technique, you can stop dreading the sand and start seeing it as just another challenge you're equipped to handle.

Of course, every bunker shot presents a unique puzzle - the lie, the height of the lip, the type of sand. We built a feature directly for this problem right into Caddie AI. You can take a photo of your ball's lie in the bunker, and the app will give you instant, personalized advice on how to best play the shot. We created Caddie AI to give you an expert second opinion that removes the guesswork from these tough moments, so you can make your next swing with total confidence. Take a look at Caddie AI and see how having a clear plan can completely change your bunker play.