Bunkers are one of the few places on the course where the rules restrict what you can do before your stroke, and they are a common source of penalty strokes. The rules were simplified in recent years: you can now remove loose impediments and touch the sand in more situations. But some actions still cost two strokes. Here is what you can and can't do in a bunker.
This is a summary. For full details, see the official Rules of Golf and local rules.
What is a bunker?
A bunker is a specially prepared area of sand, usually a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed. Sandy areas that are not prepared, such as waste areas and natural sandy ground, are usually part of the general area, so bunker rules don't apply. The lip, walls or faces made of grass or soil are not part of the bunker. Read parts of a golf course explained.
What you can't do
The general penalty for breaching these rules is two strokes in stroke play, or loss of the hole in match play.
- Touch the sand with your hand, club or rake to test its condition.
- Touch the sand with your club in the area right in front of or behind the ball.
- Touch the sand in a practice swing.
- Touch the sand in your backswing.
- Improve your lie, area of intended stance or swing, or line of play by pressing down, smoothing or moving sand.
What you can do
- Remove loose impediments such as leaves, twigs and stones, and movable obstructions such as rakes. If your ball moves while removing a loose impediment, it is a one-stroke penalty and you must replace it.
- Dig your feet in to take your stance.
- Lean on a club to rest or keep your balance, or place clubs and equipment in the bunker.
- Touch the sand accidentally, or when falling, or to prevent a fall.
- Smooth the sand to care for the course, as long as you don't improve your conditions for the stroke.
- Rake the bunker after you have played out of it, even if your ball is back in the bunker, as long as you don't improve the conditions for your next stroke.
- Strike the sand in anger after a poor shot, as long as it doesn't improve conditions for your next stroke.
Unplayable ball in a bunker
You may declare your ball unplayable in a bunker. Your options are:
| Option | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Stroke and distance: play again from where you played your previous stroke | 1 stroke |
| Back-on-the-line relief in the bunker | 1 stroke |
| Lateral relief within two club-lengths, in the bunker | 1 stroke |
| Back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker | 2 strokes |
The two-stroke option lets you escape a bunker you can't get out of. Read difficult bunker shots.
Water and other conditions in a bunker
- Temporary water or ground under repair in a bunker: take free relief in the bunker, at the nearest point of complete relief, or the point of maximum available relief. Or take relief outside the bunker on the line for one penalty stroke.
- A bunker completely filled with water: the committee may declare it ground under repair by local rule.
Read golf free relief rules.
Embedded ball in a bunker
There is no free relief for a ball embedded in a bunker. You must play it or declare it unplayable. Read difficult bunker shots.
Local rules to watch for
- Damaged or under-repair bunkers may be marked as ground under repair.
- Waste areas may be treated as the general area.
- Practice bunkers and some sandy areas may be excluded.
Check the scorecard or notice board.
Bunker etiquette
- Enter and leave from the low side, nearest your ball.
- Rake your footprints and the area of your shot.
- Leave the rake where the course asks: inside or outside the bunker.
- Smooth the sand for the next golfer.
Read golf etiquette 101.
Common mistakes
- Grounding the club behind the ball at address.
- Taking a practice swing that brushes the sand.
- Touching the sand in the backswing.
- Testing the sand with a hand or club before playing.
- Raking a nearby area before playing a shot in a way that improves conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ground my club in a bunker?
No. You may not touch the sand with your club right in front of or behind the ball, in practice swings or in your backswing.
Can I remove leaves and stones from a bunker?
Yes. You may remove loose impediments, but if your ball moves, it is a one-stroke penalty.
What if I can't get out of a bunker?
Declare the ball unplayable and take relief outside the bunker on the line for two penalty strokes, or use one of the one-stroke options.
Is a waste area a bunker?
Usually not. Waste areas are typically part of the general area. Check local rules.
The bottom line
In a bunker, keep your club off the sand before your stroke, don't test the sand, and feel free to remove leaves, stones and rakes. Know your unplayable options, including the two-stroke escape outside the bunker, and always rake the sand afterwards. For more rules, read putting green rules.