When golf's biggest challenges pop up in conversation, speedy greens or long par-5s might come into play. But there's one element that shapes how you approach all of your shots - the bunker. Unfortunately, bunkers are placed strategically to make you rethink your decisions, test your skills, and reward smart thinking.
Whether you play regularly or a newbie, understanding why bunkers matter can drastically improve your play. Without further ado, let's hit the fairway and dive into why course hazards - especially bunkers - change your strategy, and what can you do to help yourself.
1. Bunkers Force You To Think Before You Swing
Golf isn't a goal to hit the ball as far as possible, it's about knowing where to hit. Bunkers are often placed to punish common mistakes: near the green, guarding the front of a hole, or lining the fairway at driving distance.
Because of this, bunkers change the way you see. You'll begin thinking:
- Should I lay up short or try to clear it?
- Should I aim a certain direction to avoid trouble?
- Do I have the confidence to go for it?
This type of thinking is what can separate a good round from an agonising one.
2. Bunkers Reward Clever Shot Placement
The best course designers use bunkers to reward players who play accurate shots. For example where a green may be guarded by bunkers on either side, but there's a safe landing area in the center, or a fairway bunker where it pays to hit a fade or a draw to carry it around where a straight shot would go.
Knowing where your safe zones are can help you take smart risks.
3. Escaping Bunkers Requires Specific Skills
You cannot play bunker shots like normal shots, your technique must change for all kinds of bunkers. You'll need:
- An open stance and clubface for greenside bunkers
- A smooth, committed swing to splash the ball out
- Good judgement for how much sand to take
Bunkers test your short game technique and mental focus. Confidence in your sand play will help reduce your fear within them.
4. Influence In Club Selection
When evaluating a hole before playing it, a bunker on the right side of the fairway might not seem so scary, but it is important to think about your regular landing spot. It might force you to play a different club to land short/long of the bunker, and in this way, bunkers can change your entire round.
They can impact your pre-shot routine, confidence over the ball, and of course your club selection.
Good players learn to adjust, while beginners can get trapped by hazards they could have avoided with smarter planning.
5. Not All Bunkers Are Made The Same
There's a huge difference between a greenside pot bunker in Scotland, and a flat fairway trap in Florida.
Understanding the type of bunker you're dealing with is crucial:
- Fairway bunkers need a controlled swing and a lower lofted club.
- Greenside bunkers need finesse, spin, and a solid splash.
Bunkers aren't there just to punish bad shots - they're there to train strategy and reward smart thinking and shot placement. The higher the understanding of the hazards, the more confident you will be navigating and avoiding them.
Remember bunkers matters - but with the right mindset and a bit of practise, they don't have to ruin your round.
Thanks for reading, and, as always, keep it in the short grass! 🏌️