Don’t fear the sand

I know that most amateur golfers would prefer to be in the rough than in the sand, but it is just the opposite for the professional golfer.

In the sand you will usually get a better lie than in the rough, and you do not have to hit the shot as perfect out of the sand.

The first thing you need to do when faced with a bunker shot is to realize that it is not a difficult shot. Most of you will get in there with a fear that you will not get out of the sand, and if you do get out it will be over the green.

Here are a few things you can do to get out on the first swing and get it on the green. We will worry about getting it close to the hole later.

When in the bunker set up with a slightly open stance, keep the ball closer to the front foot, look at a spot in the sand 1-2 inches behind the ball (do not look at the ball), swing the club along your foot line and try to hit the spot you are looking at in the sand. Be sure to follow through, which means you are swinging through the ball, not at it. The key to the sand shot is to keep your arms swinging and your body turning while trying to hit 1-2 inches behind the ball. The ball will come out every time if you hit behind it and follow through. Even if you enter the sand 3-6 inches behind the ball it will still come out! There is a lot of room for error in the bunker.

I know this sounds really simple but it really is! There are some circumstances such as a long bunker shot, buried lie, under the lip, deep bunker, etc. which I will cover in future articles. Today’s “Shaving Strokes” is for the typical good lie in a bunker. Believe you can do it and it will happen; fear you cannot do it and it will not happen! Remember, golf is just a game and you want to have fun.

Marc Spaulding is Director of Golf at Cane Creek Golf Course.