Bunkers
A bunker is a prepared area of sand that presents a specific playing challenge. It is one of the Rules of Golf's five defined areas of the course. Natural sand, waste areas and sand spilled outside a bunker are not automatically part of a bunker.1
View full photograph
The edge matters. A grassed lip or a wall made of soil, stacked turf or artificial material is excluded from the bunker itself under the definition. The Committee can also define the status of particular sandy areas, so appearance alone does not settle every case.1
Rule 12 protects the challenge of playing from sand without prohibiting every contact with it. Before a stroke, a player must not deliberately test the sand or touch it with a club immediately in front of or behind the ball, in a practice swing or during the backswing, subject to the Rule's stated exceptions.2
The playing surface has a maintenance history of its own. In 2017, USGA agronomists described the labor needed for raking, repairing storm washouts, adjusting sand depth and trimming edges. They argued that daily pristine presentation could consume resources needed for greens and fairways.3
Sand selection changes how a bunker performs. The USGA's 2020 guide examines drainage, moisture retention, particle characteristics and the interaction with liners. It recommends testing suitable sands in trial bunkers, giving both golfers and the superintendent an opportunity to assess playability before wider installation.4