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Should Golfers Be Allowed to Repair Bunkers Before Hitting a Shot?

📌 The Nightmare Bunker Lie

You step into a bunker, and instead of a clean, smooth surface, you see:

🚨 A deep footprint right behind your ball.

🚨 A trench left by someone’s failed escape attempt.

🚨 Unraked, compacted sand that might as well be concrete.

You haven’t even swung yet, and your hole is already ruined.

But here’s the big question: Should golfers be allowed to repair bunkers before hitting a shot?

Let’s break it down:

What the rules say

Why bunkers are so inconsistent

Should the rule be changed—or is it part of the challenge?

⛳ What Do the Rules Say About Repairing Bunkers?

Under Rule 12.2b of the Rules of Golf (USGA), golfers CANNOT repair the bunker before hitting their shot.

What You CAN Do:

✅ Remove loose impediments (rocks, leaves, etc.)

✅ Take relief for an unplayable lie (with a penalty stroke)

✅ Rake the bunker AFTER you hit your shot

What You CANNOT Do:

🚨 Smooth out footprints or unraked sand before playing

🚨 Test the sand’s texture with practice swings

🚨 Improve the area around the ball in any way

🚨 Translation: If you find yourself in a footprint, you’re stuck with it—play it as it lies or take a penalty.

🤯 Why This Rule Drives Golfers Crazy

Bunkers are supposed to be a hazard, but many golfers argue that the current rule is unfair.

Here’s why:

1️⃣ It’s Not Your Fault, So Why Are You Punished?

• If bunkers were always properly raked, this wouldn’t be an issue.

• But on busy courses, most bunkers are a disaster by the afternoon.

• So if the group ahead of you doesn’t rake, you’re playing out of their mess.

🚨 Key Question: Should you be penalized because someone else didn’t rake?

2️⃣ Bunkers Are Wildly Inconsistent

• Some courses have soft, fluffy sand—others feel like a construction site.

• Some bunkers are raked daily, others haven’t seen a rake in weeks.

• Some courses have deep bunkers, some have almost none.

🚨 The Problem: You never know what kind of lie you’re going to get—even from a perfect shot.

3️⃣ The Rules Already Allow Some “Improvements”

• You can repair pitch marks on the green.

• You can remove obstructions and debris anywhere on the course.

• So why can’t you fix a footprint in a bunker?

🚨 Key Question: If the goal of golf is a fair test of skill, shouldn’t you at least get a clean lie?

🔥 Should This Rule Be Changed? Here Are the Arguments

⛔ Argument AGAINST Changing the Rule (Keep It as Is)

Bunkers are meant to be hazards—they shouldn’t be “perfect.”

Bad luck is part of golf—you don’t always get a good lie.

If golfers could rake before hitting, it would slow down play.

🚨 Counterpoint: If bunkers are hazards, why do we rake them at all?

✅ Argument FOR Allowing Repairs Before a Shot

🚨 Some golfers argue:

Golf should be a test of skill, not random bad luck.

If pros play on perfectly raked bunkers, why shouldn’t amateurs get a fair chance?

This change would speed up play by reducing complaints and penalty drops.

Example: The USGA already allows preferred lies in certain conditions—why not allow a quick bunker repair?

🔬 What Would a Rule Change Look Like?

If the rule were to change, here are some possible solutions:

Option 1: Allow Players to Smooth the Sand—But Only in a Small Area

• Golfers could rake the sand directly behind their ball but not the entire bunker.

• This would prevent players from creating a perfect lie while still eliminating unfair footprints.

🚨 Problem: Would this be too difficult to enforce?

Option 2: Allow Smoothing in Public Course Bunkers, But Not in Tournament Play

• This would help casual golfers on busy courses where bunkers are often in bad condition.

• Competitive golf would still require playing it as it lies.

🚨 Problem: This would create two different sets of rules for different levels of play.

Option 3: Keep It as Is, But Require Courses to Maintain Bunkers Better

• Instead of changing the rule, the focus could be on improving course maintenance.

• More rakes placed around bunkers and course staff smoothing bunkers more often.

🚨 Problem: Not every course has the resources to maintain perfect bunkers.

📢 What’s Your Take?

Should golfers be allowed to repair bunkers before hitting, or is the rule fine as is?

Let’s hear your thoughts! 👇

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The Golf Bandit
The Golf Bandit

Hi, I'm Jan. I'm passionate about golf and have been playing for years. I love testing out new clubs and equipment, and I share my reviews right here on my blog. With access to the latest gear, I provide honest insights on how they perform on the course. I also enjoy sharing tips and tricks to help you improve your game. Thanks for visiting—hope you find something useful!

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