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Bunker shots require a specific technique to escape cleanly and get close to the hole. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Your Stance & Clubface: Set up with your feet slightly open to the target line. Open the clubface as well—this increases loft and allows the club to slide under the ball.
2. Ball Position Forward: Place the ball slightly forward in your stance, closer to your front foot. This promotes a higher, softer shot.
3. Dig Your Feet In: Shuffle your feet into the sand to create a stable base and lower your center of gravity. This ensures solid footing and helps you hit below the ball.
4. Focus on the Sand, Not the Ball: Aim to hit 1-2 inches behind the ball, splashing the sand onto the green. The sand will lift the ball out, so don’t try to make direct contact with the ball.
5. Accelerate Through Impact: Use a full, confident swing with a good follow-through. Accelerating helps ensure the club gets through the sand and propels the ball out of the trap.
6. Maintain Loft: Keep the clubface open throughout the swing, allowing the bounce to do the work. Closing the face at impact can cause you to dig into the sand too much, resulting in a fat shot.

Practice this technique to boost your confidence and turn sand traps into scoring opportunities!

October is home to the first full month of the fall season. While the weather might be prime for golf, the amount of daylight is certainly not. Here are some tips to improve your pace so you can comfortably finish those late afternoon rounds!

• Play ready golf: If you’re playing in a group, know who’s hitting and who’s next up. Spending time waiting for a player to get ready is taking time that could be spent by someone else hitting their ball.
• Track where your ball lands: As the sun sets earlier, it can be tricky to see exactly where the ball lands. Make sure you watch as long as you can and try picking out a landmark that is close to where the ball lands. If you don’t know exactly, a nearby tree or bunker is a good place to start.
• Don’t spend too much time looking: The USGA has a 3-minute rule when looking for lost balls. The soft conditions and falling leaves can make your ball difficult to locate, even in the fairways. Sometimes, its best to drop a ball where you think it landed and move on.
• Your cart-mate can be your best friend: Use each other to your advantage. Drop your mate off to hit while you’re looking for a ball. Pick up his wedge off the green if he’s the last to putt out. Get his distance while he’s observing his lie or share a rangefinder if one of you doesn’t have one. A team effort can go a long way.

Work some of these habits into your rounds and they will quickly start to become second nature. Soon enough, you’ll be playing much faster without feeling rushed. Happy playing!