The first time I entered a bunker, I was far more concerned about escaping the sand than repairing it afterward. I hurriedly dragged the rake behind me, left several ridges and assumed the job was complete. Only later did I understand that good bunker etiquette protects the course and gives every golfer a fair playing surface.
Raking is not difficult, but using the wrong motion can move sand into unwanted areas, damage the bunker edge and leave awkward lies for the next group. This guide explains the complete process, from choosing an entry point to returning the rake correctly.
Why Proper Bunker Raking Matters
A bunker is designed to challenge a golfer’s skill. A deep footprint or club mark introduces an unfair obstacle that was never part of its intended design. Raking restores the surface so another player faces the bunker itself rather than damage left by someone else.
Careful raking also supports the maintenance crew. The same principle applies to fairway care, where knowing how to replace divots on the golf course helps restore damaged turf and leaves a better playing surface for the groups behind.
When players pull sand onto surrounding grass or move too much of it onto bunker slopes, workers must spend additional time restoring the correct depth and shape. Just as brushing sand from your line requires an understanding of proper golf etiquette, thoughtful raking can protect the course while improving everyone’s experience.
Seven Steps for Raking a Bunker Correctly
1. Locate the Lowest Entry Point
Walk around the bunker until you find its lowest, flattest side. Entering down a steep face may cause the sand to collapse, damage the turf edge, or create deep footprints.
Players who want to feel fresh and stable throughout the round may also consider should you workout the day before golf, especially when planning training around a tee time.
Just as golf carts damage turf when driven carelessly near bunkers, using a steep entry point can harm the surrounding grass. It can also increase your risk of slipping.
Enter and leave from the same low point whenever practical. This approach makes it easier to rake a bunker without disturbing more sand. Walking a few additional steps around the bunker is better than taking a damaging shortcut over a high bank.
2. Bring the Rake With You
Take the rake into the bunker before playing so you do not need to cross the sand twice. Set it somewhere that will not interfere with your stance, ball or swing.
Before making the shot, maintain a stable setup and controlled body motion. Golfers working on sequencing throughout their full swing may also benefit from understanding how to shift weight in golf for the kinematic sequence, particularly how pressure transfer and rotation work together during the motion.
Do not use the rake to test the sand before hitting. You should also avoid smoothing an area if doing so could improve the conditions affecting your upcoming stroke. Wait until the shot has been played before repairing the disturbed area.
3. Identify Everything That Needs Repair
After playing, look for more than the mark created by your club. You may have left a ball-impact mark, stance depressions and several footprints between the ball and your entry point.
Repair all the damage you caused, not merely the deepest mark. If another footprint is close to your path, smoothing it is a considerate gesture, provided doing so does not affect a ball that remains in play.
4. Fill Deep Marks First
Begin with the deepest depression created by the shot or your feet. If the rake has a flat back, use it gently to move nearby sand into the hole. This produces a level base before the rake teeth finish the surface.
Avoid pulling large quantities of sand from the bunker floor or pushing sand high onto a sloping face. The goal is to restore the disturbed area, not redesign the bunker.
5. Use Long, Light Raking Strokes
Hold the rake with both hands and use long, controlled strokes. Work backward and forward lightly until the sand looks even. Pushing the rake can help distribute sand without continually drawing it toward your body.
Do not press so deeply that the teeth create trenches. Short, jerky movements often leave grooves, while dragging the rake behind you as you walk out can create ridges and shift sand toward the bunker edge. Much like a common lag misconception stifling your strike, poor raking technique can make a simple task unnecessarily difficult.
The finished area should blend with the surrounding surface. A useful test is whether another golfer could easily tell where you stood. If obvious footprints or piles remain, make another gentle pass.
6. Rake Your Exit Route
Move toward the same low point you used to enter. Continue smoothing your footprints as you go, taking care not to step on the section you have just repaired.
Near the boundary, direct your strokes inward. Pulling sand over the edge can weaken surrounding grass, blur the bunker boundary and create maintenance problems. Once outside, use your club to tap loose sand from your shoes before walking onto closely cut grass or a putting green.
7. Return the Rake Thoughtfully
Courses may ask golfers to leave rakes inside, outside or partly inside bunkers. Always follow the course’s posted instructions because there is no universal placement policy.
If no instruction is available, leave the rake outside the bunker near a low access point and away from the likely line of play. Position it where another golfer can find it without climbing a steep slope. Do not leave it where it could stop a rolling ball, interfere with mowing or become grouped with several other rakes.
Common Bunker-Raking Mistakes
One of the most frequent mistakes is entering from the high side because it offers the shortest route to the ball. This damages steep faces and creates marks that are difficult to repair.
Other mistakes include pressing too firmly, raking only the shot mark, walking over a repaired area, and dragging the rake while exiting. Golfers may also misunderstand the rules about lifting and cleaning a ball, throw sand onto the grass, or leave the rake on a steep bank.
Speed should not replace care. Properly repairing a small disturbed area usually takes less than a minute. Smooth, deliberate movements are faster and more effective than repeatedly correcting hurried strokes.
Bunker Raking and the Rules of Golf
The Rules allow a player to smooth sand for course care, but timing and intent matter. Before making a stroke, a player must not deliberately touch the sand with a rake to test its condition. Raking also must not improve the lie, intended stance, swing area or line of play for a ball that is still in the bunker.
After the ball has been played out, the disturbed sand can generally be repaired. If the ball returns to the bunker or the player intends to take relief inside it, restrictions may apply again. When uncertain, avoid altering relevant sand and request a ruling.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the easiest way to learn how to rake a golf course bunker properly?
Enter from the low side, fill the deepest marks first and use long, light strokes. Rake your footprints while returning along the same route, then replace the rake according to course instructions.
2. Should I push or pull a bunker rake?
Use gentle pushing and pulling strokes to level the surface. Avoid continually pulling sand toward the bunker edge or simply dragging the rake behind you while walking out.
3. Do I have to rake every part of the bunker?
Repair your shot mark, stance marks, ball-impact mark and footprints. You do not need to rake untouched sections, although repairing nearby damage is courteous when it will not affect play.
4. Should the rake be left inside or outside?
Follow the course’s policy. If no instructions are available, placing it outside, near a low entry point and away from the probable line of play is a sensible choice.
5. Can I rake before playing my shot?
You may care for the course in certain circumstances, but you cannot test the sand or improve conditions affecting your upcoming stroke. The safest approach is to repair your disturbance after playing.
Final Thoughts
I now treat bunker care as part of completing the shot rather than an optional chore afterward. When I enter from the low side, repair every mark and leave an even surface, I know the next golfer receives the same fair challenge I did.
Learning how to rake a golf course bunker properly requires only a few deliberate habits. Respect the bunker’s shape, use controlled strokes and follow local rake-placement instructions. That small effort protects the course and reflects the consideration at the heart of good golf.
