Bunker Rake: In or Out? The Right Way

Temps de lecture : 3 min

The Rake Question Nobody Settles

Here’s the thing nobody talks about: the bunker rake debate has no official answer. The Rules of Golf leave it to the course or the tournament committee. I’ve walked hundreds of courses, and I’ve seen rakes tossed everywhere—inside, outside, halfway up the lip, buried in sand. It’s a mess.

Rake Inside vs. Outside: The Physics

I’ve played that shot a thousand times. If the rake is outside the bunker, a ball coming in hot can hit it and stop short. Or it can carom backward into the bunker. If the rake is inside, a ball might bounce out instead of staying in the sand. Neither way is a win. You’re just hoping luck doesn’t screw you over.

Bobby Jones figured this out in 1928: you can’t control every variable. What you can control is where you put the rake. Leave it on the side least likely to interfere. If the bunker is at the base of a hill, put the rake at the far end, outside. If it’s a green-side bunker with approach shots from the right, slide it to the left, inside or out—use your head.

My Simple Rule

The game doesn’t owe you anything. Walk the course. You’ll understand what I mean. When you finish raking, ask yourself: “If I hit my best shot, where’s the ball most likely to end up?” Then place the rake away from that spot. That’s not a tip—that’s a truth. And if the course has a rule, follow it. Otherwise, use discretion. Just don’t throw it in the middle of the bunker where someone might stand on it, or fifty yards away where nobody sees it.

Snead once said that golf is played one shot at a time, but the courtesy between shots matters just as much. Leave the rake so the next player faces a fair test, not a random bounce. That’s how you honor the game.

Eddie Pearcy

Playing golf since before GPS rangefinders existed. Eddie covers the classic game — courses, technique, and the stories worth keeping.