Rake: A rakeplaced in or around sand-filled bunkers for the purpose of re-smoothing the surface after walking in, and playing a shot out of, the sand. Example: After blasting out of the trapI used the raketo fix the trap. When I was done you couldn't tell that I had ever evenbeen in the trap.
Why do I need to replace my golf rake?
This is especially important following greenside bunker shots. Walking across the green after hitting a bunker shot can leave sandy footprints that cause playability issues for other golfers and may even damage expensive maintenance equipment. The final step is replacing your rake in the location preferred by the course.
Where should you leave your rake on a golf course?
According to the course managers we spoke to, the ideal location to leave your rake is inside the bunker, as close to the centre as possible, with the rake pointing in a direct line towards the hole. From a greenkeeper's point of view, leaving the rake inside the bunker helps them speed up maintenance around the edge of the hazard.
How to rake bunkers in golf?
When raking, stroke the sand just hard enough to eliminate any ridges or rough spots without digging trenches with the tines. You can always look around at other raked spots for examples. Raking bunkers is one of those tedious acts required in golf.
Who decides where rakes should be placed on a course?
Ultimately, it is a matter for the committee to decide where it wishes rakes to be placed. Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor.
Where should you put the rake in golf?
The USGA recommends placing rakes outside of bunkers and away from where they are likely to interfere with play. Ideally, you don't want to place rakes across the line of play or in a location where they could trap balls in a difficult spot – e.g., within a bunker on a steep slope near the lip.
What happens if you hit the rake in golf?
The penalties are stiff. Merely carrying the club, and not using it, can cost him up to four strokes in stroke play and the loss of two holes in match play. And if he happens to make a stroke with his sandpapered club, he's disqualified.
Does the rake go in the bunker?
And don't lay them in front of bunkers, because it could stop someone's ball from going into the bunker. “The recommendation is to leave rakes outside of the bunker,” says Pagel. “We always place rakes outside of the bunker and parallel to the line of play for USGA Championships.”
What is rake and place golf rule?
A. It is recommended that rakes be placed outside of the bunker and away from where they might interfere with play. However, this is only a recommendation, not a Rule of Golf, and there is no penalty if they are placed anywhere else. © 2022 United States Golf Association. All Rights Reserved.
Can you clean your golf ball on the putting green?
Cleaning golf ball: A player is allowed to mark, lift, clean and replace the ball on the putting green and anywhere else on the course that is within the rules of golf. A player can clean the ball in a manner convenient and appropriate to their own taste.
Can I rake the bunker before your shot?
A. When your ball is in a bunker, you may rake the bunker at any time to care for the course as long as you do not improve the conditions affecting your upcoming stroke (this means to improve your lie, area of intended stance, area of intended swing or line of play) (see Rule 12.2b(2)).
How do you rake a trap?
0:321:59If deep depressions are left by your feet or from hitting the golf ball use the smooth side of theMoreIf deep depressions are left by your feet or from hitting the golf ball use the smooth side of the rake to fill them in then flip the rake over and use the other side to smooth the entire area.
Can you take a drop out of a bunker in golf?
With the new golf rules, a golfer will not only be able to declare their ball unplayable in a bunker, but they will be allowed to take relief outside of a bunker in exchange for a two-stroke penalty. The relief will be taken using the new drop procedure, with the relief spot determined by back-on-the-line relief.
Where should you leave a bunker rake?
The main one would be leaving it at right angles to the line of play. This greatly increases the chances of it affecting another player's ball. Instead, you should always try to leave it parallel to the line of play. Another mistake to avoid is leaving it half in, half out of the bunker.
Are you allowed to clean your golf ball on the fairway?
A golfer cannot clean their ball in any other situation, including when the ball is in the fairway, when the ball is in the rough, when the ball is in a bunker.
Can you move your ball in golf?
If your ball comes to rest and is then moved by natural forces such as wind or water, you normally must play it from its new spot. If your ball at rest is lifted or moved by anyone or any outside influence before the stroke is made, your ball must be replaced on its original spot.
Can I ground my club in a bunker 2021?
Not allowed to ground your club in the bunker The main rule to follow in bunkers is you are not allowed to touch the sand with your club whether that be grounding it behind the ball, shifting sand on your backswing or having a practice shot in the sand.
Why do you leave a rake in a bunker?
From a greenkeeper's point of view, leaving the rake inside the bunker helps them speed up maintenance around the edge of the hazard.
Why do we have rakes up in bunkers?
The reason we do that is there are a lot of hidden bunkers on the course due to its topography and it gives a better indication to the golfers of just where these bunkers are.
Where are you supposed to leave the rake?
You can spend your whole life trying to avoid them, but at some point, you’re going to find a bunker, at which point you’re going to face the question: Where are you supposed to leave the rake? Some clubs print instructions on the rake handle, which makes it simple; proper etiquette calls for you to follow local rules. But otherwise, you’re left to your own devices. Inside the hazard? Just outside it? A hybrid position along the edge?
Who said we had no bunker rakes at all?
“In my early days in golf,” the Black Knight began, “we had no bunker rakes at all! We just used our shoes to tidy up. It was quite common for your ball to roll into a footprint.”
Should you leave a rake outside a bunker?
On the matter at hand, Player says it’s best to leave the rake outside the bunker, “where it is least likely to interfere with play.” We agree. Though we understand the argument for inside-the-bunker placement (it prevents a rake from obstructing a bunker-bound ball, while also making it easier on maintenance to mow around the edges), we believe in striving for the lesser of two evils: better to inconvenience golf course-groomers than to inconvenience other golfers.
Who decides where rakes should be placed?
Ultimately, it is a matter for the committee to decide where it wishes rakes to be placed.
Where should rakes be left in a bunker?
Some would argue that rakes should be left in, or lobbed into, the centre of a bunker, and if the rake is to be left in the bunker, then clearly there is some merit in this as bunkers tend to be concave so that is the spot to which rolling balls will typically gather, depending on the type and consistency of the sand.
What is the back of the bunker shot?
The ‘back of the bunker’ shot where the rear lip impinges on either backswing or downswing can yield some very interesting and costly results. At least from the grass downslope tee-side of the bunker you can usually advance it vaguely forwards, thus limiting the direct scorecard damage to a single shot.
What is the rule for replacing a ball in a bunker?
When the ball comes to rest on or against a rake in the bunker and the player must proceed under Rule 24-1, it may not be possible to replace the ball on the same spot or find a spot in the bunker which is not nearer the hole — see decision 20-3d/2.
Can a rake be placed outside a bunker?
It may be argued that there is more likelihood of a ball being deflected into, or kept out of, a bunker if the rake is placed outside the bunker. It could also be argued that if the rake is in the bunker it is most unlikely that the ball will be deflected out of the bunker. However, in practice, players who leave rakes in bunkers frequently leave ...
Should rakes be left outside bunkers?
Therefore, after considering all these aspects, it is recommended that rakes should be left outside bunkers in areas where they are least likely to affect the movement of the ball.
Why do golf courses use different rakes?
Courses choose different rakes for a variety of reasons including price, the type of sand they have, the type of playing surface they want, and the appearance of the rake itself .
What to do after raking a bunker?
After raking a bunker, the sand should be as smooth as possible. If using the “Aussie method”, use the back of the rake head to smooth the perimeter as you exit. When raking a bunker, do not leave piles of sand or depressions that might create a tough lie for someone else. Superintendents work hard to provide good bunker playability ...
What happens if you walk across the green after hitting a bunker shot?
This is especially important following greenside bunker shots. Walking across the green after hitting a bunker shot can leave sandy footprints that cause playability issues for other golfers and may even damage expensive maintenance equipment. The final step is replacing your rake in the location preferred by the course.
How to smooth the perimeter of a bunker?
If you find yourself in a bunker that has been prepared this way, flip the rake over and use the smooth side of the rake head – with the teeth facing up – to smooth the perimeter of the bunker where you enter and exit after raking your way out of the floor. When raking near the edge of a bunker, do not pull sand out of the bunker into the grass.
How to maintain bunker grass?
In addition to this basic goal, there are a few other things to keep in mind while raking that can help maintain the bunker and surrounding grass areas: Always enter and exit on the low side of a bunker – do not jump down or climb up steep faces, even if it might be a faster.
Can you climb steep grass?
Climbing steep grass faces can cause serious turf damage in an area where it is already hard to grow grass. Walking up and down sand faces can cause the sand to shift and collapse, which creates playability issues and a time- consuming repair job for the maintenance team.