Bunker

What does bunker mean in golf?

Bunkers are strategically placed obstacles designed to penalize errant shots and add challenge to course design. They appear around greens (greenside bunkers) and along fairways (fairway bunkers). Under the Rules of Golf, players may not ground their club in the sand before making a stroke. Escaping bunkers requires specific technique — an open clubface and hitting the sand behind the ball rather than contacting the ball directly.