Bunker rakes: In or out? Here’s what the rules say
It’s always a debate at golf clubs but did you know the R&A and USGA have a recommendation for the position of bunker rakes? Here’s what you need to know
Only pitch marks, or footprints, seems to provoke a bigger reaction than this at our clubs. I’ve seen countless posts, videos, and advice on where they should be. In or out. Where do you stand? I am, of course, talking about the position of bunker rakes.
It seems every club does it differently. Some like them placed in the centre of the sand, others half in and out. Does your committee prefer the rakes to be completely outside of the bunker, or are you even asked to place them on holders?
If your club is all at a quandary, or the members don’t like the policy on show, maybe the Rules of Golf can help.
There is nothing in the 24 rules that covers this specific situation but The Official Guide to the Rules of Golf has a near 200-page section on committee procedures, course set up, and Local Rules, and they do have a section that considers how a club might deal with the thorny problems of rake position.
Bunker rakes: What do the rules say?
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that there is not a set position: “There is not a perfect answer for the position of rakes and it is a matter for the Committee to decide whether it has rakes placed in or out of bunkers.”
You can see the complications. Leave a rake outside the bunker and it can keep a ball out, or even deflect it in. Put the rake in the bunker and it might halt a ball that would otherwise have had enough speed to come out.
Could the position of a rake which stops a ball lead to an awkward shot from a difficult lie, or does a rake that’s thrown into a bunker leave a dent in the sand that will cause issues for those behind?
Is it easier for the maintenance team to cut the fairways and those areas close up to the bunkers if they remain inside the trap?
But even though the committee procedures say it’s ultimately up to clubs, they do put forward a recommendation.
And it is… OUT.
“It is recommended that rakes should be left outside bunkers in areas where they are least likely to affect the movement of the ball.”
Got a question for our rules expert?
Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.
Golf bunker rates: In or out? Do you agree? Is the only place for a rake inside a bunker, or should they be allowed to roam free in the general area? Let me know how you got on by leaving a comment on X.
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
