Gary Player's Rules for Bunkers

Here are some tips from Gary Player for your bunker shots taken from Golf World

• Never think of a bunker as a 'Trap'
• Less Sand = More Spin
• Very Wide Stance
• Cock wrists early in backswing
• Accelerate through impact

Can you do better?

A Bunker Mentality

If you are really bad out of sand traps, the kind of person who shoots huge numbers on holes (because you can't get out) when they're in them, then think about this possibility. Try chipping out sideways, or backwards (where there are no lips) to get out of the trap on the first try. If you aim it correctly, and execute it half way decently, you shouldn't have to contend with that bunker anymore, with only a chip or pitch to the green remaining. A good chip and a putt will get you the same result as if you hit a pretty good bunker shot and two putted. Play away from weaknesses and toward your strengths.

What's your worst moment on the golf course?

We had your Seve moments recently, now we're going to talk about the opposite - the Van de Velde moments if you will.

Mine came at the par three 14th at The Oxfordshire - a fairly straightforward 165-yard hole - huge bunker all the way up the left and a bit of a muddy mess immediately in front of the raised tee.

Needless to say I plopped a five iron into the muddy rough and a after a brief search, we found said ball, which had appeared to spin back after almost plugging.

What followed next can only be described as a nightmare.

I managed to top my next shot, slamming it deep underground and unplayable, so a drop and a pulled nine iron left me in the bunker, some dozen feet or so beneath the green and short-sided.

Two out the sand on to the bank and by this point I could feel myself going. Shot seven was hit with no thought or care, but it turned out to be the best of the lot, to a foot of the pin and my playing parner kindly spared my the possibility of missing it.

An eight.

Okay, I've had worse scores, but I'd been playing some really nice, steady golf (we both had), good course management and after a 46 out, was on course for a low 90s score.

In the end, a five on the last brought me home in 98 and although I would have settled for breaking 100 at the start of the round, it felt like disappointing score.

Great course though, certainly helped by the fact we seemed to be the only place in Britain without rain. Driving up the M40 we both doubted whether we would get a game as it was fairly chucking it down and visibility down to a decent pitching wedge.

But the rain abated for four hours and we had an enjoyable morning.

Lovely course, with some excellent holes - particularly enjoyed the par four eighth with two shots over water to a green that felt like an island and the par 5 17th, which has an intriguing second over water should you be long enough off the tee.

Felt quite links-y in places with lots of pot bunkers - in fact, lots of sand in general.

Anyway, tell me about your round-wreckers in the comments below.