Breaking 90: The three L's of fairway bunker play

By Kurt Stegbauer, PGA Teaching Professional, The Ridge GC,  Sydney, NSW.

As a coach I’m always trying to find simpler ways to improve golfers.

In coaching fairway bunker play I have developed a very simple approach to these shots, which is different to how most amateurs approach them.

If you apply these three ‘L’ steps here you will certainly have more success when playing these shots.

STEP 1

Assess the LIE, as this dictates what you can or can’t do. If it is a bad lie it will more than likely prevent you from going for the green.

STEP 2

Assess the LIP. If you have a good LIE then which iron will allow you to get over the lip of the bunker?

STEP 3

Assess the LENGTH. If you have a good LIE and a club that can get over the LIP, the length of the shot is the last factor to come into your decision making before pulling the trigger.

So the next time you are in a fairway bunker simply remember the three ‘L’s – lie, lip and length – for getting out of fairway bunkers successfully.

KURT STEGBAUER is the PGA certified head professional and director of coaching at The Ridge Golf Course in Sydney. To book a lesson with Kurt, visit his website www.theridgegolf.com.au or call (02) 9541 4960.