The Problem of the Bunker
Golf is a highly technical sport that takes a long time and a lot of patience and dedication to master. Unlike other sports, it does not rely upon brute strength, a fixed set of physical skills, and teamwork. Golf is all about a single man possessing enough mental strength, skills, and confidence to execute on the range that others dare not. This is what makes a champion out of a player. But at the same time, a golfer needs to improvise constantly. And nothing can be done without the meticulous and continuous practice of a fixed set of complicated shots in order to master them. For example when the ball is in a bunker then the player needs to know how exactly to get the ball out of the bunker and get it as far as possible towards the next hole. Therein lies the true challenge of a good golfer. Not just to do the best, but be better than the best. That is what wins trophies, competitions, and medals.
Greenside bunker shots are very complicated and not everyone can execute them with panache and confidence. What you can do in practice can hardly be replicated in the competition in the absence of hard work and confidence. Hence it is very important to keep practicing shots like these and be as confident as possible without thinking too much about the errors that you can make.
The number of greenside bunker shots that you have to play depends a lot on the design of the golf course, the number of bunkers, and the condition of your golf swing. But if things are not working out in your favor then you might just have to play this shot more than once. Contrary to what many people say, low handicappers do not have a better chance of avoiding this shot as compared to high handicappers. Yes, it is true that low handicappers are much more skilled in avoiding the ball from landing in troubled areas, but the fact is that they are also much more daring and hence have the confidence to play those shots that a normal golfer won’t.
It is a commonly accepted fact that getting into a bunker is fairly easy. There are certain golf ranges that are designed in such a way that leads the ball into the bunker at the slightest mistake. At the same time, no matter how easy it is to get into one, getting out of one is a challenge for every golfer. It is a problem faced by amateurs, professionals, and champions alike and one won’t find a single person who can confidently say that bunkers do not deter him.
The main problem lies in the fact that ever since a person picks up a set of golf clubs, he is told of the demonic bunkers and hence this fear of the sand is so deeply ingrained that no matter how skilled a golfer may be, he still shares the fear of an eleven-year-old when it comes to monsters. This is where confidence and self-belief come in. These two are the ingredients for making a champion. Skilled golfers are many, but confident skilled golfers are a rarity and if one is to succeed in golf then he or she has to not only get over their fears of the bunker but also be confident in doing well from the bunker. That is the true hallmark of a good golfer.
