Tips from the Pro

A green side bunker is a sand trap that is located close to the green. The best club to use when playing this shot, is the sand wedge or any club with a lot of loft. When a sand trap is close to the green you can play a splash shot.

The club face should be opened slightly to allow the club head to splash through the surface of the sand and not dig too deep. Point the club face at your target, which will cause your body to point left of your target. Play the ball about two inches forward from the center of your body.

To establish good footing, twist your feet back and forth to dig into the sand. To splash the ball out of the sand you need to contact the sand one to two inches behind the ball and let the sand push the ball out of the sand. Swing fundamentals are the same as the full swing. Distance can be controlled by changing the length of the swing. Always be sure to accelerate through the sand with a big follow through.