Putter from bunkers !!

[Denboy]

Played with a guy who plays of 12 and twice in our round he used his putter to get out of a bunker and both times finished within a couple of feet of the flag ! Before anyone asks no he didn't ground his club and apparently he employs this technique most of the time. I have never seen anyone else do this .. has anyone on here ?

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Yes, Jim Furyk did it at the Open (at Hoylake I think)
Made a fine job of it as well.
Not something I've ever tried (or likely to either.)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've seen it done lots of times but would like to see him try it out of a pot bunker on a links course. I guess there are no pictures on a scorecard so it won't say how he got the score on that hole but its a shame he hasn't got the skills of that handicap to take the shot on conventionally

 

[Herbie]

Nothing wrong with it if the lie is good and it will work, my worry would be visiting a bunker twice in one round

 

[shanker]

Done it lots of times myself. There's no rule against it! If the bunker is shallow and the lie is good then it's the percentage shot.

 

[Basher]

My playing partner used his putter out of the bunker last week. Must admit to having a double take when I saw him draw the flat stick out of his bag. Tell you what though, He got the ball smartly onto the green and well within a putting distance. Turned out to be a credible up and down.

 

[Cernunnos]

Have seen it done regularly at one local course, but there again they use something akin to builders sand & they have the appearance of solid concrete anyway...

 

[nomadpaul]

..... but its a shame he hasn't got the skills of that handicap to take the shot on conventionally

HJS , perhaps its his course management which has helped him to that handicap and his imagination that helped him on this shot? As a high handicapper , i wouldn't have even had an inkling to use a putter out of a bunker but this chaps experience showed him the way .

If the conditions were right , he obviously decided on the best shot for that particular bunker , even if it's a bit unconventional , and if he 'upped and downed' then he made the right decision i guess !

 

[Cernunnos]

Its a lesson for using the right club for the conditions at the time. Unconventional to use a putter out of a bunker. Commonplace at Breedon, because of the state of their bunkers.

Theres only ever been one other course I've ever thought of trying a putter out of a bunker for where the pin was & because I thought the sand was just damp/firm enough & smooth enough to get away with it.. Actually, no I've done it a couple of other times, at different courses. But not something mere mortals like myself would attempt under normal conditions. Like someone else said you are not going to want to have to have 2 shots out of a bunker. That said, using the usual SW or LW, its possible to be stuck in the bunker hitting a Hitler or more.

But use the shot & club that fits the conditions... I still remember with glee my 9 iron from a fairway bunker to sink for eagle... Not something I would expect to achieve any day of the week.

So putters out of the bunker why not... Could be something worth practicing I supose, as something to add to the quiver of shots in the armoury.

 

[M1tch]

Played with a guy who plays of 12 and twice in our round he used his putter to get out of a bunker and both times finished within a couple of feet of the flag ! Before anyone asks no he didn't ground his club and apparently he employs this technique most of the time. I have never seen anyone else do this .. has anyone on here ?

My dad does it a lot and he gets close

 

[Imurg]

If it works, don't knock it.........

 

[brendy]

Theres a club in South belfast that has bunkers you would be mad to use a wedge out of, they are so shallow you could use your driver in them.
Its like any shot you manufacture away from textbook shots, if it works, use it....except for chipper clubs, they are still utter codswallop.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I wasn't knocking it and its obviously something the guy does regularly. It would be interesting to know what his bunker play is like normally though. I've nothing against a guy using a putter as its all about getting the job done anyway necessary but I do think its strange that a 12 handicapper has bunker issues to that degree. SUrely he can't putt out of every one.

 

[Denboy]

I wasn't knocking it and its obviously something the guy does regularly. It would be interesting to know what his bunker play is like normally though. I've nothing against a guy using a putter as its all about getting the job done anyway necessary but I do think its strange that a 12 handicapper has bunker issues to that degree. SUrely he can't putt out of every one.

I am pretty sure he doesn't do it in all bunkers .. I guess as someone on here said he does where the lip of the bunker is not too steep ( no way in a pot bunker me thinks! ).
I'm with those who say if it works don't knock it and from what I saw it did work.

 

[mono217]

Never tried it.