GETTING OUT OF FAIRWAY BUNKERS IN THAILAND

Let me cut right to the chase of this Thailand golf tip. To get out of a bunker in the fairway you should hit the ball not the sand first. If you hit the ball cleanly and pick it, it will fly far, if you hit the ball and pinch it against the sand, the golfball will come out and fly lower than normal.

Imagine staring at a wall of sand or railroads ties 8 feet high, and a pin 150 yards away! How in the @$%@$% are you going to get out of that one? Quite often players will have to reverse course and pitch the ball out either sideways or back towards the tee.



A guaranteed lost stroke on the hole, and quite often the majors are won or lost by a single stroke. Fortunately for golfers playing at any of the great golf courses in Thailand, pot bunkers are uncommon hazards, especially when it comes to fairways bunkers. Occasionally you will see pot bunkers around the greens, but only a few golf courses in Thailand feature pot bunkers in the fairways.

Fairway bunkers in Thailand tend not to be to deep and have a small lip if any. But what is the best way to advance the ball forward? It actually is quite easy. Phil Mickelson, Corey Pavin, and a few other pros have shared their secrets that can help you on your Thailand golf holiday! First off, a fairway bunker is completely different than a green side bunker. Green side bunker shots require you to open the clubface, open and place the ball forward in your stance. You will .bounce. the club and hit sand before the ball. This is not the case in fairway bunkers.



A fairway bunker requires you to hit the ball and not the sand. Here is an easy way to set up properly for a great fairway bunker shot. Select the normal club for the distance of the shot you are hitting. I would suggest staying away from fairway woods unless you are a very low handicapper. Place the ball in the middle of your stance. Plant your feet firmly in the sand. Thick sand will require you to choke down on the club slightly to compensate for your feet digging in the sand. Align your clubface, feet, and shoulders towards your target. You are now in the proper position to hit a fairway bunker shot. At this point take your normal swing path and attempt to hit the ball only. The key to the swing is hitting the ball first and not the sand. Try it on your next golf holiday to Pattaya, Hua Hin or any of the other superb golf destinations throughout Thailand.