How to beat those bunkers

The sand is seldom a nice place for a golfer to be, but by following these few tips, it could be less daunting next time you find yourself in a bunker.

If the ball is sitting nicely, try and imagine a circle around it. The idea is to splash the circle away, with the sand reaching the green even before the ball does.

You should be hitting the sand a few inches before the ball, making sure you get enough on it to get it out the trap.

For all bunker shots, take a wide stance, position the ball to the left of centre, with the your hands slightly behind the ball.

Start with a square clubface, but roll it early in the swing so when you come down it’s open slightly.

Break your wrists earlier and be confident enough to hit the ball out, going right through and completing the swing.

If your ball is plugged, you need to keep the clubface square and hit down on the sand, more so you can dig it out.

A plugged ball will run further than a ball sitting nicely, so you will need to take more attention to the undulations of the green.

Duncan offers some good advice on making sure you can get out of the sand traps with not too much hassle

Kirkhill PGA professional Duncan Williamson passes on tips

Getting out Make sure you hit right through the shot taking the sand before the ball. Try and get the sand to reach the green before the ball does

Egg-straodinary Imagine the ball is the middle of a cracked egg when playing a shot from a bunker. The idea is to splash the circle away

On the beach Take a wide stance with the ball left from centre. Start with your hands slightly behind the ball and break your wrists early to open the club face