And there’s no such thing as the “ladies tee” or the “men’s tee.” Women often play from the forward tee, but that’s not a requirement. A golfer may play from any tee which suits his/her ability. Some men should play from the forward tees and some women should play from the tips.

The following terms are not in the “Rules of Golf” either, but you might encounter two other kinds of bunkers on the golf course. A hollow grassy area often located near the green is referred to as  a “grass bunker.” And areas of cochina or desert growth are sometimes called “waste areas” or  “waste bunkers.” The rules concerning sand bunkers do not apply to either of these areas, because they are not considered hazards.

You MAY ground your club in a waste bunker.

You MAY remove loose impediments in a waste bunker.

You MAY take practice swings in a waste bunker, hitting the ground as you do so.

You MAY even drive your cart into and through a waste bunker.

What clues do you have that a sandy area is a waste bunker and not a hazard? The material in a waste area is clearly not “prepared” sand. There is no rake nearby. And there might be plant and shrub growth within the area.

PS – Try to get into the habit of calling a sand-filled hazard by its real name – “bunker.”