bunker
BUN-ker
/ˈbʌŋkər/
A sandy hollow or pit serving as an obstacle on a golf course.
Often colloquially called a 'sand trap', though 'bunker' is the official term used in the Rules of Golf.
The story behind the word. Originally, 'bunker' referred to a large wooden chest or coal bin in Scotland. On early coastal golf courses, sheep would huddle in natural hollows to shelter from the fierce winds, wearing away the grass and exposing the sandy soil beneath. These deep, sandy hollows resembled the deep coal bins of Scottish homes, and golfers began calling them bunkers.
Word relationships
- sand trap: Sand trap is a common colloquial term, whereas bunker is the official technical term in golf.
Commonly confused with
- hazard: A bunker is a specific type of hazard filled with sand, while hazard is a broader category including water and other obstacles.
Word family
- bunkers (noun): Plural form of bunker.
Collocations
- sand bunker
- fairway bunker
- greenside bunker
- escape the bunker
Example sentences
- "He was in the bunker, and it was a bunker of that peculiar kind which seems to have been designed by a practical joker." A humorous description of a difficult golf obstacle.
- "With a splash of sand, she blasted the ball out of the deep bunker and onto the green." Describing a player's recovery shot.
Memory hook
Imagine a soldier hiding in a sandy pit (bunker) on the golf course. Sand in the bunker.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a military bunker (a reinforced concrete shelter) unless using it in that specific context.
Fun facts
- The Old Course at St Andrews features a famous bunker called the 'Hell Bunker,' which is ten feet deep.
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