Golf tip: The beach isn’t supposed to be a bad place

Editor's note: Steve Charters is in his 10th year as a pro at Twin Pines Golf Course. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Charters competed at Central College in Pella and has been a pro for 17 years in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids.

You've left your approach shot in that dreaded greenside bunker. While many may find this penalizing, I've been in a lot worse places around a green than a bunker.

Sometimes the bunker can offer a better lie than the rough surrounding a green. Don't fret about it. With a couple adjustments you can toss it right out of there.

First of all, aim a little left of your target and lay your clubface open a little to help the club cut through the sand.

Secondly, your goal in a bunker shot is to throw the sand behind and underneath your ball out of the bunker, and not actually hit the ball. Imagine a dollar bill around your ball, and your object is to throw the sand in that dollar bill out of the bunker.If you do so, the ball will softly follow.

Finally, follow through like a normal shot. If you fail to follow through, I can almost guarantee more shots will remain in the bunker than actually get out.

If you don't carry some type of a sand wedge you probably should since it's designed to help improve your success in the sand. But more importantly don't be afraid of the beach, it really can be a friendly place with a little practice.