Phil Mickelson is well aware of on-course etiquette and the lack of it. This awareness also means he must follow the rules and expectations set by the respective organizations. For example, during the 2018 U.S. Open, Mickelson faced backlash after he intentionally swatted a moving golf ball, which resulted in a two-shot penalty and criticism that he should have been disqualified. Thankfully, Mickelson recognized his mistake and said during the 2018 Scottish Open, “But there’s not much I can do about it now other than just try to … act a little better.” However, there are many ways to disrespect a golf game, and Mickelson attributes some of them to an “annoying habit.”

Have you ever played golf after someone and encountered an un-raked bunker? It can be quite annoying, right? When golfers neglect to rake bunkers, they create uneven surfaces that make it difficult for others to play effectively, leading to frustration and impacting scores. Similarly, when players fail to repair pitch marks on the greens, they create bumpy surfaces that hinder the ball’s roll and diminish the overall quality of play. Phil Mickelson shares similar feelings.

Replying to an X post complaint about bunkers by Lou Stagner, Mickelson couldn’t help but share similar feelings: “It’s so disrespectful to everyone playing behind you to not rake the bunkers properly (or not repair pitch marks) Since Covid this has become a huge problem even at the nicest of clubs.”

While no formal rules mandate raking a bunker after a shot, this practice is a common courtesy in golf. However, rules regarding bunker play do exist. According to the R&A rules in section 12, players can rake a bunker before taking their shot, as long as they do not improve their lie.

However, this isn’t the first time a pro has talked about this topic. In 2021, Ian Poulter voiced his frustration over the numerous unrepaired pitch marks at his home club, Lake Nona. In a passionate social media rant, he showcased the shocking state of the putting greens and demonstrated how to repair a pitch mark using a tee. He urged, “Come on guys seriously… pitch marks, pitch marks, pitch marks,” before concluding with a blunt reminder: “Lazy people, repair your pitch marks.” However, the caddies share similar feelings about the issue.

That one time, the bunker raking issue highlighted the caddies’ role

Raking a bunker is a meticulous task that significantly impacts a golfer’s performance, and caddies take this responsibility seriously. At the Genesis Invitational in February 2020, caddie John Limanti, who worked for Adam Scott, emphasized the importance of aesthetics: “If you’re a neat freak… you want to make sure it looks really good, better than it looked when it was raked by machine in the morning.” Justin Rose noted that a poor rake job can lead to frustrating lies, affecting shot outcomes. The type of sand also plays a role; caddies find coarser sand easier to rake than finer sand, and the direction of raking is crucial, especially in greenside bunkers.

Caddies follow an unspoken rule to leave bunkers in better condition than they found them. Dale Vallely, caddie for Abraham Ancer, stated, “You want to give the next guy the same lie that you got.” This involves using both sides of the rake to spread the sand evenly. The pressure to maintain perfection extends beyond the bunkers, as caddies must also ensure that players don’t leave sandy footprints on the greens. Michael Collins, a former tour caddie, noted that leaving footprints can lead to fines for players. Collins remarked that the highest compliment a caddie can receive is when someone in the crowd asks, “Will you come vacuum my house?”