Sandy

A sandy is when a golfer makes par or better on a hole after their ball has been in a bunker. It is also the name of a popular side bet built around the same accomplishment.

What is a sandy in golf?

A sandy describes a golfer escaping a bunker and still scoring par or better on the hole. The term shows up in two related places: as a casual word golfers and broadcasters use to describe the feat itself, and as a side bet that rewards the same outcome with money or points.

The word is also written as “sandie.” Both spellings are accepted, and they mean the same thing. Most golf glossaries list either or both, and the singular and plural (“sandy” and “sandies”) are used interchangeably in conversation.

For a clear understanding of the term, three pieces fit together. First, the ball must end up in a bunker at some point during the hole. Second, the player must finish the hole in par strokes or fewer. Third, in most settings, this involves an “up-and-down” from the sand, meaning two shots from the bunker to the cup: one bunker shot and one putt.

Sandy vs. sand save: the main distinction

Many beginners assume a sandy and a sand save are identical. They are closely related but not the same thing.

A sand save is the PGA Tour’s official statistical category. The Tour defines it as the percent of time a player gets up-and-down from a greenside bunker in two shots or fewer, regardless of the score on the hole. In other words, a pro who ends up with a bogey after one bunker shot and one putt still records a sand save.

A sandy, in casual play and most betting contexts, requires par or better. A bogey scored from the sand does not count.

Element	Sandy (casual/betting)	Sand save (PGA Tour stat)
Score required	Par or better	Any score
Bunker type	Greenside or fairway (group dependent)	Greenside only
Shot count from bunker	Two (one bunker shot + one putt)	Two or fewer
Where the term lives	Recreational golf, broadcasts	Official Tour statistics

Some recreational groups define a sandy more loosely. One common variation drops the up-and-down requirement and only asks that the player scored par or better after touching sand at any point on the hole. Groups need to agree on the exact rule before the round starts.

How a sandy happens on the course

Picture a par 4 where a golfer’s approach shot finds the greenside bunker. The player splashes the ball onto the green with a sand wedge and rolls in the putt for par. That sequence is a textbook sandy. The shot from the bunker counts as the “up,” and the single putt counts as the “down.”

A fairway sandy follows the same logic from farther away. A player who pulls their second shot on a par 5 into a fairway bunker, recovers onto the green, and one-putts for par has also earned a sandy under most casual definitions. Whether a group counts fairway bunkers usually comes down to whatever was agreed before teeing off.

The defining feature is the recovery. A standard par made without ever touching sand does not qualify.

Variations: sandy birdie, double sandy, and more

Golfers have invented several spin-offs of the standard sandy to reward more impressive recoveries.

A sandy birdie is a birdie made on a hole that included a bunker shot. The most dramatic version is holing out directly from the sand for birdie. A more common version is hitting a fairway bunker on a par 5, reaching the green with the next shot, and one-putting for birdie.

A double sandy is par or better made after the ball found two different bunkers on the same hole. According to Golf News Net, this usually happens when a player goes from a fairway bunker into a greenside bunker, then gets up-and-down from there to save par. It is rare and often worth extra points in betting games.

A few groups also recognise a triple sandy (par or better after three bunkers in one hole), although these are mostly novelty.

Variation	What it means
Sandy	Par or better after one bunker shot
Sandy birdie	Birdie on a hole that included a bunker shot
Double sandy	Par or better after the ball found two bunkers on the same hole
Triple sandy	Par or better after three bunkers on the same hole (rare)

Sandies as a side bet

Outside the pro game, the most common use of “sandy” is as the name of a side bet. The format is simple: before the round, the group agrees on a value, often a dollar or two, and any player who earns a sandy collects that value at the end of 18 holes.

Sandies are typically one of several “junk” bets golfers play alongside their main wager. Other common junk bets include greenies (closest tee shot to the pin on par 3s with par or better) and barkies (par or better after hitting a tree). The appeal is that they reward shots that might otherwise feel like setbacks, turning a bunker visit into a small payout opportunity.

Three details need settling before the round starts. Does a fairway bunker count? Or is it greenside only? The group also needs to agree whether the rule requires a full up-and-down or simply par after the ball touches sand. Most groups pay each player separately when multiple sandies happen on the same hole.

Sand save percentage on the PGA Tour

In professional golf, sand performance is tracked under the official “sand save percentage” statistic. The PGA Tour began recording the stat in 1980 and has tracked it every season since.

The numbers are smaller than most fans expect. According to data compiled by Golf Compendium, the highest single-season sand save percentage since 1980 is Michael Kim’s 71.54% in 2025. The lowest figure to ever lead the Tour was Tom Watson’s 60.14% in 1981. Paul Azinger and Luke Donald are the only players to top the category three times each.

Across the full Tour field, the average sand save rate sits around 50%, according to Golfity’s analysis of pro short-game data. The best bunker players on Earth miss roughly half their up-and-downs from sand. Recreational golfers should keep that in mind before getting too down on themselves over a missed sandy.

Related Golf Terms

Sandbagger — A golfer who deliberately maintains a higher handicap to gain an advantage.
Sand trap — Common term for a bunker filled with sand.
Ryder cup — A biennial team competition between the USA and Europe.
Sand wedge — A wedge designed with a wide sole for bunker shots (54-56 degrees).
Sand save — Getting up and down from a greenside bunker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a sandy the same as a sand save?

No. A sand save is the official PGA Tour stat for any up-and-down from a greenside bunker, regardless of score. A sandy, in casual and betting use, requires par or better.

Does a fairway bunker count for a sandy?

Depends on the group. Most casual definitions allow either greenside or fairway bunkers. The PGA Tour sand save stat is stricter and counts only greenside bunkers.

What is a sandy par?

A sandy par is the basic form of a sandy: par scored on a hole that included a bunker shot. Some golfers use the phrase to distinguish it from a sandy birdie.

How much is a sandy worth in betting?

Whatever the group agrees on. Common stakes run from $1 to $5 per sandy. MyGolfSpy notes that values are set before play to keep things friendly.

Is “sandie” the correct spelling?

Both “sandy” and “sandie” are accepted. The two spellings are interchangeable.

What is a sandy birdie?

A birdie scored on a hole that included a bunker shot. Holing out directly from the sand for a birdie is the cleanest example.

Sources

PGA Tour. “Sand Save Percentage Official Definition.” Accessed November 2025. https://www.pgatour.com/stats/detail/111
Ballengee, Ryan. “Golf terms: What is a sandy in golf, and what does it mean to get one?” Golf News Net, 30 August 2022.
Kelley, Brent. “The Sandy in Golf (Betting Game or Statistical Category).” LiveAbout, 8 January 2020.
“What are Sandies in Golf? A Simple Side Game Explained.” MyGolfSpy, 20 May 2025.
“Yearly Sand Save Leaders on the PGA Tour.” Golf Compendium, updated November 2025.
“What Is Sand Save Percentage?” Golfity, 2025.
“The Sandies Golf Game: A Quick Guide.” Tampa Bay Downs, 30 June 2025.