This time of year a lot of courses start to wind down their operations. One of the items that gets skipped is raking the bunkers in the morning. Eventually they bring in the rakes and the bunkers become more natural, filled with various hoove and foot prints.

When there is no rake, I generally try to scuff out and smooth over my foot prints and "divot" hole. A lot of others appear to just play out and move on. I guess I can see both sides. My efforts make the next player's shot slightly easier if they happen to hit into the exact spot. With the rest of the bunker a mess, however, my scuffing the sand doesn't make a whole lot of difference.

Though I've never been in a bunker that did not have a rake, if I were in that position I would smooth my own marks as best I could.

Just to be fair...once the "official" season ends, I start playing winter rules (and stop recording my handicap).

I attempt to smooth out everything as long as it does not affect pace of play.

Maybe it's the "Zen Garden" thing in my head.

off season, in season, doesn't matter, if there is a rake, rake, if not smooth out your marks as best you can.