They don't have to be so difficult. Next time you get a chance, watch a pro tournament on television. Notice how effortless the players make bunker shots appear. Barring a buried lie, they routinely get the ball close to the pin. It's not quite as easy as it looks, of course.
Many players consider bunkers easier to play from than rough because they put backspin on the ball.
It's not a big deal for advanced and intermediate players to reach greens from fairway bunkers because the ball usually sits up. It just takes practice and confidence. If you don't have the right method, it won't work. Rhoads, a former PGA Tour player, thrives in bunkers. The most common errors that beginners and intermediate players make on short bunker shots are hitting the ball first, hitting the sand and quitting on it, and shanking.