Golf is a game of the mind where both distance and accuracy can make the biggest difference between winning and losing a golf tournament.

Senior varsity golfer Mike Prothe said he thinks accuracy is more important to a golfer’s game.

“Accuracy helps a golfer avoid stroke penalties in a game where almost every finish comes down to your final stroke,” Prothe said.

Sophomore Matt Bergman is playing his first year as a varsity golfer and said distance and accuracy are of equal importance.

“Distance hitting is good on par 5 where you want to get the ball down the fairway in as few hits as possible and accuracy is good when you want to keep the ball out of the water,” he said.

Golf coach Greg Cartwright said overpowering a hit can make up for what a golfer lacks in accuracy.

“If a golfer hits the ball a long way close to the green but off into the rough, he can make up for it by being closer to the hole,” Cartwright said.

Prothe said golf is not a team sport and he enjoys it for that reason.

“Golf is based on the effort the individual puts in at practice and they don’t have to rely on others to put in just as much effort,” he said.

Cartwright agreed.

“Golf is a game where you can not blame anyone else for your mistakes. You are in control of what you do, so it challenges you,” Cartwright said.

Weather also can affect a golfer’s game.

“Wind is the most annoying factor when you are golfing because it can make you ball fly all over the place and there really is no easy way to compensate for the wind,” Bergman said.

Cartwright added that rain can also frustrate a golfer.

Bergman and Cartwright said they enjoy playing golf because they love being outdoors.

“I have played in some beautiful places and at those places I have always enjoyed meeting some great people,” Cartwright said.