The proverbial cliche about sports is that they are 90% mental, but how does that actually look in practice? Though sophomore golfer Luke Robertson has worked to improve his performance this season through physical practices, he has also focused on the mental and emotional aspects of the game to get an edge over his opponents on the course. Being cognizant about his reaction to each stroke and how the game is played from the first hole to the last has helped him grow as a golfer. 

“Luke has a lot more control over his emotions this season,” golf coach Matthew Hamilton said. “He has also improved the general way he approaches the game and how he thinks about it.”

His ability to keep his emotions in check has allowed Luke to become a leader on the team.

“Luke keeps us in line on the golf course,” sophomore Sutton Bryan said. “He’s gotten a lot better over the last year and doesn’t get as mad when he makes a bad shot, which helps him keep his emotions under control.”

Hamilton also sees how Luke has stepped up as a leader for the team while contributing to the positive mood of the group as a whole.

“Luke is a leader on the team by always giving full effort,” Hamilton said. “He also helps keep things from getting too serious by always making people laugh.”

Golf is recognized as a relaxing activity, but Luke looks at the game from an interesting perspective too.

“I like the mathematical side of golf,” Luke said. “I like being able to prepare for every shot and working on multiple parts of the game down to little details.”

Golf holds its own unique challenges that make it stand apart from other sports. 

“Golf is different from other sports because every single golf course varies,” Luke said. “It’s not like a standard baseball or football field. Each location has to be played differently and has its own set of obstacles that golfers have to deal with.”

Luke has applied himself this season and continues to improve on the course.

“This season, I have seen my strokes go down,” Luke said. “I believe this is a direct result of practicing and working with my team, and I’m excited about the rest of the season.”