Behind every hole-in-one lies the hidden physical strain and mental pressure that come with the game of golf. 

Day and night dedication and discipline are required for each round at the collegiate level.

The reality is 14-hour days and over 30 hours of practice each week, where both physical and mental fitness is tested. During competition days on a 36-hole course, golfers walk over 20 miles across the hilly course.

Minnesota freshman Reese McCauley said there is a difference between players who are just playing for fun and those who are playing competitively. 

“Both players experience mental toughness, but I think competitive players experience it more physically,” Reese McCauley said.

Trying to stay fueled throughout the day can be one of the biggest challenges, according to Minnesota’s Big Ten Tri-Champion Isabella McCauley.

While it is crucial for golfers to keep both their bodies fueled and their minds sharp during competitions, players often do not even stop for lunch.

“It is always a bit tough managing some of those days, it really tests your mental stamina,” Isabella McCauley said.

In the high-pressure environment of competitive golf, having a supportive team culture can make all the difference.

Freshman Jordana Windhorst-Knudsen said looking forward to practicing with the team is a great way to get through some of the long days. 

“We really operate like family and are a tight and close-knit team that is a very positive culture to be around,” Windhorst-Knudsen said.

The Gophers’ favorite way to stay close is spending time together outside of their sport. 

“We like to change it up and get our nails done together, go shopping and do fun things that aren’t related to golf,” Reese McCauley said.

With a roster size as small as seven girls, inclusivity is what differentiates the golf team from other sports.

Reese McCauley said an enjoyable part of the sport is there is no golf stereotype. 

“Golf has every personality, body type, height, whether you’re short or tall, which is really interesting,” Reese McCauley said.

Golf is a unique sport, meaning careers are not over after graduating. The average age of men’s golfers in the U.S. is 43.5 years old, while women’s golfers are an average age of 39. 

“I just love golf because you can take it literally anywhere in your career, you can go pretty much anywhere you want with it,” Windhorst-Knudsen said.