In visualizing the quintessential images of a golfer: kneeling to scope out a putt, standing ready at the tee, watching the fateful flight or roll of their ball: a sense of solitude tends to emerge. And in fact, perhaps more than any other sport, golf is defined by the single competitor, an individual pitted against not just one opponent but many at the same time.

College golf, however, introduces a unique and significant factor: the team element.

Unlike most professional events, in which each participant plays for him- or herself, college golfers compete as members of their school’s team. Thus, it is the team’s total score, rather than any individual’s, that ultimately decides the outcome of a competition.

But even if it does go somewhat against the grain of the golfer’s standard approach, members of Whitman’s golf teams enjoy the team dynamic that results.

Sophomore men’s player Brian Barton has a great deal of experience playing both individually and as part of a team. In 11 years of golfing, he has noticed the positive aspects of each style of play.

“I like the team aspect,” Barton said. “Everybody’s there, everyone depends on each other. Building relationships is fun.”

In only her first season as a varsity golfer, first-year women’s team member Jennifer Keyes has already discovered the same to be true.

“Playing golf with a team fosters a team dynamic,” said Keyes, who responded by e-mail. “It’s so much more fun when you have teammates out there with you.”

Both Keyes and Barton observe that competing with a team around them can give a mental or emotional boost that may not exist playing alone. Teammates enhance the excitement of success, as well as providing support when things are not going well.

“If you hit a bad shot, the guys are there to give you encouragement,” Barton said. “It’s reassuring.”

Given golf’s very personal nature, though, there will always be instances in which players focus upon themselves. As Keyes noted, this is a product of golf’s significant mental demand, an element which oftentimes can be just as critical as the physical one.

“It can be hard to always feel like you’re a part of a team because it is such an individual sport,” said Keyes. “But we depend on each other to play well. You have to go out on the course with the idea that you’re playing for Whitman and for your teammates. “It’s all a part of your mindset,” Keyes said.

However much the game may give rise to an individual perspective, ultimately these players consider their teams to be the top priority.

“While I am playing a round I am definitely concerned with my own score,” Keyes said. “But it’s all relative. I worry about my score because I want to make a positive contribution to the score we post as a team.”

And team success will certainly be something to watch for: the men’s team, with Barton at the head, has high hopes for their newly-begun season.

“We’re going to have one of the best teams Whitman has ever seen,” said Barton.

The women, too, see progress ahead.

“We’re in the process of building the program up,” Keyes said. “I think we’re all going to have a lot of fun together, and I’m excited to get the season rolling.”