Golf is a strange game. To the outsider, it may look ridiculously easy, but when they make the attempt to play it, they will discover the difficulties, the frustrations and perhaps the blood, sweat and tears it takes to become even an average player.

Even athletes who are experienced at playing other sports involving striking a ball, such as baseball and tennis, often become so exasperated with their attempts to make the transition to golf, they either become club-throwing angry or make the assessment that it's going to become a lengthy process to master all phases of the game well enough to approach being at a level where it is no longer laughable or embarrassing.

In my years as a sportswriter for the Herald & Review, I covered enough golf tournaments to see people capable of shooting par or better reduced to such frustration they're ready to visit a psychiatrist. Players in the City Amateur facing the pressure of being among the leaders going down the stretch in the final round have been reduced to seething volcanoes muttering to themselves after bogeying a hole they felt they should have birdied.

Therein lies another part of becoming an excellent golfer: the mind game. Gary Player, who has played golf for at least 60 of his 70-plus years and won tournaments around the world once said, "I've played tournament golf for more than 50 years and still feel I've just scratched the surface when it comes to understanding this game."

Lon Lugten, who has developed into one of Decatur's top golfers, is probably more aware of the commitment of time and dedicated experimenting it takes to reach the level he has attained, let alone what it takes to play on a professional level.

A hero for his team in the first two Signature Cup competitions that matches Decatur's best against Bloomington's top players, Lugten discussed his efforts to attain a level he feels reasonably comfortable with in light of his exacting standards as he prepares for this summer's Cup match play competition at Decatur's Red Tail Run Golf Club.

"I've done about everything I can as far as putting in the practice time, playing in tournaments, learning from others and experimenting with just about every kind of equipment available," he said. "Although I've had some personal highlights in previous years, I feel I've played some of my best golf in just the last two years."

The City Men's Amateur champion in 1994 and holder of various other titles, he said at age 53 he feels his game has matured significantly in recent years, accounting for his ability to withstand the pressure of head-to-head matches like those encountered in the Signature Cup matches.

"Part of that is due to the amount of tournament play I've had and part of it is due to the equipment I'm currently using," Lugten said. "The average amateur probably doesn't know or care how important it is to have professional guidance in having his clubs tailored to his swing. I thought I studied it a lot in recent years, but I went to a place in Phoenix, Ariz., a couple of years ago that I feel had a huge impact on my game."

Called Hot Stix, the business provides expert analysis of a player's swing and fits your clubs perfectly to your individual swing, he said. "I spent several days there and they went over my entire set of clubs from driver down through the putter. They aren't affiliated with any particular golf equipment company, so there is no favoritism at all when it comes to that. Brand names aren't that important to them. They take the clubs you like and fit them to your swing. They may change the weight, the loft, the shaft and even recommend the ball they think you should be using for the shape and velocity of your swing. It's quite an experience."

A perfectionist when it comes to sports and a semi-junkie when it comes to the technical side of golf equipment, he said he satisfied his desire "to know the ins and outs of club fitting. I knew it was important because I've read quite a bit about it, but I didn't realize how much it can do to help your game. I don't think you can ever quit learning about the game."

Commenting on Lugten's performance in the first two Signature Cup matches, sponsored by the Herald & Review, Cup Captain Richie Hammel said, "Lon turned out to be the hero in our first Cup victory two years ago and was one of our top performers again last year. He was an easy selection for us in this year's matches because he has earned a spot without going through qualifying for the team like he has the past two years.

"Lon works as hard, or harder, than anyone on his game to keep it sharp and he's shown he'll go the extra mile. He's made important points for us in both previous Cup events and he continues to be one of our best bets to do it again. He's a grinder and hard to beat," Hammel added.

Todd Mitchell, Bloomington's top player, yielded one-half point in his final round match with Lugten in 2007, then graciously conceded the final-round match to Lugten last year after being notified that Bloomington earlier gained enough points to defeat the Decatur team. Lugten's pressure-packed half-point win two years ago proved to be the deciding edge in Decatur's surge to the title.

Not knowing how his team stood with the final three holes to go two years ago, Lugten focused on each and every shot knowing it could be crucial, said Lugten, who was medalist in the team qualifying tournament. "Actually, that's all I could do. It was incredibly difficult to just keep thinking about the next shot, but that's what I did."

When Lugten halved the difficult par-3 17th hole with Mitchell to give Decatur the win, Decatur Parks Director of Golf Rick Anderson raced across the green and jumped on the unsuspecting hero, shouting "You won. We won." Anderson, who'd won his match in the provision earlier in the day, came out to give Lugten moral support in his important duel.

"I had no idea we'd won, but after that I figured it out pretty quick. It was a great feeling," Lugten said. "I've always enjoyed match play because of the mental aspects and the strategy involved. I try to prepare my game from the physical and technical side of it, but the concentration required and the strategy of match play are what have always intrigued me.

"After our match last year, Todd told me there was no quit in me and how much he respected my game overall. Coming from a player like Todd, who's won an Illinois State Amateur men's title and been runner-up in the U.S. Mid-Amateur, I felt that was high praise and will always remember his sportsmanship as a personal highlight."