Which is a safer play in golf -- the option with the lesser margin of error or the one with the greater margin of error?

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It seems, in the usage in question, 'margin' refers more or less to 'probability'. So if we define 'safe' as 'least likelihood of error', then lesser margin/probability of error = safer. Put simply (and abstracting away from the details), less error = more safe, right?

Regarding the of vs. for question, there is a good discussion of the topic on the forum at WordReference.com. I agree with two responses there (by entangledbank and JulianStuart). The bottom line is that both are possible expressions, just with different meanings. In your case involving golf, I don't think you intend to refer to margin of error, since that is a statistical term often used to describe political polling results. Rather, it seems 'margin for error' would be more appropriate.

EDIT:

Upon further reflection, I realized where the confusion was coming from.

If the phrase in question is margin of error, then my first paragraph above is right. However, if the phrase in question is margin for error, which my second paragraph suggests is probably more technically correct, then it's the opposite. In that case, 'margin' doesn't mean 'probability' - it means something like 'leeway' or 'wiggle-room'. So if that's the case, then more 'margin for error' would be better.

To summarize, the better choice in golf would be the one with...

• Less margin (=probability) of error [Probably technically incorrect, since it's a non-standard use of a statistical term]
• More margin (=leeway) for error

Sorry for the confusion!