PGA Golfers Skate With Isles

Golf is the summer obsession for Cal Clutterbuck and Thomas Hickey, and for most NHL players, it's the unofficial offseason pastime.
But what about the pro golfers? What do the guys that golf for a living like to do when they're not hitting the links? For Adam Hadwin, Jonas Blixt and David Lingmerth - it's hockey.
With the three pros on Long Island for this week's PGA Tour stop at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, they booked a tee time at Northwell Health Ice Center to skate with Clutterbuck, Hickey and Nikolay Kulemin.

"It was so much fun," Lingmerth said. "Playing a lot of hockey growing up and being able to get on the ice with some of these NHL players was a dream come true for sure. Definitely tells us how good these guys are, how quick and strong they are."

All three golfers are avid hockey fans. Hadwin, who won the Valspar Championship in March, hails from hockey-crazy Canada, while Lingmerth and Blixt played throughout their youth in Sweden. Lingmerth, who started skating at two and idolized Peter Forsberg, still laces up his skates during some off weekends.
"I was impressed with their abilities honestly," Clutterbuck said. "A couple of them came up to us during the skate and you could see they were having so much fun. That was just awesome to see guys who are pros in another sport I really admire to have them enjoy my sport as much as they did."

GALLERY: PGA GOLFERS SKATE WITH THE ISLES

The golfers held their own on the ice, with Blixt and Lingmerth dishing one-timers to each other and Hadwin and his caddie Joe Cruz strategizing on a different type of approach. They took drills and played some three-on-three with the Islanders, getting a feel for the speed and athleticism of the pro game.
"I've always thought hockey players were some of the best athletes in sports," Hadwin, the 50th-ranked golfer in the world, said. "Skating around with them today kind of proves everything."
Tweet from @TheNTGolf: In case you missed it: @dlingmerth @ahadwingolf & Jonas Blixt traded sticks for skates with the @NYIslanders Tuesdayhttps://t.co/h9k5Ksje91 pic.twitter.com/oRT1EI1TJv
Hadwin, Lingmerth and Blixt are tremendous and accomplished athletes in their own rights, able to drive a golf ball 300 yards - straight. In the locker room, Clutterbuck - who on a good day can shoot in the 60s - and Hickey asked them about their preparation, courses they've played and life on the Tour.
On the ice, they talked hockey, with Hadwin marveling at the Islanders ability to play in sold-out stadiums with screaming fans - the complete opposite environment of the silent, but pressure-packed putts on the PGA Tour that he breezes through.
"When we get the chance to interact with pros at the top of their level from different sports, it's always a lot of fun," Hadwin said. "It's been great to meet these guys."

"They want to come out on the golf course with us and for once we can come on the ice with them," Lingmerth added. "It's nice to share that experience."
Hickey and Clutterbuck plan to be in the gallery at this week's tournament and after Tuesday's skate, the PGA pros are going to be more than welcome at Islanders games.
"It was pretty cool," Hickey said. "I'm excited to watch them play this week. I'm pretty much a fan of everyone, but those are three guys I'll be pulling for now when I go out and watch them."