Hitting the links with Justin Schultz

Golf courses in Justin Schultz's hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia started opening up about a month ago. And ever since then, the Penguins defenseman has been hitting the links - usually at the course he's been a member at for the past few years, the Kelowna Golf & Country Club - as much as possible.

"We probably get out 3-4 times a week," Schultz said. "It's pretty much the only thing you can do right now."
Kelowna is on Pacific time, three hours behind Pittsburgh. But Schultz said he still feels like his body is on Eastern time, and has been waking up around 6 a.m. every day - which has worked out perfectly, as he likes to get the first tee time of the day.
It used to be 6:30 a.m., but has been pushed up to 6 a.m. since the sun is rising earlier. Schultz will typically golf with a few friends from his days playing Junior A hockey with Kelowna's Westside Warriors.
"We like to get up early, get out," Schultz said. "The weather has been pretty good out here, so we usually try to get the first tee time out and rip around, eighteen holes in under three hours, then you're back home by 9 a.m."
There has been a golf boom across the continent during this time, as courses in all 50 states and throughout Canada are now open. It's a safe way to get outside and get some exercise.
But regardless of the situation, Schultz is someone who would be out there no matter what. He loves the sport, and is incredibly good at it. Schultz is a scratch golfer, which the USGA defines as "a player who can play to a Course Handicap of zero on any and all rated golf courses."
"I'm still not exactly sure how the handicaps work," Schultz admitted with a laugh. "But scratch is when you're shooting even par or better most times."

Part of the reason Schultz is so good is because the 29-year-old has been golfing ever since he was a little kid.
"When I was growing up, my winter was all hockey and then when summer came, I was at the course every day," he said. "I didn't play hockey in the summers, ever, when I was young. I played a lot of sports and golf was one of my favorites. So I'd bike to the golf course with my putter and a couple of balls and putt around on the green when I was bored."
Eventually, Schultz had to decide what he wanted to do, and chose hockey - obviously a very wise decision. But he still gets his golf fix all year round, whether it's the regular season or offseason.
"On our team, guys love watching golf," Schultz said. "It's pretty cool because you come to the rink on a practice day and golf will be on and guys just love talking about it. We're pretty lucky on our team here. I think it's just because our seasons end and we have our summers off and that's what you do in the summer. A golf swing is pretty similar to, I don't know, a slapshot or something. It's just fun to be out there with your buddies. You're out there for four hours having a good time and probably wish it would take six hours because you're having so much fun."
Every year, Penguins assistant equipment manager Danny Kroll organizes a team Masters pool, where the victor gets their version of a green jacket. And while Schultz has yet to capture it, he wasn't too bothered by that this past year, as he was just excited to see Tiger Woods win it (though not live, since the Penguins were playing that day).
"I got home and watched the entire replay," Schultz said. "It was pretty special. Something where I think everyone was pretty glued to the TV, and it was something you maybe didn't think you'd ever see again."
He's looking forward to watching Woods play in the Champions for Charity match on Sunday, which will support COVID-19 charities. Woods is teaming up with Peyton Manning against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady.
"I definitely will tune into that," Schultz said. "I don't know who's going to win. It's tough, but I think I'll be going for Tiger's group. It's going to be fun to watch."
Something else that Schultz has yet to win is the Kelowna Open, a tournament that is hosted at the Kelowna Golf & Country Club every summer and attracts people from all over the province. Schultz last participated in 2018, where he finished seventh out of 115 golfers.
"I was in the lead going into the last day that year," Schultz said. "I still haven't won yet, but it's coming. I get my buddy to caddy for me. He wears a full white suit with my name on the back like they do at Augusta. I've got to get (Brian Dumoulin) up there to caddy for me, I think (laughs)."

Even as someone who's used to playing in front of crowds of 18,000-plus, Schultz is blown away by the amount of mental focus required for golf.
"I don't know how those guys do it, to be honest with you," Schultz said. "It's crazy to me that they can play golf with that many people watching them. (Hockey) is non-stop action, but in golf you're set. Everyone's quiet and you're just thinking, 'Please don't shank it.' Luckily, I haven't shanked one yet in those tournaments."
Schultz has actually gotten the chance to pick a pro golfer's brain about what that's like, as he and a few of his Penguins teammates met a few of them - including the currently top-ranked golfer in the world, Rory McIlroy - at the 2016 U.S. Open, which took place at Oakmont Country Club.
"It was a rain delay that day so all the players were in the lounge," Schultz said. "We got to take pictures with all of them and meet them all and talk to them. We were obviously having a couple drinks (laughs) so they were laughing at us."
To this day, Schultz still keeps in touch with Justin Thomas, who is currently ranked fourth in the world.
"We saw him in Florida last year for a game," Schultz said. "He came with Rickie Fowler and we got to meet those guys. It's always fun (to pick their brains), but they're just as interested in us, too. (Thomas) is a huge hockey fan and the Penguins are his team, so that's pretty cool for us. He's just a fan. He loves watching us play. He loves (Sidney Crosby), obviously, like everyone. He gets really into it when we're in the playoffs. It's pretty cool we have a guy like that, one of the best golfers in the world, cheering us on."
When his hockey playing days are over, Schultz's dream would be to join Thomas on the PGA Tour.
"I'd love to be playing professional golf, but these guys are so good, so that's probably not going to happen" Schultz said with a laugh. "I would love to get my pro card, which means you could work at a golf course around here and give lessons or do something. I think that's something I would like to do when I'm done with hockey. I just love being around the course. It'd be very enjoyable for me."