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The 19th Hole

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Jeremy Roenick

The former L.A. Kings star enjoys hitting shots on the golf course as much as he did taking them on the ice.

By Eli MillerPublished: May, 2010

Jeremy Roenick had a blast at the Bob Hope Classic in 2010 (PHOTO: Scott Avra/Bob Hope Classic).
Great hockey players typically have a smooth transition from the rink to the links. Jeremy Roenick is a case in point.
   
The former NHL star, who retired last season, has maintained a handicap just above scratch for quite some time. Whether it’s because hockey’s slap shot is physically similar to a golf swing or the hockey offseason coincides with golf’s peak season, Roenick is one of many hockey players who have no trouble navigating a course.
   
The former Los Angeles Kings center loves the game so much that he recently purchased a fledgling golf course — Pembroke Country Club — near his hometown of Boston. Roenick was one of several celebrities at this year’s PGA Tour Bob Hope Classic, and he talked for a bit following his final round.

How did the week go?
It was good. Today was a little difficult. I probably had too much fun with my friends last night and the start of the day wasn’t good, I was 3-over on the front nine. But I was 5-under on the back, so I got it back down. I played well. I just had a blast. It’s a lot different at this time of the year coming out and hitting a ball instead of getting hit myself.

Etiquette in hockey and golf seem a lot different.
Not when you play with me. It’s no-holds-barred contact golf, whatever you want to do. Especially if you’re my partner — if you’re on a stroke hole and you’re putting for par and you leave it short, you’re going to get checked.

Now that you’re retired, is this an event you can get used to?
I hope so. I hope they invite me back again. I’ll win it next year.

What made you want to purchase the course back in Massachusetts?
I’m just a golf enthusiast, there’s no question about that. I love the game, the golf course was in trouble — we don’t have to talk about the tough times in our economy right now — and I had the opportunity to take it over and bring it back to the condition that the people deserved. I grew up playing in that area on that golf course and it was just a little something I could do to help the town keep one of their treasures. It’s a beautiful golf course and I’m going to hopefully keep it open as long as I can and have people come out and support it.

When you were on the Kings, did you play a lot of golf in Southern California?
I had only played once here in the desert, at Porcupine Creek, which is a personal golf course owned by Tim Blixseth. He had the generosity to give it to us so we could have a little golf tournament. We had a blast there.

I noticed you’re wearing an Oak Creek shirt.
I have played there. I do like the Tom Fazio courses, he does a good job. He did the second golf course at Scottsdale’s Whisper Rock, where I’m a member, and he’s one of my favorite designers, for sure.