Ex-Islander Cal Clutterbuck takes part in New York State Open

Cal Clutterbuck Aims for Title at NY State Open Championship

Cal Clutterbuck, a former NHL tough guy, is turning his passion for golf into a potential title at the New York State Open Championship, which is happening this week at Glen Oaks Club in New York.

Since retiring from the NHL in April, Clutterbuck completed his first round of the tournament on Monday with a score of 82, putting him 12 over par. He’ll need to significantly improve—by about 10 strokes—on the next day to make the cut and advance to Wednesday’s round.

The New York State Open Championship is a three-day stroke play event, open to both professionals and amateurs affiliated with clubs in the state. Participants must have a handicap of no more than 10.0.

In his first round, Clutterbuck scored 43 on the front nine. He started off with a double bogey on the first hole and repeated that mistake on the sixth hole. However, he performed better on the back nine, even coming close to an eagle at hole 15, but ultimately finished with a bogey.

“I missed a few birdies, but I did hit one,” Clutterbuck said after his round. “The level of focus you need for almost five hours is tough.” He added, “When you’re riding a good streak, it feels great, but if something goes awry, you really have to shake it off and move on.”

He teed off for the second round on Tuesday at 12:48 PM, pairing up with players Jimmy Hazen and Chris Fisher.

At 37 years old, Clutterbuck is one of only a few New York sports professionals to compete in this tournament in the last three years. Notably, Mets infielder Jeff McNeil participated in the 2023 New York State Open Championship during the MLB All-Star break.

With a career spanning 17 seasons, Clutterbuck spent the first six with the Minnesota Wild before his trade to the Islanders during the 2013 NHL draft.

He played 718 regular-season games for the Islanders, becoming a key member of the team’s “Identity Line” alongside teammates Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas. He was on seven playoff teams with the Islanders, including the 2016 team that first advanced beyond the first round since 1993, as well as the teams that reached the Stanley Cup finals in 2020 and 2021.

Golf has always been a passion for Clutterbuck, who announced his retirement from hockey after attending the Masters. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I were still playing hockey.” He made the retirement announcement official with a candid statement: “I’m retired from the NHL. Honestly, I’m not quite sure how to express this, but that’s it. I’m done.”