Golf Q&A: MSU Hockey’s Adam Nightingale

MSU Hockey Head Coach Adam Nightingale is a Cheboygan native, former MSU player and has in the last few years led the Michigan State hockey program from mediocre back to the top echelon in the country. He has led the Spartans to back-to-back Big Ten Championships.

One of his loves outside of the ice rink is the green grass of golf courses.  He has no measured handicap but believes it’s in the 15-18 range.

MSU Men’s Golf Coach Casey Lubahn said of Nightingale: “He’s a nice player and is getting a lot better. More than that, he’s about the most fun guy to play with.”

Question: Do you recall when it happened and how you fell in love with golf ?
Answer: “My dad wasn’t a golfer, but my two brothers and I would hit balls around in the backyard. But in one of my first jobs I was a manager of a driving range/ batting cage in Cheboygan. I used to drive the cart around and pick up balls in the open field. But if there was some down time, I could pound some balls because there wasn’t much else to do.”

Q: Do you see similarities between the sports of golf and hockey ?
A: “Oh yes. Managing frustration is one. Hockey is such a fast sport, and if you get frustrated, it can get away from you pretty quick. And that’s similar in golf. Not that the sport is as fast, but you really have to focus. We talk about that with the hockey team – the next shift mentality. I think it’s the same in golf, in that it’s your next shot. And it’s not always going to go your way. So, managing those frustrations; I think that’s a big piece of it. And then there’s the hand-eye coordination. That’s important in both sports. But it’s as much the mental side of the two sports in general.”

Q: What attributes of golf draw you into the game ?

A: “I love being outside, especially when growing up in northern Michigan. The courses up there are beautiful. It’s quiet, I like that side of the game. You can get away from things, but it’s the being outside that I really enjoy.”

Q: What has been your golf dream experience so far, and what might it be if you could make it happen ?

“I’m lucky with my job in that we do multiple donor trips. All of them are great. We just got back from Sage Valley. It was an awesome course and great group of guys. And I love going up to northern Michigan. One donor owns Hidden River (Golf and Casting Club) and he lives about five miles from my parents. So, we go up there, and eat at his restaurant there, Trovato. A great place. 

“We’ve played Belvedere and Boyne. I love all that, just getting back home and playing up there. There’s so many nice courses and you don’t have to travel far in Michigan to find a really nice course. 

“And if I ever could, I’d say somewhere over in Ireland is where I’d like to try (a new experience). I think that’d be cool.”

Q: Do you have a golf course bucket list ?

A: “Well, I think everybody’s is Augusta. And any of the famous courses over in Ireland and Great Britain. They’d all be awesome. When you think of all the great moments in golf, and some of the golfers who have played those courses, it’s pretty cool knowing that some of these guys have hit great shots in the same place you could hit shots.”

Q: What might be your golf pet peeves ?

A: “Actually our assistant coach Jared DeMichiel is one of them. When he loses a ball, he will look for hours to try finding it. I just say ‘take a drop here, we’re not going to find this thing. And if you do you won’t be able to play it.’ Yup, that would be it.”

Q: What do you like about Michigan golf courses compared to other areas of the country ?

A: “I think our topography is great. I just love this state. It’s a beautiful state. We’ve got a ton of water – we’re so lucky to be surrounded by the Great Lakes, and all the inland lakes and rivers. And it’s so easy to appreciate it more coming out of winter. Everything is starting to pop green. We don’t get that all year round to take it for granted. 

Q: Do you have any golf superstitions?

A: “None. I’m anti-superstitious with our guys, our team. I mean if something doesn’t happen to fall in line you can’t let it throw you off. So, I try to do the opposite.”