Curling and golf’s kinship on display as Rock League meets Masters

As soon as Alpine Curling Club’s Hammy McMillan received his Rock League schedule, he began cross-referencing.

3:30 p.m. ET start on Friday? Not bad. Late game on Thursday? Perfect.

Because as much as McMillan will be focused on the ice this week, he will also have half an eye on the Masters, the men’s golf major which runs Thursday through Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

“Absolutely, 100 per cent, yes. Come Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, I'll be watching as much as I can,” McMillan said.

In Scotland, where both golf and curling originated around the 16th century, the sports go hand in hand — and similarities from strategy to sportsmanship to tradition abound.

So, Olympic silver medallist Hammy McMillan, what’s your preference?

“September through April is curling, curling, curling. But as soon as the last stone is thrown, the curling shoes are kicked under the cupboard or under the bed, some place like that, and the golf clubs come straight out. And that's pretty much how I spend my summer is golf,” McMillan said.

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In fact, golf season has already begun. McMillan and fellow Bruce Mouat team members Grant Hardie and Bobby Lammie just came back from a trip that saw them play legendary Scottish courses Royal Troon, Gleneagles and the Old Course at St. Andrew’s, which is known as the home of golf.

McMillan and Hardie then brought their clubs with them to Toronto. Once Rock League ends, the two will head straight to Philadelphia for another golf trip, with four rounds already on the books.

In June, a group of 12, including members from the top two curling rinks in the country in Mouat and Ross Whyte, will descend upon Portugal for yet another golf