History of the Norwich Golf Club
Today’s clubhouse serves as the home for the Norwich Golf Club, the Norwich Golf Course Authority, the Norwich Golf Course Pro Shop, and the Caddy Shack Cafe.
The clubhouse facilities have been a gathering point for all things golf in Norwich since 1983.
CADDY SHACK CAFE
For nearly forty years, the Caddy Shack Cafe has served as the vibrant social anchor of the Norwich Golf Course, acting as much more than just a dining facility and lounge—it is the community’s primary gathering hub. Stepping into the dining room for the first time is like walking into a living gallery of the club’s history. The walls are lined with plaques honoring the champions of past and present tournaments, while the air is thick with the inviting aromas of freshly cooked seafood, prime rib, savory French onion soup, and sometimes, freshly cooked Jambalaya.
Between 1983 and early 1987, before the Caddy Shack was opened, today’s dining room served as a community melting pot for meetings, both private and public social gatherings. During this time period, golfers met downstairs for food and drink after their rounds of golf.
The cafe’s story is a family legacy that began with a desire to trade the relentless grind of restaurant life for a more community-focused approach to food. In 1985, Joseph and Judith Bromley, alongside their partner Thomas Burke, sold their cafe in Baltic to escape the seven-day-a-week pace and opened TJ’s Catering in Norwich to prioritize the quality, homemade dishes they loved.
Gopher Hole ~ Adjacent to 3rd Green
By 1987, they brought that expertise to the golf course, transforming what was once a simple community room into the dining room and lounge known today. After twenty years at the helm, Joseph and Judith passed the torch in 2007 to their son, Jason Bromley, who has continued the family’s mainstay presence as the owner and operator of Caddy Shack II.
The Bromleys’ hospitality extends across all 153 acres of Norwich’s golf course. In addition to the main restaurant, they operate the “Gopher Hole,” a centrally located annex where golfers can find a moment of rest, water, and a quick bite mid-round.
Throughout the summer and during high-stakes tournaments,
Jason provides a mobile snack-and-beverage cart throughout the summer and during high-stakes tournaments, often helmed by hostesses like Hannah, who navigate the fairways to bring much-needed refreshments to local players. She is shown here serving Paul Gaffney, the Vice-President of today’s Norwich Senior Golf League.
Often described by regulars as a hidden treasure and a local gem, the cafe is renowned for its laid-back atmosphere and spacious deck, which offers beautiful vistas of the rolling course. The bartenders and attentive waitresses all make the cafe’s ambiance feel almost like home, and the menu has earned a reputation of its own, particularly for its fresh, never-frozen clam fritters and clam strips. While many come for the King Prime rib or the popular Cajun shrimp and scallop sauté, the Caddy Shack is also one of the few spots in town that, on occasion, offers grilled swordfish as a dinner option.
Beyond the food, the Caddy Shack remains a pillar of civic support steeped in the history of the Norwich Golf Club. It serves as the primary host for the legendary social gatherings, golf club member meetings, and standing-room-only celebrations associated with the Norwich Invitational. From sponsoring Special Olympics tournaments to raising funds for local memorial scholarships, the restaurant ensures that the spirit of the Norwich Golf Course is felt far beyond the final green.
1975
Golfers have enjoyed playing in Norwich for generations. This video shows several local golfers, Joe Mullroy, Joe Kozel, Carl Girasoli, and Biff Sabitino playing the “old” Norwich Golf Course in 1975.
Click the triangle in the bottom-left corner of the photo to play this nostalgic video.
Click the small speaker icon on the right side to hear the music.
