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.
NORWICH GOLF COURSE PRO SHOP
The Norwich Golf Course Pro Shop opened in its present location in April 1983. The shop held a “Relocation Sale” at its prior location inside Norwich Inn, during the week before Christmas 1982, as shown in the Norwich Bulletin ads reprinted here.
Today’s Pro Shop at the Norwich Golf Course serves as the central hub for golfers in Southeastern Connecticut. The friendly, helpful staff members coordinate tee times, give advice on current weather and course conditions, and are always available for consultation. Many staff members are seasoned golfers who can offer valuable advice to first-time visitors. The first stop for all golfers visiting the Norwich Golf Course is the Pro Shop.
The Pro Shop carries a full line of golf clubs that members can borrow to help them decide whether they are the right clubs for them. As you can see from the video, the Pro Shop also carries a full line of golf balls, golf equipment, and clothing.
CADDY SHACK CAFE
For nearly forty years, the Caddy Shack Cafe has served as the vibrant social anchor of the Norwich Golf Course, serving as more than a dining facility and lounge—it is the primary gathering hub for local golfers. 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.
At the center of this new venture was Judy Bromley, a legendary worker whose relentless drive shaped the cafe’s standard of service. While her husband, Joe, supported the business from behind the scenes and helped manage the “Gopher Hole” annex near the third hole, Judy dominated the kitchen, bar, and dining room. Her daughter-in-law, Rhonda Bromley, joined her side in 1987 when the cafe first opened. Rhonda, now a 39-year veteran server, remembers Judy’s incredible mentorship, reflecting that Judy “was a great person to work for and taught me the right way to work”. For Rhonda, the cafe’s appeal was immediate because of its deep community roots: “I actually love the Caddy Shack because it was family-based; our customers became our family.”
Two years later, in 1989, another daughter-in-law, Shawna Bromley, joined the fold while still in high school. Shawna started out in the elements, running a modest hot dog cart with no building at the third hole, serving up hot dogs and sauerkraut. Judy eventually moved her inside to host and waitress, instilling a legendary work ethic that Shawna carries to this day as a 37-year veteran server and current manager. Shawna recalls, “My best memories are probably working with Judy. She was amazing… Judy did everything”. She notes that the family’s dedication to quality kept customers coming back: “They came from TJ’s, and they knew that we weren’t offering corporate food. It was home cooking, and the Bromleys are well known for their food, so very family-oriented.”
This unwavering commitment to family and quality transitioned smoothly into its second generation when Joe and Judy passed the torch in 2007 to their son, Jason Bromley. Under Jason’s leadership as owner and head chef, the Caddy Shack—now known as Caddy Shack 2 —remains a true family operation. Jacob, Shawna and Jason’s son, works alongside his parents as a chef. Rhonda, Shawna, and Victoria (who are all Judy’s daughters-in-law) serve the cafe’s multi-generational guests with a friendly greeting and scrumptious food.
The cafe’s story began in 1985, born from a desire to trade the relentless grind of restaurant life for a more community-focused approach to food. Looking to escape the exhausting seven-day-a-week pace of their cafe in Baltic, Joseph and Judith “Judy” Bromley, alongside their partner Thomas Burke, sold their previous business and opened TJ’s Catering in Norwich to focus on the high-quality, homemade dishes they loved. By 1987, they brought this expertise to the Norwich Golf Course, transforming the simple community room into the welcoming dining room and lounge known today.
Gopher Hole ~ Adjacent to 3rd Green
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.
