Historic Norfolk Country Club

An Historic `Tillie’ Golf Course By, John Torsiello in Norfolk, CT.

While most non-golfers don’t know members purchased land for a nine-hole tips. A.W. Tillinghast from A& W course, which was to be located a bit away The course unfolds pleasantly Root Beer, for those who swing from the town’s center in a rural area and and immerses the player in the sticks in a determined quest for par adjacent to a public course, Norfolk Downs, nature. Norfolk is a decidedly early 20th “Tillie” is a big name in the golf architecture which had opened in 1897. There was talk of century course, on the short side (2,795 business and a treat to play yards) and made during a time when one of his courses. little earth was moved. As a result holes

But perhaps even the amble over hill and dale, resulting in golfers among us do not elevated tees and greens, a few blind know that Tillinghast is approach shots, and side hill lies in credited with one of the some fairways. area’s most historic and oldest The third hole, a par-four, plays only courses, the nine-hole layout 235 yards, but demands a steady tee at Norfolk Country Club in shot over a deep gully in front of the tee Norfolk, Connecticut. box. The downhill, 345-yard par-four

A little background on sixth hole that has its green framed by Tillinghast: He laid out such tall pines. The seventh hole calls for a notable major golf drive between wetlands to the left and tournament venues as the water to the right. The approach must Bethpage Black Course and also avoid water on both sides of the two courses each at Winged green. The finisher is a nice little 255- Foot and Baltusrol golf clubs. yard par-four that works its way up a Norfolk’s members and hill to a green that sits near the club’s officials weren’t exactly sure tennis courts. who designed their nine-hole Interestingly the clubhouse at course in 1928, but notes Norfolk was designed by Alfredo were later found in minutes of Taylor, a noted architect of the early meetings conducted around 1900’s, who was an avid tennis player the time that showed money and member of the club. He donated being owed to Tillinghast for his time and services to design the work done at Norfolk. building. The clubhouse has an old

Club historian Mike Kelly merging the two courses and making an 18- time laid back feel to its inside, with a said that members of the A.W. Tillinghast hole layout. It was said that Tillinghast came large central room, several fireplaces, sitting Association came to Norfolk Country Club to Norfolk in 1934, met with the pro at the areas, a cozy bar, and an elegant dining several years back. They apparently took one time, and drew up a plan to combine the two room that overlooks the course. There is look at the course and said that it was indeed courses. But the effects of the Depression also ample seating on several porches and a Tillinghast course because of all his design and World War II put an end to such hopes verandas, where members wile away summer principles that were in play in the course’s and Norfolk Downs eventually closed. afternoons and evenings in style. routing. What a neat designation to hang There apparently was a lot of camaraderie The club used to be open outside your club’s pro shop. between the two clubs, Kelly said. At the only from Memorial Day until

By the way, the must-have book for any time, players on one course would wave to Labor Day, but that has since changed golfer, “The Finest Nines: The Best Ninethose playing on the other and there was to where the club opens in early May and Hole Golf Courses in North America” by some intermingling of play when they were shuts down in early October. The course Middletown, Ct. writer Anthony Pioppi, both open. conditions are impeccable with longtime ranks the NCC course as number 11 out Norfolk Country Club has, of course, superintendent Joseph Bunk overseeing of his 25 best such courses. Pioppi ranked survived quite nicely and was fun to play maintenance. Ronnie Pfaefflin serves as the the courses solely by course architecture. when I toured it. The first hole starts very club’s PGA Professional. He called NCC’s ninth hole “delightful and near the clubhouse, which celebrated its Thanks to “Tillie”, Norfolk is both a quirky”. 100th anniversary a few years back. The historic and eminently well-designed golf

Norfolk Country Club had its inception first is considered the toughest hole on the course that must be played if one gets an in 1912 when it opened as a tennis club in course, as the par-five bends dramatically to invitation. the center the small town. Sixteen years later, the left and plays almost 500 yards from the