Half a century of golf: Tunxis Plantation Country Club celebrates 50 years

Saturday, August 18, 2012 10:03 PM EDT

By SCOTT WHIPPLE
STAFF WRITER

FARMINGTON ? In the early 1960s, a challenge facing architects and developers was to build a public course and a club open to people with a passion for golf.

According to Michael Tomasso of the Tomasso Group that owns and manages Tunxis Plantation Country Club, his father, Angelo Tomasso, and uncle Bill Tomasso, wanted to meet this challenge while turning a profit. At that time, private clubs dominated golf.

Then, too, Tunxis lacked a housing component ? a factor that often works in a club?s favor.

According to Tomasso, in 1962, the Stevenson Farm, site of the club, had reached a point where farming was particularly difficult. Yet, working together, the Tomassos, well known for starting the Tomasso group of construction busineses, and Stevensons built a 18-hole course and clubhouse and kept much of the land open space.

Actually, the club was semi-private when it first opened. Its 100 members paid an annual fee to play all the golf they wanted.

?It was a public course with a small private component,? Tomasso says.

This semi-private status enabled Tunxis in its initial years to grow the business.

Tomasso praises Albert Zikorus, a talented architect from Maine, with creating an exceptional course. Tunxis was one of the first courses Zikorus designed and it drew raves. Later, he would design Timberlin Golf Course in Southington and 100 more courses after that.

Starting in 1962, Tunxis took 30 years to build. As public demand grew, the holes increased, eventually to 45. This size gave Tunxis an advantage.

?It?s one of the few courses in New England that can host two, 18-hole course tournaments at the same time, with nine holes for public play,? Tomasso says.

High on his priority list is to make the course family-friendly.

Over the years, the owners have improved services and relieved congested areas. In 1994, a refreshment kiosk was added, the starter shed redesigned and 57 parking spaces built near the pavilion.

?We put snack bars on the golf course as we progressed,? says Tunxis golf pro and general manager, Lou Pandolfi. ?We?re still adding trees and landscaping to make the course more attractive.?

Pandolfi came to TPCC from Shuttle Meadow in 1979. He was 25.?

?People like Lou, Angelo Fiducia [Pandolfi?s assistant] and Charles Babcock [golf course superintendent] have spent their careers at Tunxis and are making the club family-friendly,? Tomasso says. ?We?re pleased we can serve anything from simple hamburgers to elegant dinners, indoors or out.?

The pavilion, for example, can seat 275 diners for steak dinners or clambakes.

?I can?t say enough about the work of Alex Gomes, our executive chef, and Marlo Lagosz, food and beverage manager,? says Tomasso.

?We can do weddings, birthday parties, and graduations,? Pandolfi says. ?People who have nothing to do with golf hold social events here.?

To Pandolfi, it is significant that the Tomassos are upgrading the club, always moving forward.

?You can?t remain stationary in this business,? he says, ?even if that means changing sand traps or putting in a lighted driving range.?

The club?s 50th anniversary is celebrated in its logo, a decal featuring a tepee backed by the image of a radiant sun.

?The Tunxis Indians once lived on this land? Pandolfi explains.

And the sun: Does it stand for anything?

Pandolfi laughs.

?Not really,? he says and chuckles, ?only that it would be great for our golfers to have a sun shining like that when they play.?

Scott Whipple can be reached at (860) 225-4601, ext. 319 or swhiipple@centralctcommunications.com.

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Source: http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2012/08/19/news/doc5030486bc29a5704665958.txt

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