The Norwood Country Club was one of the most exclusive clubs at the Jersey Shore. It boasted an 18 hole golf course, two polo fields, tennis house and courts, golf shop and club house, which were all in the English Tudor style. Polo matches were arranged with other clubs in the area such as Suneagles.
The golf course was designed by the famous architect, A.W. Tillinghast, better known as “Tillie”. He designed hundreds of courses in his career including Winged Foot and Bethpage. George L. Fotheringham was the head golf pro and John W. Showler was the assistant golf pro. In those days, the head pro was older and ran the golf shop. The assistant gave lessons, repaired golf clubs and played in all the pro golf tournaments with funding from the club. In 1922, Norwood was awarded the N.J. amateur beating out several well known clubs that were competing for the honor. The membership rolls included such names as the Gimbels and the Guggenheims. Many families summered at the Jersey Shore and spent their leisure days at the club golfing, playing tennis, participating in polo matches or watching them. The club had plenty of nightlife also. There was a sunken garden off of the long dining room’s wall of french doors. A wooden floor was laid down and a band shell put up for the orchestra. Many famous bands of the era were hired to entertain and dancing went on to the wee hours of the morning. Bands such as Guy Lombardo, Lester Lanin and Eddie Duchin could be enjoyed on many summer nights.
As you entered the club, there was a large blue rug with the club seal. The office was on the left. Mary Gibbons worked in the office and eventually married John Shower, the assistant golf pro. The stairs to the ladies locker room was on the right and it was done in salmon pink. Beyond the foyer was a huge room where members came and met. There still remains the massive fireplace on the left. Here too were large rugs with the club seal. The men’s locker room was above the kitchen and there was also a barber, masseur, shoeshine boy and valet boys who were dressed similar to bell hops in full uniform with matching caps. Above the dining room, there was an apartment for the manager, the last one being a gentleman by the name of Schwartz. The kitchen employed both a chef and pastry cook. Off of the kitchen was an alcove, in which all the staff had to have their meals. Any mingling with the members was not allowed. Ironically however, the club sent one of their club cars to pick up and bring home office worker, Mary Gibbons every day!
The crash of 1929 hit the members of the club very hard because they had invested very heavily in the stock market. Eventually, the club went bankrupt. It laid dormant for years, until the lions club purchased it in 1953. The main part of the club was renovated and given to the residents in 1954 and became the WLB Community Center. Although only a part of the club remains, the fireplace in the main room stands as a monument to remind all of a bygone era of the leisure lifestyle of the rich and famous.