(October 28, 2024) – Jack Bracken’s journey in golf began somewhat later in life. Growing up in Hartford, Bracken was a baseball player who occasionally dabbled in golf with high school friends who were members at Wampanoag Country Club.
“Baseball was my sport, and I didn’t belong to any club, so I only had the 3-5-7-9 irons, two woods, and a putter in my bag,” Bracken recalls.
After graduating from The Catholic University School of Law in 1974, Bracken’s focus shifted. “I joined Wampanoag CC after graduating from Providence College in 1970, but I got really serious about my game after law school,” said Bracken, who went on to a long career as a prosecutor and litigator. “I didn’t get married for a number of years, so the club became my second home. The assistant pros were my close friends, and they put up with me even though I was a terrible golfer at first. I got a lot of advice and free lessons from them, and eventually, I improved from an 18 or 19 handicapper to a respectable level.”
“Respectable” might be an understatement. Starting in the mid-1980s, Bracken steadily built a name for himself, first at the state level and eventually on the national stage. Among his Connecticut State Golf Association achievements, Bracken first earned medalist honors at the north qualifier for the 1984 Connecticut Amateur. He was medalist at the 1990 Connecticut Amateur held at Hartford Golf Club, where he finished runner-up. He again was runner-up at the CC of Fairfield in 1993. He was part of the victorious 1988 CSGA Team Championship squad, was low amateur at the 1999 Connecticut Senior Open, won the 2013 Connecticut Senior Amateur, won the 2017 Connecticut Super Senior Championship, and had other wins and runner-up finishes in Connecticut.
On the national stage, Bracken competed in two U.S. Amateurs, three U.S. Mid-Amateurs, the British Amateur, the British Senior Amateur, and two U.S. Senior Amateurs where he was local medalist twice.
For Bracken, who has been a member of the Hartford GC since 1985, the accolades are impressive, but he takes the most pride in his service to the game.
“I’ll be the first to acknowledge that I had a good playing career in Connecticut and nationally,” says Bracken, now 76. “But my résumé doesn’t compare to a lot of other Hall of Famers. For me, the most important part of my career has been what I tried to give back. My contributions to the CSGA and efforts to improve golf in Connecticut mean the most to me.”
Bracken’s formal involvement with the CSGA began in 2001 when then-President Peter Bulkeley invited him to become the organization’s legal counsel—a role he’s held ever since. In his 23 years on the CSGA Executive Committee, Bracken has worked with 14 presidents and three Executive Directors. He has served on numerous boards, was team captain for two years, and served two terms as the Vice President of Competitions.
Bracken’s influence extends to younger golfers, too. At Hartford GC, it’s common to see him playing a round with younger members, sharing his wealth of golf knowledge and life experience. Bracken, also an avid cyclist and reader, is known for his willingness to mentor the next generation.
“I often ask young players after a round what the best thing their playing partners could say about them is. Many will say their short game was great, or they drove it well,” he explains. “But I tell them that the most important thing is that others say you were a good person to play with.”
For years, people have said that about Jack Bracken—that he’s a good guy to play with, a dedicated person to work with, and now, they’ll also say he is a member of the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame.
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About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
