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Not your typical golf course fare

tim leininger, journal inquirer, manchester, conn.
·5 min read

Sep. 15—EAST HARTFORD — For the past two years, The One Wood Pub at the East Hartford Golf Club has had to make some strong pivots in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as owner Matt Corey has made adjustments to bring people back to the clubhouse.

THE ONE WOOD PUB

Address: 130 Long Hill St., East Hartford.

Hours: Monday 3-10 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Menu: Burgers, hot dogs, reubens, meatloaf, pulled pork.

Miscellaneous: Special events.

Contact: 860-616-6649; theonewoodpub.com.

"It was a little rough after COVID," Corey said. "We lost a lot of the outside community, but they're coming back. I didn't expect the East Hartford community to be such a tight-knit community and so supportive. We had a lot of to-go orders during COVID. We aren't really built for that."

Though golfing was a permissible socially-distanced outdoor activity, eating indoors in 2020 was initially forbidden and then limited.

"The only thing people really wanted to do was golf," Corey said. "They couldn't come into the clubhouse. It was limited capacity on the deck. We did the best we could do."

"The town was pretty accommodating to us," he said, as they have been permitted to expand their dining area.

Corey said he started running The One Wood Pub three years ago, and one of his goals was to bring a healthier menu to the golfers.

"I never saw so many hot dogs being sold in my life," he said. "That was an awakening. It was getting the golfers to come off of fried food like chicken tenders and fries. They were reluctant to try anything."

Corey, who ran McKinnon's Pub in Hartford, said he brought a lot of the menu items over to diversify and improve the menu. including pastrami Reubens, corned beef Reubens, New Yorkers — a hot pastrami and corned beef sandwich with diced onions and melted Swiss cheese served on a grilled, seeded rye bread with a sweet horseradish sauce — and burgers.

"Nothing's frozen, everything's handmade," he said.

Over time, he said, word started to get out about what The One Wood Pub was doing and it got busier and busier. One of the biggest seller, even after all the changes, is the classic hot dog, including chili and chili cheese dogs.

"We have a good hot dog," he said. "We use Hummell Brothers. I've never seen so many hot dogs sold in my life. Some days we'll go through a case. Whatever you want on it, we'll do it."

He said his hamburgers are handmade 8-ounce patties, never smashed on the grill, and steamed to perfection. "You can't go wrong with it," he said.

"Our nachos are some of the best," he said, topped with Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, jalapenos, and tomatoes, and the option of chicken, beef, or pulled pork.

The restaurant also offers a pulled pork sandwich, made from a 10-hour slow cooked pork shoulder, and homemade meatloaf.

"They have their favorites, whether it be a Philly cheesesteak, or a burger, or a hot dog," he said of his patrons. "Burgers, meatloaf, chicken tenders, everything is pretty consistent. Fish and chips, cottage pies when it gets colder out there. It all depends on what group and what mood they're in.

"Friday night, they're more of a dinner crowd," he said. "During the week it's more burgers, dogs, meatloaf dinners, meatloaf sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches; hearty foods that can be served quick."

A notable feature for golfers, he said, is their "$11 On The Turn" special, where golfers can place a midcourse order before teeing off on the 390-yard, par 4 ninth hole and then pick up their order before playing the back nine.

"By the time they get in here, their food is up and rolling and they can collect it on the turn," Corey said. "We're in between the end of the front nine and the front of the back nine. You get two hot dogs, chips, pickle, and a pint of beer for $11. It's one of the big sellers."

"I think for a public golf course we offer more than the ordinary golf course," he said.

The first two years of his management, the pub was hit hard in its catered events.

"We cater a lot, weddings, bereavements, baby showers, bridal showers," Corey said.

"Last year devastated us," he said. "This year, people are more comfortable. We've been getting a lot more big gatherings."

One of the things that will help boost year-round business is the soon to be installed four-season deck, so people can sit outside in any weather.

"This is an all-year golf course," he said. "As long as they can see green, or even brown, they're out there golfing."

He said he's going to be starting up some entertainment at the pub as well. "We're going to have trivia Monday nights," he said. "I'm applying for my music license. We're going to start doing acoustic music Friday and Saturday nights."

For coverage of local restaurants, cultural events, music, and an extensive range of Connecticut theater reviews, follow Tim Leininger on Twitter: @Tim_E_Leininger, Facebook: Tim Leininger's Journal Inquirer News page, and Instagram: @One_Mans_Opinion77.