Our Story

A Cornerstone of the Community Since 1959

Established in 1959 and nestled just off the picturesque Huntington Green in Shelton, Connecticut, Brownson Country Club has been a cherished gathering place for members and families for more than six decades. Opened in 1960 on land generously gifted for one dollar by the Brownson family to preserve it from future development, the club today offers one of the region's most challenging 18-hole championship golf experiences, a family pool complex, and an expansive clubhouse featuring multiple dining, bar, banquet, and meeting venues.

Originally designed by renowned golf architect Albert Zikorus and later enhanced by the award-winning firm of Cornish, Silva & Mungeam, the par-70 championship course carries a slope rating of 128 and demands both strategy and precision. Water hazards come into play on eleven holes, while thoughtfully bunkered green complexes reward well-executed approach shots and careful course management.

The Brownson family's commitment to stewardship and community preservation extends well beyond the golf course. Their historic homestead, known today as the Brownson House, reflects nearly two centuries of Shelton history. Although once believed to date to the eighteenth century, an architectural assessment conducted in 2002 concluded that the Greek Revival-style residence was constructed between 1820 and 1825 for Hezekiah Marks, a respected local leader who served as a Justice of the Peace and representative to the Connecticut General Assembly. The property passed through the Bennett family before being purchased by the Brownsons in 1866. Harry and Gertrude Brownson, who celebrated more than sixty-two years of marriage, were the last family members to reside in the home, continuing a Brownson presence there for over a century.

In 1971, the Shelton Historical Society acquired the Brownson House from Derby Savings Bank for one dollar under the condition that it be relocated from its original site at the corner of Old Shelton Road and Shelton Avenue. The house was carefully moved approximately one mile to the corner of Ripton Road and Cloverdale Avenue, where it now stands as a centerpiece of the Shelton History Center, preserving the Brownson family's enduring legacy and their dedication to protecting Shelton's heritage for future generations.

A vintage black-and-white photograph of the historic Brownson House, a two-story clapboard home with a full-width porch, flanked by horse-drawn carriages
The historic Brownson House, circa 1822, preserved by the Shelton Historical Society at the Shelton History Center.