Hall Golf Coach has been mainstay at Hall for 35+ years

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Chris Butler on National Signing Day with Coach Claffey on right.

When the birds begin to chirp and the greens begin to grow emerald green, you know golf season is fast approaching. Chuck Claffey, former gym teacher at Hall High School, started coaching the varsity golf team in 1980. Claffey, a New Jersey native, grew up in West Hartford. He called Rockledge his home golf course where he still retells stories to his golf team of the days when he used to caddy and earn a few bucks at the links.

Having graduated six seniors from the varsity team last year which included Boston College recruit Chris Butler, the boys golf team has exceeded expectations and compiled a 8-6-1 record this year. Led by Sophomore Mac Mahoney and Will Hutensky, and Junior Captain Max Berman. As of right now, Hall is in the race to win its 5th CCC Championship under Claffey in last ten years.

Claffey first started teaching at Hall in 1979. Besides teaching physical education at Hall, Claffey took a brief stint as Hall’s Athletics Director and is credited for starting the girls golf program at Hall and Conard in 1996.  

In Fall of 2015, The Connecticut State Golf Association assigned Claffey the title of Junior Golf Chairman. Claffey currently serves as the All-State Chairman of golf for the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) and is the Boys golf liaison for the CCC conference. Claffey has earned multiple awards including the 2011 Connecticut High School Coaches Association Boys Golf Coach of the Year and the 2013 National High School Athletic Coaches Association Region 1 Coach of the Year (which includes New England and the state of New York).

Claffey has not only succeeded as a coach, but also as a player himself. Walking around the Rockledge Clubhouse earlier this week, I couldn’t help but notice the name “Claffey” that brightened the whole room. Even though his home course is Farmington Woods now, he continues to play. In 2001 he won the CT PGA Senior Championship and was a contestant at the 2003 USGA Senior Championship.

Former player Ben Ellovich went on record when asked if Claffey was one of his favorite coaches. Saying “I would say so, Claffey is a very understanding person who is more of a player-coach and really gets to know you. He is also a great golfer.”

Claffey(in blue) busy making adjustments before match.