The Norwich Invitational is the area's annual golf family reunion.

Sure, golfers battle it out over three days of fierce competition, usually in steam-bath conditions with the survivor wearing the champion's crown on Sunday.

But the Invite also is place where everybody knows everybody. Friendships are forged. Birdies and belly-laughs are regularly exchanged.

It's a place where former high school teammates, like Dave Jones and Dan Hendrickson, can enjoy a round of golf and good company while competing for the championship. Last year Jones emerged as the victor — a 3-and-2 winner — and returns to defend his title. Hendrickson, who won the previous two titles, also plans on playing again.

It's where good friends can gather for a foursome during Friday's qualifying round. Or relatives compete against each other, as Matt Fuller faced Phil Perry, his uncle, in the first round of match play in 2014.

And you'd be hard-pressed to find another amateur tournament with so many repeat customers. It is the marquee event of the golf season for local golfers. And, in its 90th year, it is the oldest amateur tournament in the state.

"A lot of great guys play this tournament," Norwich teaching pro Jeffrey Doerr said. "There's a huge loyal following that has been playing for a long time. We're looking forward to it."

It's also a time when the Norwich Golf Course staff, including Doerr, pro Mike Svab and superintendent Bruce Morse, and family pulls together and puts on a terrific tournament.

The golf family reunion starts Friday with qualifying-round play. After two rounds of match play on Saturday, semifinals tee off Sunday morning with the final to follow. 

Expect a good time to be had by all.

Some pre-Norwich Invitational notes to prepare for the weekend: 

• The oldest golfer in the qualifying field will likely be Bill Donovan, 76, of Westerly. His ties to Norwich Golf Course date back to his days as a caddie.

"It's a dream," Donovan said of returning to the Invite. "I'm going to have a lot of trouble but I'm going to have a lot of fun."

A 1957 Norwich Free Academy graduate, Donovan lives in Florida for most of the year now but his heart belongs to Norwich.

"I'll always be a Norwich guy," said Donovan, who earned a dollar and a quarter per round as a caddie in 1950.

He's always been quite fond of the local tournament and wants to give it one more shot. It's been a few years since he last played in the Invite.

"The clock is ticking," Donovan  said.  "I'm a competitor. I love the heat of the battle. I've got an outside shot of doing it. I'm going to need my 'A' game and I'm going to need a couple of breaks."

• Watch out for Steve Gambeski, a Norwich member.

Gambeski was a force on the local golf scene before taking a break to raise a family. During his reign, he won multiple Norwich club championships and four Invite titles (1985, 1987-88, 1992).

His golf game is in great shape. He reached the quarterfinals last year and won the last two Norwich club championships.

"Gambeski is making a comeback," Doerr said.

Other notable golfers in the field include Perry, a five-time champion, and two-time winner Bill Hermanson.

Josh Cameron, who lives in Montville, has signed up to play. In his only previous appearance in 2014, he fired a 6-under 65 — two strokes shy of the course record — to earn medalist honors but lost in the semifinals. He missed last year's tournament for his son's birthday.

Chris DeLucia, last year's medalist and a seven-time Norwich club champion, also will be back. He plays out of Lake of Isles in North Stonington.

"It should make for quite the championship," Doerr said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, roughly 160 golfers had signed up to play. The deadline is today. The field will be capped at 172.

Competition in Friday's qualifying will be a bear. Several new, young and talented golfers are in the field. It will likely take a sub-par round to advance to the championship flight, according to Doerr.

The course is in great shape, thanks to the hard work of Morse and his staff.

"It's going to be a nice competitive surface," Doerr said. "Greens are in good shape. As always, you need Mother Nature to cooperate."

Short putts

• Jones and Hermanson will be embarking on a golf marathon starting this weekend with the Norwich Invitational.

They could play as many as 90 holes — 18 on Friday in qualifying, two rounds Saturday, two round Sunday — over three days if they reach the final. Some match play rounds are a bit shorter.

Then, on Monday, they're both scheduled to compete in the 34th Connecticut Senior Open at Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton.

It is the first time that the two events are teeing off back-to-back. Normally, the Connecticut Senior Open runs Monday and Tuesday before the Invite.

At least the Connecticut Senior Open, which is being held for the 19th time at Shennecossett, consists of just one round per day. Jones won low amateur honors last year.

Guessing that Jones and Hermanson will take Wednesday off.

• One hundred and fifty-six players from 12 states are slated to play in the Connecticut Senior Open. The field will be cut to the top 72 golfers plus ties after round one on Monday. Defending champion James Becker, who will be caddying for a friend in the British Senior Open, will not be there.

Other local golfers expected to play include: NFA graduate John Elliott of Westerly, Sean Grimsey of Waterford, Elmridge teaching pro Chris Hedden, Stonington pro Michael Myszkowski, Tony Susi of Gales Ferry, Mark Toscano of Westerly, Charles Moore of Pawcatuck and Kipling Visintini of Uncasville.

"I think I've got my game in a little bit better shape than last year," Hedden said. "I'm hoping to have a lot of fun."

Shennecossett pro Todd Goodhue and his staff enjoy hosting the popular event every year.

"Being associated with a big important tournament is a lot of fun for me and my staff and a lot of fun for the members who volunteer, and we see some great golf," Goodhue said. "It's something that we look forward to. The Connecticut PGA folks are great to work with. It runs very well, just like clockwork."

• Pete Stefanski added another Elmridge Golf Course club championship to his overflowing trophy case. He recently beat Gary Sicard to capture the senior title, making eight birdies in the final match.

In the first flight, Rich Crothers defeated Ian Mackay, 1-up. Andy Staunton beat Bob Williams in the second flight.

In other Elmridge news, Mackay won the July Stableford played on the Fourth. Mike Hubbert took second while George Luzzi and Duane Vance tied for third.

• Pequot Golf Club PGA apprentice Bob Migliaccio reports that Fred Gaspar used a 7-iron to ace the 156-yard, sixth hole.

• Stonington's Jack Ognisty and Jack Glenn each fired an 80 and Noah Straub of Mystic had an 87 at the 75th Connecticut Junior Amateur on Monday at Watertown Golf Club. They failed to make the cut at 78.

Upcoming events

• Nick Hedden of Great Neck Country Club and Alex Jenkins of Black Hall will play in the 87th New England Amateur starting Tuesday at Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford.

• The Shennecossett men's club championship qualifier will tee off July 23-24. The champion will be crowned on Sunday, Aug. 7.

• Stonington Country Club will hold a Parent-Child, Grandparent-Grandchild tournament on July 24. Competitors can play either 18, nine or three holes.

• Several local golfers will be in the field of the 82nd Connecticut Open Championship set to run July 25-27 at Woodway Country Club in Darien.  Qualifiers include: Kevin Riley and James Lathrop of Pequot Golf Club, Bobby Fox of Stonington CC, Keith Anthony of Fox Hopyard, Dave Jones of Mohegan Sun  Country Club and Robert Taggart III of Lake of Isles.

• Please send results or any golf news to g.keefe@theday.com