“Eat, Drink And Be Murray!"
Long-time chef and restaurateur, Andy Murray is credited for the restaurant concept. The name, Murray Bros. Caddyshack, stems back to the brothers’ teenage years, when all of them worked as caddies and in several other golf-related jobs to pay their way through school. That experience inspired brother Brian (who wrote for Saturday Night Live) to co-write the movie Caddyshack, which brother Bill describes as “the gripping tale of the Murray brothers’ first experiments with employment.”
As co-founder and co-chairman Andy is intimately involved with the restaurant’s operations, while his brothers, all partners, make appearances as well as offer their wit and experience as consultants. With more than 8,000 square feet of dining space, the flagship restaurant includes the Bunker Bar, with two, 150-inch quad television screens plus additional TVs to cover multiple sporting events and the Looper’s Lounge, which doubles as a game room with another wide-screen TV and an area to accommodate large groups. The Shed sells Murray Bros. Caddyshack merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, souvenirs, and fun golf stuff. While there is a wall displaying pictures and a script from the movie Caddyshack and diners might spot random gophers, the décor and memorabilia of Murray Bros. Caddyshack focus on the brothers, the sport of caddying and the classic Murray humor. Lawn mowers, rakes, pails and kegs all have a place in the restaurant and sight gags abound.
As Andy explains, “I’ve always loved working in restaurants. They’re full of action and fun. It’s like an extension of my living room. It’s a place I can entertain friends and family.”
Designed to reflect the Murray’s Midwest upbringing, the restaurant’s menu includes Sheboygan bratwurst, Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef in addition to salads, pasta, seafood and barbeque. Murray Bros. Caddyshack is open seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner. Andy and Mac Haskell, co-founder and co-chairman are keen to set this eatery apart by emphasizing quality food and service. “Instead of using the word ‘theme,’ we like to refer to Murray Bros. Caddyshack as a lifestyle concept. With the help of Tiger mania, golf has shed its staid image and has a more hip, young and sophisticated appeal,” says Haskell. “Murray Bros. Caddyshack is the type of place that this new market feels comfortable in and appreciates. The meals are excellent, but always served with a side of irreverence.”
The management team selected World Golf Village as the flagship location because of its numerous golf distinctions: home of the World Golf Hall of Fame, the World Golf Foundation, PGA TOUR Productions, The First Tee and the only golf course designed collaboratively by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. In addition to these golf ties, it is ideally located within driving distance of the Jacksonville metropolitan area and historic St. Augustine, which provides a strong, local customer base from which to draw. World Golf Village is also located along the east coast I-95 corridor, which handles more than 18 million travelers annually.
