News
Golf members honor Stiles, raise funds for charity during annual Bavarian Hops Classic
Ocean Pines golfers raised $1,200 during the 15th annual Ernie Stiles Bavarian Hops Scramble, held Aug. 27 at the Ocean Pines Golf Club.The event, each year, is held in honor of the late Ernie Stiles and is hosted by the Ocean Pines Golf Members Council. Don McMullen and Bob Long coordinated this year's event.
To date, the scramble has raised more than $30,000 for local charities.
“Ernie’s idea was simply to bring together some good people and go out for nine holes, have some good fun, and support some good causes,” McMullen said.
Long said the event always has a lighthearted atmosphere. Longtime traditions include a toast, “Nostrovia,” to good health before teeing off. Players then “head to the course and let their hair down a bit,” he said.
“Ernie ran the Hops Scramble on his own for many years as a fun event,” Long said. “He charged $5 to play and all the money would get paid out to the skin winners. Often, no skins were cleared and the money would go to the charities.”
OPGMC to host ‘Sunday Golf Social’ June 20
Local golfers are invited to take part in a special “Sunday Golf Social” hosted by the Ocean Pines Golf Members’ Council on Sunday, June 20 at the Ocean Pines Golf Club.Ocean Pines Golf Club members will host the event, with all proceeds benefiting the Golf Members’ Council Scholarship Fund and the Junior Golf Fund.
“This is our way of inviting prospective members and guests to join us and learn about our programs,” organizer Walt Lischak said. “All members of the Ocean Pines community are welcome to play.”
The Sunday social will use a “best ball scramble” format with a shotgun start scheduled at 4:15 p.m. The event will also include prizes for the team with the best overall score, and closest-to-the-pin prizes for ladies and men.
Superintendent Updates Advisory Committee
Ocean Pines Golf Club Superintendent Justin Hartshorne recently supplied updates on conditions and maintenance efforts to several advisory committee members.General Manager John Viola helped facilitate the meeting, to address their questions and concerns.
He engaged experts from the amenity, Hartshorne and General Manager of Golf John Malinowski, to present current plans for maintenance, and specifically the greens.
“I wanted to ensure that everyone knows exactly what we are doing to address course conditions and the overall golf course results,” Viola said.
On the maintenance side, Hartshorne said much of the recent focus has been on finding drainage lines, and addressing drainage and irrigation issues.
"This was stuff we knew we were going to have to work on and touch up," he said. "We were also ninja-tining, and just working on diluting the thatch layer while we had favorable weather this winter. That was also a big focus, on improving the playing surfaces."
Ninja tines are an aerification mechanism that helps pull unwanted material out of the ground.
Happy Hour, Dinner Specials, Trivia Night and More Coming to Clubhouse Bar and Grille
There’s a lot going on at the Clubhouse Bar and Grille this month, including happy hour discounts, trivia night, a new dinner menu, and exclusive Super Bowl specials.The Clubhouse Bar and Grille, based inside the new Ocean Pines Golf Club building on 100 Clubhouse Drive, is now open Thursday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. After March 11, the Yacht Club will reopen and the Clubhouse will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
From Feb. 4 through March 11, the Clubhouse will offer happy hour specials from 3-6 p.m. Specials include $3 rail drinks, $4 wines, $5 crushes and discounted draft and bottled beers.
Also starting on Feb. 4 and continuing each Thursday through March 11, the Clubhouse will host the popular trivia night event, from 6-8 p.m. Gather a team, enjoy food and drink specials, and compete to win prizes. Guests must make a reservation prior to taking part in trivia night by calling 410-641-7222.
Clubhouse Bar and Grille to Offer Dinner for Limited Time
The Ocean Pines Yacht Club will remain closed until March 12, while the Clubhouse Bar and Grille will offer dinner service starting in February, the Association announced this week.Ocean Pines Director of Finance and Operational Logistics Steve Phillips said the move would save Ocean Pines about $25,000, mostly in labor costs. February is traditionally a month associated with losses at the restaurant.
Ralph DeAngelus, cofounder of the Matt Ortt Companies that runs Ocean Pines’ food and beverage operations, said the Clubhouse Bar and Grille will reopen next Thursday through Sunday, with winter hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Starting on Feb. 4, hours will be extended to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the restaurant open Thursday through Sunday and happy hour and dinner specials beginning. A new menu will be announced in February.
"The kitchen there doesn't have the availability to put together an entire [dinner] menu, but it can do the existing menu that's there and an additional five dinner-entree menu, each week,” DeAngelus said.
He said the Clubhouse will also house Thursday trivia nights, normally held at the Yacht Club, starting on Feb. 4.