News
Golf Members' Council Continues Fundraising for Scholarship Awards
The Ocean Pines Golf Members’ Council (OPGMC) continues its fundraising efforts for its annual scholarships, despite having to cancel its signature event, the Ocean Pines/Taylor Bank Scramble scheduled for July, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event, last year, raised $11,000 for scholarships for local high school students.
Instead, OPGMC Scholarship Committee Chairman Bob Long said much of the money received this year has come from small donations from Ocean Pines golf groups.
Long credited Scotty Wheatley, chairman of the annual golf tournament, with helping to raise a record amount last year. The organization awarded scholarships of $4,000 in 2017, $5,000 in 2018 and $7,000 in 2019.
“In early March, Scotty was full of optimism about our 2021 fund and was hoping we would again have a big increase. A week later, we all were under some form of quarantine and that optimism faded,” Long said.
This year, Long said the OPGMC decided to award $6,000 in scholarships to five graduating students, representing about half of the scholarship fund balance. “The remaining money would remain in the fund to insure we had something to award in 2021,” he said.
After canceling the golf tournament, Long said the Scholarship Committee began looking for new ways to raise money.
“Our members have been very supportive and generous. Things are not looking as bleak as they did a couple of months ago,” Long said. To date this year, he said the Members’ Council has raised $6,600.
Pines Officials Highlight Teamwork During Golf Clubhouse Grand Opening
(June 17, 2020) “Teamwork” was the word of the day, as Ocean Pines officials held a grand opening ceremony for the new Golf Clubhouse on Wednesday morning. The Ocean Pines Board approved the project in April 2019 at a guaranteed maximum cost of $1.6 million.
Salisbury architectural firm Davis, Bowen and Friedel, Inc. developed plans for the roughly 7,200 single-story building, which includes a large meeting room and space for a new restaurant, along with an outdoor deck, pro shop and club-fitting area.
Absolute Demolition of Ocean City took down the former two-story clubhouse last May, and the Whayland Company, based in Laurel, Delaware, began construction in October.
The project officially wrapped last month, at a final cost of about $1.49 million, General Manager John Viola reported during a recent Board meeting.
Ocean Pines to Hold Official Opening for New Golf Clubhouse
(June 15, 2020) The Ocean Pines Association will hold a brief ceremony to officially mark the opening of the newly completed Golf Clubhouse on Wednesday, June 17 at 9 a.m.The event will recognize several individuals whose efforts were instrumental in the completion of the project. Ocean Pines President Doug Parks and General Manager John Viola will also make public comments.
Members of the press and public are invited to attend the ceremony, which will be held on the Clubhouse patio overlooking the course’s 18th green.
OP Golf Members' Council Announces Annual Scholarships
(May 28, 2020) The Ocean Pines Golf Members’ Council recently awarded five scholarships totaling $6,000 to local high school seniors.
The scholarship committee of the Golf Members’ Council each year honors students who have exhibited an interest in the game of golf, and who demonstrated exemplary academic and extracurricular records.
Much of the money raised each year comes from the Ocean Pines/Taylor Bank Scramble. Since 2017, the Golf Members’ Council has awarded $22,000 in scholarships to local students.
Bob Long, scholarship committee chairman, said awards are given on behalf of Ocean Pines Golf Club members, who support the fund throughout the year.
“While the committee and the membership is saddened not to have the opportunity to present these scholarships in person this spring, it is hoped they will have the chance to meet these young people on the golf course in the not too distant future,” Long said.
The 2020 recipients of the Ocean Pines Golf Members’ Council Scholarships are:
The 2020 recipients of the Ocean Pines Golf Members’ Council Scholarships are:
Ocean Pines Golf Club Reopens for Business Following COVID Closure
(May 11, 2020) The Ocean Pines Golf Club welcomed back its first customers of the season on Saturday after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan broadened the list of outdoor activities allowed under the state's stay-at-home order.Although construction on the new golf clubhouse and grounds maintenance continued during the closure, golfers had not been allowed to play since the order took effect on March 23.
"The governor's announcement meant we had to hustle to get the course ready for play, but after a couple of days of hard work we were able to meet the restrictions placed on golf courses and were happy to be open again," Ocean Pines PGA General Manager of Golf John Malinowski said.
Some of those restrictions include limiting golfers who don't reside in the same household to one person per cart, prepayment over the phone of greens and cart fees, and regular sanitization of carts and on-course restrooms.
Despite having to adapt to a new set of procedures, golfers were excited to be able to play the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course again.
Ocean Pines Golf member Don McMullen, who played in Saturday's first foursome with fellow members Paul Kelly and Frank Ruggiere, as well as with Frank's son Steven Ruggiere, said the experience of returning to his home course with the new safety measures in place was "comforting."