Homegrown Talent to Lead New Golf Academy at Ocean Pines
Ten years ago, a junior golfer named Matt Ruggiere could be found at the Ocean Pines Golf Club most mornings, his car headlights pointed at the driving range as he practiced chipping just before class.This March, Ruggiere will return home to lead a new Golf Academy at Ocean Pines, offering lessons to players of all ages and skill levels.
Ruggiere grew up in the South Gate area of Ocean Pines and played golf for Stephen Decatur High School. He also toured the Mid-Atlantic region on junior golf teams.
He said the Ocean Pines Golf Club is still a favorite, because of the Robert Trent Jones design.
“Ocean Pines was always my home course. The design is just spectacular,” Ruggiere said. “I do think it’s one of the most challenging in the area, so being a competitive junior and having a place to play and practice, I felt like I always had an edge over kids that came from other courses. That helped me a lot when I started competing.”
OP Golf Members Council donates to Toys for Tots
The Ocean Pines Golf Members Council recently made a sizable donation to the Toys for Tots program.Items were donated during the Members Council’s annual Golf Dinner Dance, held at the Ocean Pines Golf Club on Nov. 3.
Toys for Tots was founded in 1947 and is run nationally by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
Joe Pantone, a Marine Corps veteran, assisted with the toy collection in Ocean Pines.
“On behalf of all Marines, I would like to thank the Members Council for sponsoring the annual Golf Dinner Dance, and the golf membership for their generous donation of toys in support of our annual Toys for Tots program,” Pantone said. “We collected approximately 75 toys, which is an outstanding number, based on past years.
Ocean Pines Golf Groups Join Forces to Raise Money for Mammograms
For 10 years, the Ocean Pines Ladies’ Golf Association’s Pink Lady event has raised money for the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation to provide mammograms for those unable to afford them. This year, however, marks the first time the OPLGA has played with the Ocean Pines Men’s Golf Association in this special outing.Thirty-four men and women golfers put on their pink and gathered at the Ocean Pines Golf Club on Oct. 12 to play for the foundation, contributing a total of $2,550 for the life-saving screenings.
Steven Tyson, donor relations officer at the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation, welcomed the golfers and thanked them for their financial gift.
OPMGA Announces 2022 Full Season Results
The Ocean Pines Men's Golf Association hosts “Men's Day” every Thursday, from early April through mid-October.Pro Shop credits are awarded to the top foursomes each week, and at the end of each half of the season those who have accumulated the most points are awarded additional credits.
This year, Fritz Lahner hit the trifecta by leading the pack for the full season and being on top during both the first and second half as well. Pete Malecki took the runner-up spot for the second half of the season, and Mark Dornes was close behind in third place.
For the full season, Dornes moved up to second place, followed by Walt Lischak in third, who benefited from a strong first-half showing.
Ocean Pines welcomes new Golf pro
Ocean Pines Association has announced the hiring of Bob Beckelman as the new Golf pro for the Ocean Pines Golf Club.Beckelman grew up in Annapolis, Maryland and West Chester, Pennsylvania, and studied aerospace engineering at Penn State University. He’s been a Professional Golfers' Association member for 25 years and has lived on the Eastern Shore for the last 35 years.
Beckelman started his professional golf career at the Ocean Pines Golf Club, first from 1992 to 1997, and then returning from 2000 to 2007.
“I was hired here originally as an assistant under Buddy Sass, and then left to help build the Deer Run Golf Club, and then came back as the head golf professional in Ocean Pines,” he said.