Golf Rumblings

Commentary by Joe Reynolds

Rumblings emanating from the golf community in Ocean Pines about the condition of the OPA golf course suggest some serious problems. Apparently many of the greens are in terrible shape; some of the golf drainage project work completed over the last several years at a cost of millions of dollars may not have been done correctly or not functioning as hoped; some golf members reportedly want their money back.

Bill Casper Golf, the company currently managing the course, sent out an email to golf members on the problems with an explanation of what they say are the causes and corrective action in the works. The question unanswered is why the deterioration happened (pre or post Casper responsibility), and why the extremely expensive golf drainage project may not have been done properly.

One golfer, comparing Ocean Pines to Rum Pointe in terms of course condition alone, said if Rum Pointe was a 10 then Ocean Pines might be a five at best.

Another golfer recently wrote, “I have a home and come to the pines on weekends and for two vacation weeks a year. I usually play the golf course about 5-10 times a year. I was always proud of the course when I brought family to play it with me. I played this past week and was amazed at how bad the course was. It has gone from a country club to a beat up public course. I was embarrassed when one of my guests said that when he comes back to Ocean City to play he will definitely not play Ocean Pines. I don't blame him. I have no intention of playing the course again in these deplorable conditions.”

Dave Stevens, a member of the OPA Board of Directors who has golfed on the Ocean Pines course since 1977, said, “The course is at least in the worst shape as I have ever seen it.”

The Ocean Pines Golf Advisory Committee has not met for almost a year, with the chairman saying there is no point in meeting. Strangely, the committee was not even listed as an OPA advisory committee in the last quarterly newsletter. OPA's General Manager, perhaps in line with a policy of only focusing on good news, has not mentioned any substantive golf course problems to the Board of Directors at their meetings.

Finally, it seems the General Manager has created another advisory group for golf, and, like the Facilities Planning Group that meets behind closed doors, it is meeting in private, perhaps yet another violation of Maryland law. The Board of Directors needs to put an end to these closed-door committee meetings. The Board of Directors needs to put an end to cheer-leading-only General Manager reporting to the board. The Board of Directors should use Joe Friday’s famous line on Dragnet: “All we want are the facts."

Secrecy is an infection and it is spreading in OPA-land.

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Golf Rumblings
OPA's golf course may not be up to expectations from a maintenance standpoint.