I also share many of your concerns. While it is important for Ocean Pines to increase full time golf memberships, it is equally important to bring back our full and part-time resident golfers. This segment has been ignored for years. Many of the area golf courses, as you know, offer a "locals rate" which is a much better value than the resident golf rate here in Ocean Pines. It is unfortunate that many of our golf residents, who located to Ocean Pines because of the golf amenity, golf elsewhere because value is very important to them. We see the same mismanagement practices being incorporated at the Yacht Club. So many of our association members frequent outside food and drink establishments, particularly during the off season months, again, because of the added value afforded at these premises.

Policy changes must be made to encourage golf course use by our residents.

Some of these changes should include:   

1. Provide our membership the "added value" that is expected by being part of HOA and setting resident golf rates comparable to the "local rates" being offered by the competing  area golf courses.     

2. Offering a 6-month golf membership and reverting back to allowing the "limited 30 round membership" to be broken into 9-hole play. This will allow the "snowbirds" and part time residents to be  afforded the opportunity to play in our men's and ladies golf leagues, as you must be a "member" in order to do so.  A full time membership is not cost effective to those who do not live here all year round.

3. Offering "Junior " golf rates to those under the age of 21. This will encourage youth play and hopefully bring new golfers into the fold.

Many of our members have expressed similar solutions such as these and it is important that we all work together to make changes that will encourage use of all our amenities by the membership. Three seats are open for election on the board next year. I encourage the membership to pay close attention and choose who they feel will best serve the community going forward.

Tom Herrick