The resurrection of the Ocean Pines golf course from a major yearly financial loss to a major financial operational profit is unprecedented.

General Manager John Viola attributes this success to decisions made by prior OPA boards to invest the needed funds in course improvements and the construction of a new Golf Clubhouse and cart barn. OPA president Rick Farr called attention to this renaissance at the recent OPA Annual Membership Meeting when he said it is now a "destination golf course."

After the completion of the new clubhouse, the golf course's bottom line began to improve, first under Director of Golf John Malinowski and recently accelerated under new director Bob Beckelman.

Maybe it is time to give credit to the OPA Board of Directors who voted to spend a couple of million dollars for the new clubhouse and cart barn in the face of some strong opposition over the bidding process and whether or not a referendum was required.

Fortunately, a majority on the Board of Directors prevailed, authorizing both projects as individual projects not requiring a referendum and with an adequate process to hire a design/build contractor.

Who were these board members who made the tough decision in the face of some political opposition, thus setting the stage for a financial turnaround some now call "the miracle on Clubhouse Drive?"

One might assume any commemorative plaque at the facility would recognize the Board of Directors who voted to move forward with the project. This is not the case.

A plaque outside the entrance to the pro shop thanks the following board members:

Doug Parks, Steve Tuttle, Colette Horn, Larry Perrone, Camilla Rogers, Frank Daly, and Tom Janasek.

The bottom of the plaque thanks "Former Board Members" Esther Diller and Ted Moroney. Apparently, these two individuals were not on the original plaque but were added rather recently. 

The list is not representative of the board that voted to construct the clubhouse. Finding out who actually voted to spend the money was not easy. The board vote took place during a meeting on April 6, 2019. For some reason, the OPA website no longer contains board meeting minutes back further than 2020. Considerable search on YouTube will produce the video of that momentous meeting in the Assateague Room.

The video shows the seven board members voting on the new clubhouse and cart barn. They are:

Slobodan Trendic, Frank Daly, Esther Diller, Doug Parks, Steve Tuttle, Colette Horn, and Jeff Knepper.

The vote to build the clubhouse was 6-1 with Trendic in opposition. Was a decision to credit a subsequent board on the commemorative plaque a political decision to prevent Trendic's name from appearing? Perhaps, but the Board of Directors acts as an entity, not as individuals. The board members at the time of the vote represent the board decision, not any members of some subsequent board.

Diller, added as an afterthought, was a sitting board member who voted to build the new clubhouse on April 6, 2019.

Moroney, also added as an afterthought, was a strong supporter of the project but resigned his board position before the April 6, 2019 vote.

Larry Perrone, Camilla Rogers, and Tom Janasek are thanked as board members on the commemorative plaque but were not elected to the board until August 2019, and none of the three were involved in the vote of April 6, 2019.

Jeff Knepper, not mentioned at all on the commemorative plaque, was appointed to the board to replace Moroney who resigned earlier in March 2019. Knepper was a board member present at the April 6, 2019 meeting and voted to approve the clubhouse construction. Knepper's name is nowhere to be found on the commemorative plaque.

A similar plaque exists at the Yacht Club. Board members thanked include Sharyn O'Hare, Marty Clarke,  Bill Cordwell, and Jack Collins -- none of them were on the board when it voted to pick a contractor and send the Yacht Club to referendum. Interestingly, Marty Clarke was a strong opponent of building a new Yacht Club. Clarke says he asked to have his name removed from the Yacht Club plaque but his request was refused.

Dave Stevens, Pete Gomsak, Dan Stachurski, Bill Wentworth, and Ray Unger were on the early 2012 board that approved a motion sending a new Yacht Club to referendum. Their names are not mentioned.

Much ado about nothing? Perhaps. However, these commemorative plaques reflect important moments in OPA history. They should reflect the names of board members who were on the board that actually pushed or approved these important projects, not the names of subsequent board members who just happened to be on the board years in the future during some ceremony.

Looks like this self-promotion was started by Bob Thompson, GM when the Yacht Club was built. Perhaps that is why the General Manager's name is listed before all others.

The Clubhouse plaque and the Yacht Club plaque should be removed and, if desired, replaced with plaques accurately thanking the boards that voted to do these important projects. While at it, the self-serving plaque recently erected on a post on the Yacht Club deck commemorating a minor tiki-bar expansion at the Yacht Club should be relegated to the nearest trash bin - even though it accurately reflects the board that approved the minor project.

 Image Title: April 6, 2019 Uploaded: 8/19/2024
Image Info: April 6, 2019 board meeting whose members that day voted 6-1 to proceed with a new Country Club. From left to right: Slobodan Trendic, Frank Daly, Esther Diller, Doug Parks, Steve Tuttle, Colette Horn, Jeff Knepper.

Image Title: Country Club Uploaded: 8/19/2024
Image Info: Country Club Plaque thanking board members

Image Title: Yacht Club Uploaded: 8/19/2024
Image Info: Plaque at YC thanking board members.