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Ocean Pines Golf Clubhouse grand opening

(June 25, 2020) Ocean Pines officials formally opened the new golf clubhouse last Wednesday morning with a grand opening ceremony.

The celebration came a little more than a year after the Ocean Pines Board of Directors approved the project at a guaranteed maximum cost of $1.6 million.

After agreeing to build a new clubhouse, the board hired Salisbury architectural firm Davis, Bowen and Friedel to develop plans for the roughly 7,200 single-story structure. Among other things, it features a large meeting room, space for a new restaurant, 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, of 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.

Board President Doug Parks recognized people he said were instrumental in developing and then delivering the project.

“When we first looked at the idea of renovation versus rebuilding, we thought we didn’t have enough expertise in that area, so we called in some folks who were very well versed [and] had lots of experience in construction,” Parks said.

Local builder Marvin Steen was brought in in early 2019 to look at the possibility of renovating the existing 40-year-old structure versus building a new one. Steen’s advice: “tear the damned thing down.”

Parks also credited builder Frank Brown for helping with the initial planning and, like Steen, contributing throughout the clubhouse’s.

He also credited the Whayland Company, especially Steve Hentschel and Mark Figgs. Additionally, Parks thanked the board, including former directors Esther Diller and Ted Moroney, for their support.

In particular, association Vice President Steve Tuttle was helpful as board liaison during construction, Parks said,

“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our general manager (John Viola), who helped [with the] coordination that’s involved in the various parties,” Parks said.