February 2015
Club News
Harold Bellinger Announces Retirement from OCC
By Mary Watford
lay the fairways, build the tees, and keep everything cut and watered.
I laid the irrigation lines and maintained that later on. I even helped
to build the tennis courts for both locations.
Q. Walk us through the process of preparing the course at the new location.
A. We started with the first nine holes. We built the greens the same
way as before; hauling sand, watering, fertilizing, and smoothing.
We would keep adding until the green was the size and shape that
they wanted. We had a 100 gallon drum that collected water from a
pump in the river. We had to scoop 5 gallon buckets of water, strap
them on, and carry them to the greens to water them. We finished
two greens per week this way. Once they started growing, we cut
them with reel mowers.
Mr. Harold Bellinger and his wife, Shirley, sat down with me for this
issue’s article. Harold works as a Groundskeeper for OCC and has
decided it is time to retire. As I prepared to speak with him, various
staff members of the Club came to give him a hug and speak with
him for a moment. Their affection for him is evident in their words
and smiles. Please enjoy this look into the history of OCC and what
a large role Harold played in keeping OCC beautiful.
Q. How long have you been working for OCC?
A. I have been working here over 50 years. I started here when I was
13 years old as a caddy over in the first location. Back then, I would
get 10 cents for carrying a bag. After nine holes, I would go over
to the caddy shack and get a snack. A pack of nabs was 3 cents and
a candy bar was 2 cents. I would eat my snack and listen to Sugar
Robinson tell his stories. After that, I would go finish another nine.
Q. How did you get to the Club?
A. I walked five miles to the club each day. I had to be there by
6 a.m., especially on the weekends. It took me about an hour and
fifteen minutes or more to get there. The dogs helped you get there
quicker. Sometimes I would bring a little food to make friends with
them. We had a 50 gallon drum that we would build a fire in and
wait for the golfers. You had to get there early to get the “good
paying” players. But, one of the best paying jobs was picking up the
balls for the ladies on the putting green. There was also shagging.
That was picking up the balls on the driving range. They gave us
this iron rack to carry the balls. We stuffed our pockets with the golf
balls and put the rack on our heads.
Q. Was that your only responsibility?
A. No, I had to help take care of the greens, too. We would go into
the woods and gather sand, shake it
out, and spread it on the greens. Then
we would wet the greens down, drag
them with the net, and whip them
with cane poles to “tenderize” them.
All of this was done by hand.
Q. How involved were you with the
transition to the new location?
A. I did whatever needed to be done
to get the course up and running.
I was 18 years old then. I and four
other guys helped to build the greens,
We then moved on to building the practice green. Lucky for us, the
practice green was close enough to run sprinklers. After that, we
began the fairways. We could only do a third of the fairway at a time
because of the water. By this time, we had hoses and sprinklers to
run out to the fairway. We only planted what we could keep up. We
would take the three sprinkler heads out to a portion of the fairway
and run it for thirty minutes. Then, we would drag them over to
another area. This went on until everything was planted. It was all
Bermuda grass, so it was easy to take care of. Hercules Thompson
and I would alternate the shifts. Someone worked during the day,
cutting and maintaining, while the other would work from 7 p.m. to
2 a.m. watering all of the greens and fairways.
After this, we built a putting green. The problem was we made it
too big! It was so big; we could only cut half at a time. Let me put it
this way, that putting green was twice as big as any of the greens
on the course.
Once we finished the first nine, they had a membership drive. Chris
Hollings was a car dealer and member of the club. He helped grow
membership from 15 members to 100 members. That was a lot back
in that time. After that, we built the back nine holes.
Q. How long did you and Hercules manage the night irrigation?
A. In 1979, we stopped the night irrigation. Right after that, we
put in an irrigation system. I helped lay all of the lines and set the
heads. I took over the maintenance of the irrigation system. They
built me an irrigation shop and even gave me a golf cart. I watched
grounds maintenance go from being done by hand to being done by
machinery.
Q. When did you and your wife, Shirley, meet?
A. We both grew up here in Orangeburg. We started dating in 1960
and were married in 1969. We have five daughters, 10 grandkids,
and one great-grandkid. They now live in Connecticut, North
Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina. Shirley worked at American
Yard Products (now Husqvarna) for 13 years as a Quality Control
Inspector. She then began selling Mary Kay Cosmetics, and has been
representing Mary Kay for over 25 years. She takes her business
seriously and has been very successful.
Q. Why do they call you “The Man of the Hour”?
A. I am the first one in my department to retire.
Q. What is it about OCC that has kept you here for so many years?
A. When I started out here, I took a liking to it. I raised all my kids
working here. It helped me take care of my family. And I want to
thank the Tourvilles for letting me work here this long. They are
really nice people and have been very kind to me.
Shown: Harold and his wife, Shirley
Golf News
LGA President's Cup
The final match of the LGA President's Cup featured Ethel
Albergotti versus Phyllis Herring. The President's Cup is a match
play event, and strokes were given off the low ball in each match.
Both players breezed through the field on their way to the finals
with Ethel defeating Betty Edmonds and Genon Krivohlavek
while Phyllis defeated Judy Weathers and Jatana Norris. In the
final match, it was Phyllis who came away with a 4&3 victory over
Ethel. This is Phyllis' first individual victory. She was also part of
the winning low net team in the LGA Blackwater Invitational back
in November. Keep up the great play Phyllis and congratulations!
If you like that particular product, please schedule an appointment
for a fitting day with that vendor so you can explore all of the options
available with that product. Look for the Demo Day postings in
future editions of The Communicator and weekly e-blasts.
Tee Time Management
As the demand for tee times increase with better weather, we need
your help to effectively manage each day's play. Here is a list of
things you can do to help us:
1) The first thing we ask from you is to call in advance for a tee
time. The days of showing up without a tee time and getting out
immediately are becoming rare.
LGA Valentine's Day Couples Golf
2) Please pair up in groups. Singles and twosomes will be paired.
When the course is busy, please do not expect to play by yourself.
By pairing up with someone, not only will you help us maximize
opportunities for tee times; you may make a new golf buddy in
the process.
MGA News
A New Annual Event...History in the Making!
3) Call prior to your tee time with any changes or cancellations. If
you booked a time for four golfers and you know that two cannot
play, let us know so that we may pair you with a single or twosome
who is looking to go out. On the other hand, if you booked a time
for four and six show up, we now have a situation where we are
adding a time to the sheet that may not be available. This pushes
back the time of fellow members who have reserved a time for the
appropriate number of players.
Do We Have Your E-mail???
4) Be ready. If you and your guests have an 11:30 a.m. tee time,
please arrive early enough to do everything you need to do before
your tee time so you can start on time. Just like Item 3 above,
going to the tee late just pushes back and inconveniences members
and guests behind you who arrived on time.
We will have a 2:30pm shotgun start with a fun Captains Choice
format. After golf, make reservations in the Blackwater Grille or
enjoy a Valentines Day meal in the OCC Bar. Call the Golf Shop
to sign up.
The inaugural OCC Blue & White Tournament will be held
Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26. This will be a spirited
Ryder Cup-style tournament with team matches on Saturday and
individual matches on Sunday. Players interested in competing
should contact the MGA or Golf Shop for more information.
Registration deadline for this year’s event is Sunday, March 1.
The MGA sends out email updates in addition to the official OCC
e-blasts. Please provide your email address to the Golf Shop staff
to insure that we have a correct email on file.
Handicap Reminder
As we move closer to tournament season, here are a few handicap
reminders:
- Post a score for every round you play - both home and away - and
from tournaments
- 9-hole scores should also be posted because the USGA Handicap
System will combine 9-hole scores automatically
- All players should have an active handicap which will include
recently played and posted rounds
Red, White and Black Event
Join us on Saturday, March 21 for our Red, White and Black
Tournament. This unique event will have each golfer play six holes
from the red tees, six holes from the white tees and six holes from the
black tees. We will have breakfast at 8 a.m. that morning followed by
a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. The entry fee is $15 and the registration
deadline is Saturday, March 7. Please sign up in the Golf Shop.
Demo Days
Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading in each week's e-blast about
some of the new equipment that is available in the Golf Shop.
Just when you think the technological innovations in golf clubs
can't get any better, they do! We are currently working with our
vendors to schedule fitting days for this spring.
This will allow you to come in and test the entire array of great
products that these companies offer. In the meantime, we do have
demo clubs available in the Golf Shop for you to try at your leisure.
Our recommendation is for you to try our demos in advance.
From the Green
It's February, so hopefully that means the end of winter is in sight.
February is also a signal for us to make sure all winter projects are
complete, because the growing season is right around the corner.
The wet winter that we have had so far has slowed us down, but
it has been beneficial to our overseeded areas. The extra moisture
and the mostly mild temperatures have allowed the Ryegrass to
mature and develop. We don’t seed at a very high rate, so it takes
longer for our strain of Ryegrass to gain full coverage.
Sometime between late February and early March, we will apply
the first of two fertilizer/pre-emergent applications. This first
application will be down before the soil temperatures reach levels
that will promote weed seeds from germination. The two weeds
that we target are Goosegrass and Crabgrass. The Crabgrass
germinates around the soil temperature of 50 degrees.
Goose grass germinates when a soil temperature reaches 60
degrees. A good visual indication of when to apply pre-emergent
is when the Forsythia bushes bloom. This can be the time for home
owners to apply a pre-emergent to their yards if you so desire.
The key to having a weed free yard/golf course is to prevent them
from developing.
If you ever have any questions or concerns about the golf course or
grass in general, please ask. See you on the course!
- Alex Tolbert, Greens Superintendent.
Special Events
OCC at Great Bridal Expo
The OCC will have a booth at the Great Bridal Expo in Atlanta,
Georgia on Sunday, February 15. One of the largest bridal shows on
the East Coast, the Expo will go from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Grand
Hyatt Atlanta. It is designed to reach engaged couples, along with
their families and friends, who are actively involved in the wedding
planning process. Our staff will be on hand to greet attendees and
showcase why OCC is one of the state’s premier wedding venues. If
you’re interested in attending or want more information regarding
the Expo, please visit www.greatbridalexpo.com online.
Off-site Catering
Do you want to have a small event
at your house in the near future?
Don’t be afraid to host a gathering at
home. OCC members can now take
advantage of our off-site catering at
their personal residences for parties
of 20 or smaller. Allow us to take the
planning and preparation off your
hands. We offer plated dinners, hors
d’oeuvres, servers and bartenders so
you can enjoy your gathering without
stress. Experience the culinary delights and unsurpassed service
of OCC in the comfort of your home!
For more information or to place a reservation, please contact our
Membership and Private Event Recruiter Mary Watford by phone
at (803) 531- 9675 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Summer Weddings
Are you engaged and looking for the perfect venue to exchange vows
this summer? The OCC is an idyllic backdrop for your nuptials with
gorgeous settings, excellent menu options and a first-class staff with
exceptional attention to detail. Your family and friends will relish
the experience of dancing and dining inside our Grand Ballroom or
outside in a charming pavilion with beautiful views. Reserve your
summer wedding by calling us today
for a tour or consultation. Enjoy the
big day you’ve always dreamed of with
a walk down the aisle at OCC.
Our Private Event Coordinator Lauren
Gray will take away the burden of
wedding planning by helping you
every step of the way. We will fashion
everything to match your vision with a
meticulous attention to detail.
Call our Private Event Coordinator Lauren Gray at 531-9673 today to set
up a planning consultation or tour.
The OCC Valentine's Day Dinner
Love is in the air at OCC this Valentine’s Day. On Saturday,
February 14, we invite you and your significant other to the
Blackwater Grille for a lovely evening of four-course dining that
will warm the heart and palette. We only require you to remember
two important things – to place your reservation and have an
appetite for a romantic dinner.
Event Menu
Please Choose One Option Per Course
FIRST COURSE
CITRUS-POACHED SHRIMP
Poached Shrimp on a bed of Ginger Sesame Soba Noodles with
Avocado Cream and crispy Wonton
SHRIMP COCKTAIL
Steamed Shrimp served with Cocktail Sauce
CRAB STUFFED MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms stuffed with Crab Meat, served with a Red Pepper
Cream Sauce
SECOND COURSE
SIDE HOUSE OR CAESAR SALAD
STRAWBERRY AND CANDIED PECAN SALAD
Served with Raspberry Vinaigrette
SOUP OF THE DAY
THIRD COURSE
6 OZ. FILET AND CRAB CAKE
Served with Julienne Cheese Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
PAN-SEARED GROUPER
Served with a Tomato Caper Sauce, wild Mushroom Risotto and
sautéed Green Beans
5 LOLLIPOP LAMB CHOPS
Served with a Passion Fruit Mint Sauce, Wild Rice, Asparagus
and Hollandaise Sauce
FOURTH COURSE
MOCHA PÔTE DE CRÈME
Mocha-flavored Custard topped with Whipped Cream and
shaved Chocolate
RED VELVET MOLTEN CAKE
Served with Vanilla Ice Cream
COCONUT CAKE
Served with Vanilla Ice Cream
Make your reservations now to guarantee seating.
Price per person is $39.95++
This event will be held during our normal Saturday operating hours
from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
LGA President's Cup
Recent Events
We recently held the LGA President’s Cup matches at the Club. The finals featured Phyllis Herring and Ethel Albergotti, who both emerged
from an eight player field. Herring captured the President’s Cup with a 4&3 victory. Looking for a place to host your upcoming tournament
or golf fundraising event? The OCC’s 18-hole championship golf course combined with our indoor/outdoor settings and catering options
make us an ideal venue.
Top left: Phyllis Herring; Bottom Left: Ethel Albergotti. L to R: Phyllis and Ethel
Tri-Q Formal
The Tri-Q Sorority held their winter formal on Saturday, January 24 at OCC. Tri-Q is comprised of young ladies in the community who
work with service projects during their freshman and sophomore years of high school. Prior to their formal, several Tri-Q members dined
in the Covington Room. With a Grand Ballroom and excellent catering options, the OCC is perfect for hosting formals, school dances and
parties of all varieties.
iPad/iPhone Course
Members learned how to unlock the full potential of their Apple iPhones and iPads during an informational course on Thursday, January
29. We had a great inquisitive crowd that morning. They were eager to put their newfound knowledge into practice. Members also enjoyed
a continental breakfast prior to the course. With several meeting rooms and excellent catering services, the OCC is a premier venue for
hosting seminars, conferences, trainings and company retreats. *iPad and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
Pictured L-R: David Lackey, Pearl Tourville & Mary Watford
Pictured L-R: Susan Webber, John Webber, Ronald Cox, Patty Hoerger and Patty Pickens
The Orangeburg Country Club
CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY 2015
Sunday
01
Monday
02
Tuesday
03
Wednesday Thursday
04
05
Friday
06
Saturday
07
Lunch M-F
LGA Golf Tips 9-Hole Golf Blitz Starter Tennis Men’s Golf Blitz Men’s Golf Blitz
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
10 a.m.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
12 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
Course Closed
Golf 10 a.m. Morning Tennis LGA Playday
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
Men’s Golf Blitz
12 p.m.
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
Lunch M-F
LGA Golf Tips 9-Hole Golf Blitz Starter Tennis Men’s Golf Blitz Valentine's Day
12 p.m.
Men’s Golf Blitz
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
10 a.m.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
Course Closed
Golf 10 a.m. Morning Tennis LGA Playday
1 p.m.
LGA Couples
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Golf
Men’s Golf Blitz
2:30 p.m.
12 p.m.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
President's Day LGA Golf Tips 9-Hole Golf Blitz Starter Tennis Men’s Golf Blitz Men’s Golf Blitz
Lunch M-F
9:30 a.m.
10 a.m.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
12 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Golf 10 a.m. Morning Tennis LGA Playday
Course Closed
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
Men’s Golf Blitz
12 p.m.
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Lunch M-F
LGA Golf Tips 9-Hole Golf Blitz Starter Tennis Men’s Golf Blitz Men’s Golf Blitz
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
10 a.m.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
12 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
Course Closed
Golf 10 a.m. Morning Tennis LGA Playday
LGA Luncheon 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
12 p.m.
Men’s Golf Blitz
12 p.m.
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
Lunch M-F
LGA Golf Tips 9-Hole Golf Blitz Starter Tennis Men’s Golf Blitz Men’s Golf Blitz
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
10 a.m.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
12 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
Course Closed
Golf 10 a.m. Morning Tennis LGA Playday
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
Men’s Golf Blitz
12 p.m.
If you are planning to dine at Orangeburg Country Club, please call (803) 534-5988 for
reservations as this will help us provide better service to you, our valued member.
2745 Griffith Drive • Orangeburg, South Carolina 29118 • 803.534.5988 • www.orangeburgcc.com
HOURS of OPERATION OCC PHONE NUMBERS
DINING HOURS
Office ............................................... 534-5988
Lunch Hours
Dining Reservations ������������������� 534-5988
Monday - Friday..... 11:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Bar .................................................... 531-9680
Golf Pro Shop (Tee Times).........534-6069
Dinner Hours
Tennis Pro Shop............................ 534-1576
Tuesday - Saturday���5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Fax.................................................... 535-8943
To-Go Orders.�������������������������� .......534-5988
BAR
Tuesday - Thursday��11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Friday - Saturday.... 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sunday........................ 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
GOLF COURSE
Tuesday - Friday��������8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday������7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
GOLF PRO SHOP
Tuesday - Friday.�������8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday������7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
OCC STAFF
David Lackey ...........PGA Director of Golf
JP Waldron ..............PGA Head Golf Professional
Hayden Letien..........Asst. Golf Professional
Hardeep Judge ........Director of Tennis
Jesse Schopf..............Food & Beverage Manager
Garrett Bailey .........Sous Chef
Derrick Harris .........OCC Banquet Chef
Mary Watford .........Membership & Private Event Recruiter
Lauren Gray .............Private Event Coordinator
Alex Tolbert ............Greens Superintendent
Lizanne Walker ......Business Manager
Cynthia O’Sullivan....Accounts Receivable Clerk
Teresa Hibbits ........Club Secretary
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Wayne Hackney
Lou Switzer
Ronny Bailey
Broadus Jamerson
P ost O ffice B ox 1105
O rangeburg , SC 29116
PRST STD.
U.S. Postage
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Permit # 132
Orangeburg, SC