November 2014 - Orangeburg Country Club

November 2014
Club News
Member Spotlight: Bob Varn
By Mary Watford
For this issue of our
newsletter, I visited with
Dr. Bob Varn. He and his
wife, Bobbie, have a lovely
sunroom overlooking his
pool and the course. Bob
is a true competitor. His
singular determination to
accomplish is evident in
his career and recreation. I
hope you enjoy reading this
month’s member spotlight.
Q. Are you originally from Orangeburg?
A. I was born in Los Angeles, California in 1948. My father was
from Branchville and served in the Air Force during WWII.
His missions were mainly over Africa. When he was assigned to
California for R&R, he met my mother. We moved back in 1952,
so I grew up in Branchville as one of four kids. My dad had a drycleaners, an insurance agency, a radio repair business, and was a
magistrate. I enjoyed growing up there.
Q. What made you decide to become a dentist?
A. At first, I thought I would like to be a physician like my uncle,
Lucius Varn. Back then, he would make house calls. Just about
every time we would do something, he got called. I realized that I
didn’t want that. My dad really pushed me toward dentistry.
Q. When did you become interested in golf?
A. In school, I participated in all of the traditional sports. I was a
quarterback for the football team, point guard for the basketball
team, short stop for the baseball team, and participated on the
track team. It was the summer before my junior year that the
Bowman Country Club opened. We then started the golf team, so
I played golf in school, too.
Q. Did you go on to play golf in college?
A. Actually, I received a basketball scholarship to Baptist College,
which is now Charleston Southern University. But I was injured
and couldn’t play my freshman year. The basketball coach at the
time was also the golf coach. The college was looking for one
more player to complete the golf team. I was one of 30 kids trying
out for the spot. I finished second. At that time, Allen Powers of
Orangeburg, an All-American Golfer for USC, came on as the
assistant golf coach. The first candidate for the golf team was
dropped for disciplinary reasons and I got the slot.
Q. How was the competition in college?
A. As a competitor, I did really well. We were in the NAIA
division and played against the Citadel, College of Charleston,
and UNCA to name a few. The difficulty for me was that golf
wasn’t something I could pursue when I wanted. I was very busy
with school. I knew what I needed to do and had everything
mapped out. After two and a half years of college, I applied to
dental school. I was accepted after my third year and, because of
changes in curriculum, completed all of my undergraduate and
graduate work in six and a half years. This did not leave much
time for golf.
Q. Where did you go after graduation?
A. I actually worked at the Public Health Clinic in Orangeburg
for about a year. This helped me because I was so young. As a
matter of fact, I still looked like a child! The clinic felt more like an
internship while I was there. It was a good start for me.
Q. When did you join the Club? What were some of your impressions
when you joined?
A. I was given a membership as a gift in 1973. I remember walking
into the clubhouse and seeing the old club plaques at the front with
the champions’ names. I said, “I’ll be on that board.” Since then I
have won 20 Club Championships. There were and still are a lot
of good golfers here. It took me a few years to get competitive. For
a while, it was either Marion [Moore] or me. Vic Lipscomb had
a big influence on all of us. We all made each other better thanks
to the competition. In 1985 and 1986, the Club members won
two Carolinas Amateurs, the Carolinas Mid Amateur, a South
Carolina Match Play title, and a South Carolina Amateur title.
Q. Have you been involved in the governance of the Club in the past?
A. I was on the Board of Directors and served two terms with
one as President. We had 632 members at one point and hoped
to increase that number with a membership drive. We decided
to send out a letter to all of the members informing them that
we would have to place a cap on membership at 650 members.
Unfortunately, we didn’t accomplish our goal.
Q. Since you have always been active, did you spend much time on the
tennis courts?
A. No, but my wife Bobbie played tennis for years. Our tennis
team has won state championships. The courts used to be packed
all of the time. You had to make a reservation to get any court
time. Two of our children played tennis in high school. The kids
grew up at the pool. They all were active on the swim team until
their high school years.
Q. How much time do you put into practice?
A. I’d rather play. I play occasionally in the Blitz and still play in
many senior level golf competitions. I try to qualify for the US
Senior Amateur each year. I qualified in 2006 and 2009. Generally,
150 golfers come out to qualify and 64 will make it to match play.
If you make the top 64, you get a two-year exemption into the
British Senior Amateur. I went to one British Senior Amateur in
2007. I would like to go back. The problem with getting older,
you only have so many good shots left in your joints. We all carry
Advil in our bags!
Q. What is your handicap today?
A. I have a three handicap. It used to be lower, but age is now
becoming a factor with my game. Equipment has been pretty
helpful, but driving has always been my strength, at least when I
hit a good one! I prefer the par 5’s. I can reach the green in 2 and
birdie.
Q. You have played a great deal of competitive golf throughout the
Carolinas, so what is your evaluation of our course?
A. We are very well-respected for this course throughout the
Carolinas and beyond. I personally think it is one of the best in
the state, and 18 is probably the best finishing hole in the state.
Par is a good score on that one. Everywhere I compete, people are
very envious of what we have here at OCC.
Golf News
Time Change Information
Due to the time change, the Golf Course and Golf Shop will close at
5:30 p.m. starting on Sunday, November 2. The Saturday Blitz will
move to 9:30 a.m. beginning Saturday, November 8.
CGA Senior Championship Follow-Up
As we mentioned in last month's The Communicator, OCC member
Jimmy Hyams qualified for the Carolinas Golf Association Senior
Amateur at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. Many
of you may have been wondering how he played in the tournament.
Jimmy shot rounds of 88-74 and just missed the cut. Keep at it Jimmy!
Holiday Schedule
Please take note of our upcoming holiday schedule:
Thanksgiving Day: Club and Course open for normal operations
Christmas Day: Golf Shop and Course open for normal operations
with no food service available, beverage service only
New Year's Eve: Club and Course open for normal operations,
Blitz at 9:30 a.m.
New Year's Day: Club and Course open for normal operations,
Blitz at 12 p.m. noon
Ladies' Golf News
Did you know the #1 ranked team in women's college golf is the
USC Lady Gamecocks? They have two victories and one runnerup in three events this fall. Very impressive Lady Gamecocks!
Turkey Ball Shootout for Alzheimer’s Research
The 1st Annual Karen J. Williams Turkey Ball Shootout will be
held at OCC on Wednesday, November 26 with 10 a.m. shotgun
start. This event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Orangeburg
and all proceeds will go to support Alzheimer’s research. We
encourage all members wanting to play that day to participate in
the tournament and help fight this disease. The entry is $80 each.
If you are unable to participate in this event, we encourage you
to donate to this worthy cause.
The Annual Golf Shop Sale / Wine and Cheese Party
This annual event will be held on Friday, December 5. We will
have snacks and drinks available in the Golf Shop throughout
the day as you also enjoy savings on every in-stock item. Sorry,
special orders will not be discounted. This is a great time to get
that special gift for your favorite golfer. It is also a great time to
redeem your gift certificates and Golf Shop credits before they
expire. Plus, free gift wrapping is available!
Men's Blitz Information
All participants for The Blitz must be registered to play no later
than 15 minutes prior to start time. For example, you must call
or sign up in the Golf Shop no later than 11:45 a.m. for a 12 p.m.
Blitz. This will allow us the opportunity to make the teams and
start play in a more efficient manner.
Club Championships
The LGA will hold their championship on Thursday, November 13 and
Friday, November 14. Tee times begin at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday and
10:00 a.m. on Friday. Please call or come by the Golf Shop to register.
The deadline to register is Thursday, November 6.
The Men's Club Championship will be held on Saturday, November
15 and Sunday, November 16. Tee times will begin at 9 a.m. both
days. There will be three divisions. All men are eligible for the
Men's Championship, which will play from the Blue Tees. The
Senior’s Men Championship is for men ages 55+ and will play
from the Black Tees. The Super Senior’s Championship is for men
ages 65+ and will play from the Gold Tees. All divisions will be
competing on a Gross and Net basis with the Gross winner of each
holding the distinction of Club Champion. Entry fee is $30 per
player, plus carts. The deadline to register is Friday, November 8.
MGA Meeting and Golf
On Saturday, November 15, the MGA will have a breakfast meeting
starting at 7:30 a.m. followed by golf at 9:30 a.m. The format will
be the same as the Blitz, but no entry fee will be required. All MGA
members are encouraged to attend the meeting. The registration
deadline for breakfast and golf is Saturday, November 8.
Wall of Champions
Our staff has been working on recognizing our past Champions
in the Clubhouse. However, we are missing some names. Please
rack your brains, look up old newsletters, or even call some former
members to help us acknowledge all our past Club Champions.
We need the following names of Champions:
Ladies' Golf - 1931, 33, 34; 1938-1954; 1956, 60, 63, 66
Senior Men's Golf - Gross & Net Winners - 1996-2004, 2007, 2008
Mens' Tennis - 1970, 73, 85, 89-92, 95, 97 - present
Ladies' Tennis - 1985, 1995, 1998 - present
Special Orders / Promotions
Titleist® is offering customers FREE personalization on its
golf balls. The minimum order is one dozen per person. Orders
placed before Sunday, December 7 are guaranteed to be delivered
in time for Christmas. Also, if you have any special orders that
need to be placed, please make them in a timely manner to ensure
delivery ahead of the holiday season.
From the Green
Fall weather is in full effect now that it’s November. The cooler
temperatures have stopped the growth of the Bermuda. The
rough was topped one last time in late October at 1.5 inches.
This is a good height for us going into the winter. Before the turf
breaks dormancy next spring, we will mow all the rough down
to one inch. We will maintain the rough at that height for as long
as possible.
Overseeding is now complete for the fairways, tees, approaches,
and greens. However, we are still working on a few areas that
experienced little or no germination. After a few weeks of mowing,
we will apply fertilizer to help establish the overseed. We would
like to thank everybody for their patience during the overseeding
process. Your help will make our overseed the best it can be.
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.
Richardson Wedding
Recent Events
On October 12, Kristi Owens and George Richardson were united in marriage at OCC. After exchanging vows during an outside ceremony
on a picture perfect afternoon, the newlyweds and their guests had a plated wedding reception inside featuring delicious Chicken Piccata.
You too can have the wedding of your dreams at OCC. Our staff will tailor everything to your liking from the décor to the dessert.
Pumpkin Carvings
Members and OCC staff brought their creative best to our Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest this year. Their pumpkins featured intricate
designs, each a clever representation of the carver's unique vision. Members voted on which pumpkin they liked the best and the winners
are as follows: First Place - Jesse Schopf w/Boston Red Sox, Second Place - Lauren Gray w/Tinkerbell, and Third Place - Chase Davis w/Chef Pumpkin.
#1 - Breast Cancer Awareness
#2 - Fireflies
#3 - Volkswagen
#4 - Tinkerbell 2nd Place
#5 - Owl
#6 - Chef 3rd Place
#7 - Red Sox 1st Place
#8 - USC/Clemson
Upcoming Events
Thanksgiving
We invite you and your family to join us for a Thanksgiving Day
Celebration with turkey and all the trimmings. Relax this year
and let us take care of the cooking while you enjoy a Thanksgiving
meal to remember with your loved ones.
MENU:
Carving Station
› Top Round of Beef
› Black Oak Ham
› Oven-roasted Turkey Breast
with Stuffing and Gravy
Holiday Cookie Tins
Few things go together better than the warmth of the holidays
and delicious, chewy cookies. Indulge in handmade cookies from
OCC’s culinary staff with our special holiday cookie tins this
season. Buy one to enjoy and give one as a Christmas gift this
year. The holiday cookie tins are $20 each and include a dozen
scrumptious cookies. We will start taking orders for the cookie
tins beginning Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27th).
Members please call 803-534-5988 to place an order.
Please allow 3 business days for cookie orders.
Entrees
› Grilled herbed Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce
› OCC Deep-fried Chicken
› Fried Shrimp
Salads
› Roasted Vegetable Salad with Penne
› Crisp House Greens and Bar
› Caesar Salad
Sides
› Assorted Rolls
› Holiday Dressing
› Cornbread Dressing
› Collards
› Mac & Cheese
› Sweet Potato Casserole
› Roasted Root Vegetables
› Mashed Potatoes
› Green Bean Casserole
› Chicken Tenders for Kids
› Smiley Fries
Fall Event Planning
We’ve had great interest in hosting holiday parties at OCC this
season. However, it’s not too late for you to host your holiday event
here. The Clubhouse has several elegant settings. This offers us
the versatility to host everything from an intimate family holiday
dinner to a large year-end office party. You can choose from a
diverse array of dining options, all of which are prepared by an
experienced culinary staff. Our Private Event Coordinator Lauren
Gray will take away the burden of hosting an event by helping you
every step of the way. We will fashion everything to match your
vision, ensuring your event will create cherished holiday memories.
Holiday Desserts
It is essential that you make a reservation by Thursday, November 20.
Please call (534-5988) for reservations.
Holiday Hours
(beverage service only)
(beverage service only)
*Bar may close early depending on business/weather
Call our Private Event
Coordinator Lauren Gray
at 531-9673 today to set up
a planning consultation or
take a tour.
The Orangeburg Country Club
CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 2014
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday Thursday
29
30
Friday
31
Saturday
01
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.
8:30 a.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.
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
Lunch M-F
LGA Golf Tips 9-Hole Golf Blitz Starter Tennis Men’s Golf Blitz Men’s Golf Blitz
Daylight
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
12 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10 a.m.
Savings Time 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
LGA Invitational Golf 10 a.m. Morning Tennis LGA Playday
Fall Back
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
Course Closed
Men’s Golf Blitz
12 p.m.
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
Lunch M-F
Veteran's Day 9-Hole Golf Blitz Starter Tennis Men’s Golf Blitz MGA Breakfast
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. LGA Golf Tips
10 a.m.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
12 p.m.
7:30 a.m.
Course Closed
9:30 a.m.
Morning Tennis
LGA
LGA
Meeting/Golf
Golf 10 a.m.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Championship Championship Men’s Golf Blitz
Men’s Golf Blitz
9:30 a.m.
12 p.m.
Men's Club
Championship
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Men's Club
Lunch M-F
LGA Golf Tips 9-Hole Golf Blitz Starter Tennis Men’s Golf Blitz Men’s Golf Blitz
Championship 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.
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.
23
30
24
25
26
27
28
29
Lunch M-F
LGA Golf Tips Morning Tennis Thanksgiving Men’s Golf Blitz Men’s Golf Blitz
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Day
12 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
Course Closed
Golf 10 a.m.
Turkey Ball
Starter Tennis
LGA Luncheon
Shootout
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
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.-7:00 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....Account Receivable Clerk
Teresa Hibbits ........Club Secretary
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Rod Spence
Timothy Langford
Elaine Pickering
Rick Streeter
P ost O ffice B ox 1105
O rangeburg , SC 29116
PRST STD.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit # 132
Orangeburg, SC