Page 56 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch May 3, 2013 . . Schoellkopf Utilized ‘Imagineering’ With Course Designs FROM PAGE 54 ates six themed golf courses at four locations all on Coastal Highway starting on 23rd Street with Temple of Dragons, next is Medieval Faire on 28th Street, which is Ocean City’s only 27-hole course, then Dinosaurs and Indoor UnderSea that is open daily year-round, and the final courses are on 136th Street, with an outdoor Caribbean Pirates and Indoor Safari Village and Family Arcade. Old Pro Golf has become a family business with sons, Schoellkopf’s son, Scott, serving as vice president and general manager; Jeff as chief financial officer; and daughter Nancy as a member of the Board of Directors, along with Schoellkopf’s wife, Judy, who handles marketing and advertising. Schoellkopf is from Cherry Hill, N.J., where he built his first miniature golf course. The first five golf courses he built were operated under the name Putter Links. “When I started to build more, it became complicated designing score cards for each golf course with the different pars. One day I went to the printers looking to simplify … so that’s when the gentleman pulled out the figure of the Old Pro that became our logo and I decided that’s what we are going to call it,” Schoellkopf said in an interview last Friday. Schoellkopf graduated from Guilford College with a teaching bids for rides on Pier and I just happened to be here that year.” Schoellkopf was awarded the bid and leased the Pier in downtown Ocean City where he built his first miniature golf courses in Ocean City. When it came to building the miniature golf courses, Schoellkopf did it all, from engineering to construction and operation. “It is all up here,” he said pointing to his head. “All of my courses are different. The companies that grew big in miniature golf built standardized courses. They are all the same … but I work with a different philosophy. I make them challenging and interesting … and I make them so everyone can enjoy them.” Looking back over his career, Schoellkopf said he never imagined being where he is today when he served in the Army and graduated from college. “I attribute it to Walt Disney … and ‘imagineering,’ ” he said. “It’s a combination of imagination and engineering. When you put those two together, it has to work.” Old Pro Golf is celebrating 50 years of family fun in Ocean City, as well as Schoellkopf’s 92nd birthday on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the 136th Street Outdoor Caribbean Pirates and Indoor Safari Village. To celebrate the milestones, play for only 50 cents per player per game is being offered at the 136th Street facility. With six courses in Ocean City, Old Pro Golf is a family-run company and includes, back, Jeff Schoellkopf, chief financial officer; and front, from left, Scott Schoellkopf, vice president and general manager; founder and President Herb Schoellkopf; and Nancy Schoellkopf, a member of the Board of Directors. Submitted Photo degree and received his master’s in a dual major of business and education from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Following college, he spent a short time teaching and coaching before following his passion in building and operating miniature golf courses. Before receiving his position as a teacher, Schoellkopf had his first taste of building miniature golf courses when he helped his teacher build a course in Greensboro, N.C., to raise money to buy uniforms for a sports team. The year before Schoellkopf came to Ocean City was the hurricane of 1962 that wiped out most of the island. During that time, he was building a miniature golf course in Philadelphia. “A gentleman came over to ask me … if I would be interested in building a course in Ocean City, Md., and I said ‘where’s that?’ I had never been to Ocean City, Md.,” he said. “So I came down here and I looked it over a year after the hurricane when they had reopened the Pier … and they had put out WELCOME TO SPRINGFEST 1st Street In De Bay 410-289-1122 www.oclazylizard.com OPEN MONDAY-THURSDAY 3 P.M. FRIDAY-SUNDAY 11 A.M. TIKI BAR OPENING PARTY FRIDAY 4 P.M. Food And Drink Specials All Weekend Celebrating Cinco de Mayo Party HAPPY HOUR 3 P.M.-6 P.M. DAILY $2.25 Domestics • $3.25 Rail • $3.25 Wine $6 Wings • $7 Steamed Shrimp ENTERTAINMENT Friday 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Willow Brook Duo Dance Party 10 p.m. CK The DJ Saturday 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Doug Day Dance Party 10 p.m. CK The DJ Sunday Social 10 p.m. $2 Land Shark And CK The DJ Monday Rockin’ Country 10 p.m. With DJ Moonshine And $2.50 Coors Light $4 American Honey Twisted Tuesday 10 p.m. Back To The ’ 90s With DJ Harvey And $2 Twisted Tea $2 Cruzan Rum Floaters Wednesday Glow Party 10 p.m. With CK The DJ 75¢ Natty Drafts Thursday Ladies’ Night 10 p.m. With DJ Wax 1/2-Price Rail Drinks House Wine T-SHIRT SHOP FREE BOAT DOCKAGE Indoor And Outdoor Seating Children’s Play Area, Weather Permitting Voted Maryland’s Favorite New Restaurant!