The Paris, Ohio property was transformed from a farm into an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse in 1965 by Harry and Lola Orwick, whose son now acts as General Manager and Superintendent.
Fifty years ago, a couple transformed a farm into an 18-hole golf course, turned a pig pen into a clubhouse and embarked on a multigenerational endeavor that would become Pleasant View Golf Club in Paris, Ohio, the Canton (Ohio) Repository reported.
Golfers celebrated the anniversary Sunday with the descendants of Harry and Lola Orwick, who founded Pleasant View Golf Club in 1965, the Repository reported.
“They loved golfing,” said their daughter, Marcia Orwick Rubin. “They were average golfers, but they loved golf.”
Harry Orwick seized the opportunity to create a 9-hole course—adding another 9 holes a few years later—when Lola’s family, the Wallaces, no longer needed their farm. Orwick continued to work in Louisville at Wallace Motors, which provided a roadside sign the couple repainted for the golf course, the Repository reported.
The Orwicks customized the course with a heart-shaped green. A new clubhouse was built in 1985 and more than 500 trees were planted on the rolling 115 acres. Ownership eventually passed to the Orwicks’ children after their deaths, and numerous family members have helped operate and improve the course throughout the years.
Don Orwick, Harry and Lola’s son, is the General Manager and superintendent. His wife, Amy, manages the clubhouse, the Repository reported.
Rubin retired when her son, Mike, began working as the head golf professional in 2007. He said he chose the profession to “try to keep a legacy alive.” He also got married on the golf course, a tradition started by his mother and father—to continue next summer with the wedding of Don and Amy Orwick’s daughter, the Repository reported.
Their family hasn’t been the only ones to benefit from the course. Former employee Mary Lou Johnson started helping part-time as a favor to a friend, Lola’s sister. It soon became a full-time job, from which she retired after 20 years, the Repository reported.
“I really enjoyed the people, and I really enjoyed Harry and Lola,” Johnson said. “They were very, very good to me.” Her son also worked at Pleasant View and stayed from the age of 12 through his college years.
Longtime golfers Rex and Donna Edwards said they also found a family with Pleasant View’s couples league. They went to a driving range on their second date and golfing for their third. “This was our home course for many years,” Donna said. “Beautiful course.”
The Edwards have been coming to the course since the 1970s, and like many at the anniversary celebration, grew to know the Orwicks. Family members say they expect the course to stay in the family and hope to improve the course and interest more young people in the game in time, the Repository reported.
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