Old Pro Golf
Old Pro Golf is a family-owned and operated business founded in 1963 by Herbert J. and Aileen “Deany” Schoellkopf. Before Old Pro came to be, Herb spent years designing miniature golf courses, driving ranges, and amusement facilities up and down the East Coast. Herb became hooked on the game of golf and saw its potential as a business while helping a fellow coach at Guilford College build a miniature golf course to raise funds to buy school uniforms.
Over the next 50+ years, Herb designed and built more than 150 miniature golf courses. John Margolies, author of Miniature Golf, even credits Herb as a founding figure in the “Philadelphia School of Miniature Golf Design.”
At Old Pro Golf, it’s all about elaborate themes, moving figures, creative hole layouts, water features, and lush landscaping. Inspired by Walt Disney’s idea of “Imagineering,” Herb and the Old Pro team have crafted some of the area’s most memorable courses.
1963 – The first miniature golf course in OCMD was built on the Pier.
1965 – The 23rd Street course was opened. At the time, this was considered “North Ocean City,” and locals were convinced no one would travel that far just to play miniature golf!
1967 to 1974 – New Old Pro courses opened throughout Ocean City, MD, and operated 14 other miniature golf locations in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina.
1990 – Herb purchased the property that is now the 68th Street Old Pro location and built the outdoor Dinosaur Course.
1993 – Herb finally got to realize his idea of an indoor miniature golf course! The Undersea Adventure and family arcade were built at 68th Street.
2009 – With the indoor location a huge success, in the fall of 2009, Herb decided he wanted to remodel his three outdoor courses at 136th street and have another indoor course.
2010 – By the summer, 136th street in Ocean City, MD was the home to an outdoor Caribbean Pirate course, an indoor Rainforest Adventure, and another great family arcade.
Over the years, Old Pro has grown through hard work, “imagineering,” and employee dedication and cooperation. As we continue to grow and create, Old Pro Golf is as full of potential as it was the day Herb built his first miniature golf course out of dirt and 1×4 lumber.
So when you’re in Ocean City, Maryland, don’t forget to stop by one of four wonderful locations: 23rd street, 28th street, 68th street, or 136th street on Coastal Highway.
