OLD OCEAN RECREATION CLUB

This document attempts to record the history of the Old Ocean Recreational Club which, like the town of Old Ocean, has faded into history. Thanks to Bill Long for extensive research and editing help. This is a work in progress and inputs/comments are welcome.

Basil Shannon This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In 1934 the Harrison/Abercrombie companies bought 1900+ acres of land which in 1942 they leased back to the individuals Harrison/Abercrombie for stated reasons of grazing and hunting. The aerial photograph below was taken DECEMBER 31, 1942 and no infrastructure is evident at that time. The pins show where the clubhouse and the number 1 green would later be located.

 

GOOGLE EARTH

Sometime about 1946 it is thought that Abercrombie & its employees built the club.

Steve Pourteau

……."When I got into the I&E dept in the mid-80s at Amoco, I ran across a letter from the Abercrombie's Superintendent (and can't remember the name) to all of the employees about joining the club. These old records were moved from the existing Amoco office at the plant, back into the old instrument shop for storage, and that is where I found them. The letter was dated 1946, and unfortunately don't remember the month. It gave all of the information about the initiation fee and the monthly dues. I believe, but maybe wrong since it has been 30 years ago since I read this letter, but I think the initiation fees were $7, and don't remember how much the monthly dues were. This letter was typed and signed by the Superintendent on that old paper you could see through. There were a lot of letters and pictures from the '40s and 50's, and wished I had taken them home, as they probably ended up in the dumpster after we left."

On October 20, 1947 the club land was leased by Magnolia Petroleum and Old Ocean Oil Companies (partners with Abercrombie)to the Old Ocean Recreational Club, a Texas corporation, for 25 years @ $1.00 a year. The lease was signed by R. M. Chan (V. P. Magnolia), J. A. Butler (V.P. Old Ocean Oil) and W.A. Howell (President Old Ocean Recreational Club. No infrastructure is mentioned. The majority owners of the club corporation were initially Abercrombie employees. (Click here to see lease agreement)

In addition to the club, in 1953 Magnolia and Old Ocean Oil leased 14 acres to the Sweeny Old Ocean Girl Scouts. Bill Arnold and R. Y. Linn signed the lease as representatives of the Girl Scouts. See plat below:

 

 

This December 31, 1943 aerial photograph has been overlaid with the outlines of the property leased to the club:

 

When Stanolind Oil and Gas (later Pan American and then Amoco) bought out Abercrombie in 1954 the lease was amended and updated from time to time. Copies of these updates have not been located, however we know that over time the club grew in membership and hosted many events.

Thru the years, the Old Ocean Recreational Club was a great asset for the community. The facility had a large clubhouse, swimming pool, snack bar, nine hole golf course, large BBQ pits and tennis courts. It provided a fun place for generations of local people.

The swimming pool had large changing rooms and showers. To exit the building to the pool you were required to step into a tray that might have contained bleach, probably to control athlete's foot. The pool had elevated life guard stations and a high diving board that terrified many a little kid back in the day. The following photo shows the pool, changing rooms and snack bar.

 

photo permission Nina Lindamood Arnold

Pictures from Janie Munnerlyn Weatherly

 

Janie Munnerlyn Weatherly in her front yard (manager's house) with pool changing rooms, snack bar and tennis courts in background.

 

Butch Munnerlyn standing in front of pro shop with clubhouse in background 1956

 

Butch Munnerlyn, George & Bobby Burkett hanging out at clubhouse 1956

 

Janie Munnerlyn & Nancy Shannon on club grounds 1957

 

Ceremony at golf course. Right Clarence Leroy Shannon (1916-2002) Others???

1955 Family Picnic showing the tables and Tennis Court in background. (Locals at picnic; Crisp, Bass and Long families)

1955 Family Picnic showing the Club House in background. (Locals at picnic; Crisp, Bass and Long families)

Many events were held at the clubhouse. This appears to be a Sweeny Junior High Sports Banquet, 1958 class of ’64.

(Anyone who spent time in that building will remember the furniture with wooden arm rest.)

Sweeny Junior High Sports Banquet, 1958 class of ’64 in side clubhouse.

Sweeny Junior High Sports Banquet, 1958 class of ’64. (Yes that could be Mr. Beverly.)

There were two steel suspension bridges that crossed the creek which have been moved and restored at the nature preserve on 35 just west of Old Ocean.

 

Image courtesy of the Brazoria County Historical Museum

In early 1998 Phillips Petroleum bought 1500 acres that included the club and the lease agreement with the club from Amoco. It was closed soon after due to planned Phillips expansion and safety concerns of being located so close to a major oil refinery. Remaining golf club members were offered a free membership in Bay City (one year?) as a consolation.

The following pictures are from the 2004 satellite pass showing details of what was left of the club infrastructure:

 

 

 

The following pictures from a March 25, 2013 satellite pass show the foundations of the club house and pro shop. The basic outline of the course can be seen. From the pro shop, men teed off across the creek (women on the other side) and down a long par 4 to the #1 green.. A slice would put your ball into impenetrable woods on the right. You then doubled back parallel to the #1 fairway to #2, #3 and so forth up and down the course. A hook or slice often put you on an adjoining fairway. On #9 you again teed off over the often cursed creek to the #9 green by the clubhouse.

 

Little else exists today to show the club was ever there as it passed into history.

MANAGERS (known)

Rudy Kannapy (sp?)

James Mouzon Munnerlyn, June 1951-June 1957, died 1997

Roy Payne

Kathy Brown: I learned to swim there, then many years later lived and worked there for 5 years while managing the pro shop.

 

MISC PICTURES

1989 Sweeny High School golf team photo taken at OO golf course Matthew Reddoch

Flag from #9 green. Photo Henry Hanson

" I took down the flag on hole #9 which you see posted. By that time the feral hogs has ruined all the greens on the old Golf course. The flag for #9 hole is framed and hanging above my computer desk "

MEMORIES (Among thousands tucked away in our hearts & minds)

Linda Holcumb

…..Playing singles or doubles tennis for hours at the Old Ocean Country Club was so much fun. Swimming, playing "Follow the Leader" ….even though we sometimes jumped off the high diving board… was great fun. Girls wore

one piece bathing suits and rubber swim caps. Enjoyed going to the concession stand and getting snacks. Good memories.

Basil Shannon

…… From the #9 tee you lost ball after ball as you crossed the creek heading for the clubhouse. About 1956 Jamie Crisp, Charlie Mayer, maybe Troy Hicks and I used to dive in the creek for golf balls which we sold to the pro shop for spending money. Afterwards, leeches had to be removed from your skin, sometimes from unmentionable places.

Bubba Smith……

About the funniest thing I remember is when Gary Coker drove about 4 tee shots in the creek one after another on #9. He then turned around without saying a word, walked over and wrapped his driver around a huge oak tree.

Bill Long

…..The #1 tee was on both sides of the creek. Men's on pro shop side, women's across the creek. The suspension bridge (actually there were two) that crossed the creek was made by men out at Abercrombie. It was barely wide enough for the 3-wheel Cushman scooters that many of the golfers had. They would buy them used from Phillips and convert them into golf carts.

Sandra Horn Smith

…..I remember the pool & golf course well! Also remember when I was a little girl, went to the club house (beautiful) with my parents. Big party the night of the elections when Eisenhower was elected. Don't remember if there was a tv or if they listened to it on the radio. Also, had my high school (BCHS) graduation party /bbq at the end of the road where all the big pits were. Wonderful memories!

.Do any of you remember back when there was a polio epidemic? We were allowed to swim in the pool for only 30 minutes a day, then had to get out....pool rules.

Anita Shannon Shaw Warren

….. My sister Nancy and I spent every day (except Monday, when they cleaned the pool) at the pool every summer. Loved going out there. The swimming, tanning, diving off the high board. The hamburgers at the concession stand were the best, especially after swimming for several hours. And when that wasn't open we would walk to the pro shop for cold pop and a candy bar. I can still hear the metal cleats on the cement floor as the golfers came in. Oh and did I mention that we also went out there for the boys. Just one more personal story. My hair, which was very blond, all natural, would always turn a light shade of green from all the chlorine in the pool. I hated those swim caps, so didn't wear one.

Sue Mitchell

….. Yes, Anita, we did go out there for the boys! But before that my Dad was going to teach me to play golf.... so I lined up to swing while he was walking down the rough. I hit the ball bee line to my Dad and hit him in the back and knocked him to his knees. (Scared me to death). After that he would not let me play anymore so I would go to the swimming pool and played.

Marilyn Pierce Simpson

….. The golf course was open but the clubhouse was gone when we moved to Sweeny. What happened to it? (Torn down) There was just a small golf shop and the swimming pool when we moved here in Dec 1977. The kids spent lot of time swimming, playing golf and bow hunting for Gar at the Old Ocean golf course. It was such a pretty place out there and such a shame that Amoco decided to sell it. Selling the golf course and closing the Phillip Reservoir to the public sure cut down on places for Sweeny people to enjoy outdoor activities without driving a long distance.

Jim Culpepper

….. Old Ocean Golf Course sure bring back lots of great memories. In my mind's eye, I can easily envision diving off the high diving board at the pool and sometimes spending the entire day there. Also, great memories about playing golf, that include losing your ball in the fairway due to the cracks in the ground. (ha)

Basil Shannon

….. You're right. In the summer, the clay soil especially on #1 cracked as wide as 4 or 5 inches wide. I remember being able to see my lost ball about 3' down in the ground but unable to extract it with an iron.

Kathy Brown

I learned to swim there, then many years later lived and worked there for 5 years while managing the pro shop. I was there when Phillips closed the place down. It was a very sad day for all the golfers and the community!

Dwayne Ryman Since we were down by Four Forks this was always a big treat to get to go to the pool. All of us Ryman kids learned to swim there and how to play Marko Polo. I recall no swimming for 30 minutes after you ate something thinking this would give you cramps and cause you to drown. Having a lightning strike anywhere within earshot meant you had to get out of the pool till the storm passed. As others have mentioned...who does not recall that monster on the deep end of the pool...the HIGH dive? It is sad that Sweeny which had so little to do to begin with to know that the Country Club is now closed.

Steve Pourteau

Since the land the OO Rec Club still belonged to Amoco, going back to the days of Abercrombie, Amoco was responsible for the electricity that fed the golf course for many years. The golf course power actually came out of an over-head 3-phase feeder that ran from the Amoco plant, and in the late '80s, and due to the condition of that feeder, the Amoco management at the time decided to remove the line and install a meter at the golf course still paid for by Amoco. I can remember my Dad getting called out as I&E Supervisor back in the early '60s when that feeder would lose a fuse during a lighting storm. This same feeder also fed the Girl Scout camp behind the golf course. The land that was sold to Phillips by Amoco was a total of 3500 acres when they sold out to BP. Was our (Amoco employees) private hunting/playground most of my life. When I got into the I&E dept in the mid-80s at Amoco, I ran across a letter from the Abercrombie's Superintendent (and can't remember the name) to all of the employees about joining the club. These old records were moved from the existing Amoco office at the plant, back into the old instrument shop for storage, and that is where I found them. The letter was dated 1946, and unfortunately don't remember the month. It gave all of the information about the initiation fee and the monthly dues. I believe, but maybe wrong since it has been 30 years ago since I read this letter, but I think the initiation fees were $7, and don't remember how much the monthly dues were. This letter was typed and signed by the Superintendent on that old paper you could see through. There were a lot of letters and pictures from the '40s and 50's and wished I had taken them home, as they probably ended up in the dumpster after we left.

Editors note: This reinforces the need to digitize hard copy historical information before it is gone in a generation or two.

Steve Pourteau

The Club was started by Abercrombie for it's employees in '46 not in '42 according to the letter I ran across in '86 in the records in our office. Amoco bought out Abercrombie in '54 and assumed all of the ownership of the land and agreements. Amoco owned the land at that point and was responsible for the utilities (electricity) until it's end. Even in the late '70s when I started out as a roustabout, would get sent over to the golf course to work on some things. Our electricians were always called to see about issues at the golf course. The deed said it would be a golf course as long as it was maintained as a golf course and rec club. It was shutdown when Amoco sold the land to Phillips in '99. Those old files had a lot of letters and documents from back in the '40s and even some pictures, but I did not take any of them home. I wish I would have, as like I mentioned, they all probably ended up in the dumpster.

Butch Munnerlyn (father was manager 1951-1957)

…… the Old Ocean Recreation Club. …….brought back so many good memories of the time I spent there. I have always considered those times as the best part of my life. We moved out there in June of 1951 and left in June of 1957.

In your history of caretakers I noticed that you did not have Rudy Kannapy (not sure of the spelling) who was the caretaker before my dad , who started in 1951.

I can remember your mother and dad (Clarence & Lil Shannon) playing golf all the time. When we moved out there I thought I had gone to Heaven, since we were in paradise every day. You could play golf, go swimming, play tennis, go fishing, go hunting, look for golf balls, play ping pong or shuffle board in the club house, or many other things. Golf, fishing and hunting were my favorites. And speaking of fishing, my friend George Burket and I were hunting, fishing and playing golf constantly. Back to the fishing, we discovered a species of fish that we never did identify, that we caught in the irrigation pond to the right of #8 green. These fish were built like a goggle eye perch but were black all over with orange fins. We caught lots of them and showed one to the high school biology teacher, but he didn’t know what it was either, still a mystery. I can remember the time it rained so much that the big ditch in front of our house was full of water (probably 10’ deep). We had a boat and daddy borrowed an outboard motor for it. Every day Joe (his hired hand) would load up a greens mower in the boat and go out on the course and mow the greens. Of course the course was closed but something about keeping the grass in good shape. Yeah I do recall the leaches in the creek because Dick and some of his friends would go in there at time for balls and come out with leaches on them.When I heard about them shutting the club down it just took something out of me, so many good times we had there. Now at the swimming pool we had at least 3 lifeguards while We were there. In order of their service were:

Jimmy O’Banion, Rufus Ivy, and Charlie Rose

Mother and Dad opened up a café in the club house for a few weeks at one time. There was a dining room behind the big dance hall room and a big kitchen attached to that, so they decided to open a café. I think they offered steak, hamburgers, and french fries and salad. The club house burned down after we left, not sure when. mother wanted to say that was a good time for our family. Just didn’t realize how good it was at the time.

 

For a pdf version click here.

Go to the picture section to view the images.