The Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club (OCSC) offers many outdoor sports opportunities for the public, as well as its membership.
‘We offer almost as much to the public as we do to our members,? said Tim Ondusky, Club Trustee.
The club’s 200 plus acres are filled with indoor and outdoor ranges for rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloaders, and archery, a banquet hall, lake access for fishing, and two race tracks.
Non-members can participate in some club activities such as leagues, classes, and other activities, though club members get a discount.
For the public, the club also offers hall rental for wedding receptions, baby showers, graduation parties, and other events, and the OCSC bar is also open to the public.
‘The hall was constructed in 1943 of Michigan grown timber in a rustic style,? Ondusky said, ‘This is a unique building. When people see it, they love it.?
The club has room for 1,900 members and has about 200 openings. Membership is available to anyone over the age of 18.
Annual dues are $190 per year, but members can reduce them by volunteering at fish fries and other events, and working on building and grounds maintenance. By putting in work hours it is possible to reduce the dues to $65. Members have access to the ranges and grounds.
‘A lot of people who join are interested in more than one thing ? one couple who joined, he wanted to learn pistol shooting, and she wanted to work on her archery.?
The club’s many youth leagues makes it an excellent place for families.
The local Michigan Midget Racing Association invites children 5-16 years old to race. The club also offers archery and rifle leagues for children and adults throughout the week. OCSC offers leagues for traditional archery, bow hunters, and youth, including the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) program and beginner’s archery.
The Archery Club hosts several regional tournaments for beginner to world-class archers. The indoor archery range has 24 lanes.
In warm weather, archers can use the 57-acre wooded outdoor range which can be used for 3-D, field and hunter, and broadhead stations at distances of 20-65 yards.
The OCSC Shotgun Club offers clay-shooting target practice in trap, skeet, trailer trap and five-stand shooting styles.
The grounds are also home to the Waterford Hills Road Racing, Inc. For more information, visit www.waterfordhills.com.
Projects this year include upgrades to their indoor pistol and rifle range. A wall will be built to separate the shooting areas from a lounge or viewing station, where people will be able to talk and meet without hearing protection.
‘It will be state-of-the-art,? Ondusky said, ‘and most of the work will be done by volunteers.?
For more information on the club, members produced a video for local public-access channels, which airs on Monday’s and Tuesday’s.
‘We want to spread the word throughout the community to get people interested in the club,? he said.
The Club Office is accepting membership applications for the 2008-2009 membership year. An application can be printed from the group’s website, www.ocsc-mi.org, and submitted to the Office.
The Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club is located at 4770 Waterford Road in Clarkston and the Office is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 248-623-0444 or visit www.ocsc-mi.org for more information.