A pitch pipe sounds and immediately you hear male voices, baritone, bass, tenor and lead, humming in search of the proper notes for their parts of the song.

When the guys from the Golf Capital Chorus get together, they simply have to sing. It makes no difference if they are at rehearsal, their annual dinner or a full-blown performance, these men truly enjoy singing together.

“I did think they’d make it through the social hour before they started singing,” said one spouse at Saturday night’s annual dinner.

But almost as soon as greetings were exchanged, the men gathered in a corner by the bar and soon the strains of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” filled the room.

The chorus might need to brush up on that song right about now because they are about to embark on a new fundraiser: singing valentines.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14 barber shop quartets from the chorus will fan out across the Sandhills to deliver these special valentines to sweethearts all over the county.

“It’s especially fun to deliver a singing valentine from a woman to her husband or boyfriend,” says Bob Laird of Whispering Pines, the incoming president of the group. “To see this big burly guy get all choked up is truly rewarding for us as well as his sweetie.”

The valentine will include two songs, a long-stemmed rose (with card) and a Polaroid photo of the event.

All of the money raised goes to support the charities favored by the chorus, usually the Sandhills Children’s Center locally and Heartspring in Wichita, Kan., the charity adopted in 1964 by the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America with which the Golf Capital Chorus is affiliated.

Order blanks are available at some local stores or those who are interested may contact any Golf Capital Chorus member.

Sometimes in quartets or octets, but mostly in their large group of 70, the chorus has entertained at countless events throughout the county, including its own big concert in November of each year.

Paul Conway of Raleigh leads the group, traveling to Pinehurst each week for rehearsal.

In Raleigh, Conway became the choir director at Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, where he remained for 38 years. He also put together a community chorus in 1970 which continues to this day, performing two concerts each year, varying the music each time.

Conway also formed a barbershop quartet in Raleigh back in 1961. In 1986, he was asked to direct the Golf Capital Chorus, formed in 1981, which was struggling to keep its membership up. He promised his wife that it would just be ‘every other week or so for three or four months,’ but he hasn’t stopped yet.

“I enjoy working with these fellows,” he says.

“There are two versions of the club’s beginning,” says Fred Williams, one of the baritones. “The real fact is that Connie Vogler, who moved here in 1979, was shocked to discover that Pinehurst didn’t have a barbership quartet and so he set about doing something about it.

“In December 1980, Vogler contacted Jim Dawson and some other interested parties and set up a lunch meeting with them at the Carolina Hotel. After some discussion, they decided to form a group and the first official meeting was held at the Pinecrest Inn in a room adjacent to the bar.

“Hence the story that five guys in a bar decided to start the Golf Capital Chorus.”

The first rehearsal was held on Jan. 12, 1981 with 37 potential members and although, it was scheduled to end at 9:30, many stayed to sing much later.

The chorus received its chapter charter in August 1981 and each year since has presented a show to raise money for charity. In fact, they have donated more than $72,000 to charity during their 20 year history.

In fact, the chapter was first in the Dixie District for giving.

“We owe a lot of that success to the thousands who come to our shows and the businesses that advertise with us,” says Laird.

“Eighty-five percent of ads are repeats, too,” says Settles.

One charter member, Perry Payne, is now living in Greensboro and he was the longest active member in the chapter.

Currently the member with the most longevity is Lowell Larson.

“We are always glad to have new members,” says Bill Settles of Seven Lakes, a former president and three-year member of the group.

Although Settles has been singing barber shop since he was 16 years old, previous experience is not necessary nor do you have to be able to read music.

“I had no previous organized singing experience at all,” says outgoing president Warren Keller of Southern Pines, also a three-year member.

Laird says that singing barber shop is “different not difficult.”

“We find if we can get them in here, they’re hooked,” he says.

(Call Laird at 949-2344 for information.)

The chorus meets each Monday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at Community Presbyterian Church. Ron Sickenberger is chairman of quartet development and often the men come early to practice in groups of four.

“Specific quartets practice more often during the week,” says Settles.

The chorus performs a mixture of songs ranging from old standards to show tunes to Irish and patriotic numbers.

“Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf came here in June and we performed for him,” says Laird.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, the Golf Capital Chorus will present its annual show at the Robert E. Lee Auditorium on the campus of Pinecrest High School. As in the past, a Gold Medal quartet will be featured.

“We don’t have that officially lined up,” says Laird.

Emerson Cole will again be the master of ceremonies for the show.

“We have a good rapport with the people at the high school,” says Laird. “Last year when the high school did ‘The Music Man,’ they asked us to provide a quartet to make up the River City School Board.”

Making up the Buffalo Bill quartet, in addition to Laird, were Larry Harter, Juan Russ and Alan Langley.

The chorus also sings at memorial services for members or their spouses as well as at veterans homes, rest homes, parties, treelightings and whatever occasion arises.