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38 | OHCC LIVING | JULY 2019 | May 16 was a bizarre event — our first ever "Not-A-Cue" Tournament. Players could use anything except the proper end of a pool cue in a game of 8-Ball. 17 members arrived with their new "not-cues," five used the butt end of a cue, two used a broomstick, and one each used a piece of PVC pipe, a closet pole, a pitching wedge, a fishing pole, a fly rod, a walking cane, a walking stick, a broom handle with wood dowel shaft, a TaylorMade Burner driver, and a shotgun cleaning rod. Lessons learned: the lightweight fishing poles could not get enough energy into the cue ball, and the pitching wedge, the shotgun rod, and walking cane were too short for a decent stroke. The remaining all had trouble with delicate shots, and none could make a draw shot. Fred Canoe and his driver came close to beating Jim Piercy's broomstick, but Jim won the B group with a broomstick, and David Key using a butt end won in the A group. On May 23, we had nine A and seven B players show up for a Golf tournament. In pool Golf, you must sink your ball in each of six pockets in order. Sound easy? It is not. If players understand how to defend, a single game can take two hours. Or five minutes. To get home in time for dinner, whoever was ahead after 30 minutes was the winner. If tied, sudden death would ensue. That happened only three times. Keith Bogost mowed them down one after the other, defeating Gary Pelcher, John Mitchell and Charlie Payne to win the A group. Dan Wilkerson did the same, beating Gil Moe, D.D. Smith, and Jim Piercy to take the B group. Dan, having now won three B tournaments, was ceremoniously promoted to the A group. On June 6 there was pizza and goodies in the Galleria followed by a general meeting where seven members volunteered to take care of one table each by vacuuming the cloth and polishing the balls once a month. Club members, and all residents, will enjoy pool equipment in top condition all year round. Finally, we had the Club Championship 9-Ball Tournament. There were 30 players mixed in a single bracket, but the 'B' players could win by sinking the 8 as well as the 9 ball. After 29 matches, 15 of the matches were won by B players and 14 were won by A players indicating the handicap is remarkably fair. During play, Keith Bogost snookered Charlie Payne. Charlie had to hit the seven or Keith would get "ball in hand" and probably win the game. Charlie claimed he would first hit the cue ball into five cushions and then hit the seven. This seemed unlikely, but he not only hit the seven, he actually sank it. Undoubtedly the shot of the day. It looked like the illustration at right. A special feature of this tournament was that everyone who sank the #5 ball received $5 on the spot. Our treasurer Kathy Thornton was kept busy as 19 players won a fiver. Jim Piercy and Leo Beeloo both sank the five four times. The quarter-final winners were Stan Katz, Leo Beeloo, Jim Piercy and Kieth Bogost who each received $5. Stan and Jim won the semi- finals and received an additional $10. The final match was two games out of three, and it took all three. Stan Katz won the final match and another $20. Were you wondering how much it costs to play in these tournaments? Zero. The Billiard Club has never charged an entry fee for its tournaments. Free food. Free money. And just why is it that you are not a member? Upcoming events: Thurs., July 4, 1:30 pm: Advanced Lesson - Balls Frozen to the Rail Thurs., July 11, 1:30 pm: Game Lesson - Straight Pool Thurs., July 18, 2:30 pm: "Stupid Pool Tricks" – Foolishness to Amaze Your Grandkids Thurs., July 25, 1:30 pm: Tournament - Straight Pool Visit the Billiards Club website at http://ohccbilliards.wixsite.com/ billiardsclub for more information about the club and upcoming events. Billiards Tom English used his walking cane! Roydn Jones had a Fly rod. L-R Dan Wilkerson (B) and Keith Bogost (A) winners of the Golf Tournament Stan Katz lifts a leg as he bears down on the way to his win.