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44 | OHCC LIVING | NOVEMBER 2022 | Racquet Club In response to member suggestions that a "special event" doesn't always have to be a dinner/dance, the Board decided to move in a new direction and created an afternoon for active socializing and play. President Bob James challenged Pele and Steve Pyle and Laura and Michael Urban – our party planning crew – to create a "backyard party" event with an emphasis on FUN! By all accounts, the Racquet Club's Oct. 2 Game Day was an unqualified success. For three hours on a quintessential fall afternoon, 250 members and guests spread out across the back lawn of the Clubhouse where "fun" was the order of the day. One game after another was played on the bocce courts, a pickleball court was adapted for a frisbee toss, and the usually dormant croquet lawn became the site for lawn darts and ladder toss games. The shuffleboard courts were converted for corn hole (some of you may call this the "bean bag" game), which was the hands-down most popular game. Dave Johnson's pickleball serve measured 53 mph on the radar gun – the fastest among those who gave it a try. And believe it or not, the just-refreshed horseshoe pit saw steady play all afternoon! Two carnival-style booths gave guests the chance to win $1 lottery scratchers by tossing tennis balls and pickleballs, and the "prize patrol" duo of Morey Sherman and Bob James cruised the party giving guests the chance to win scratchers with on-the-spot challenges. Prize drawings scattered throughout the afternoon also added to the festivities. Good food is key to any party, and guests gave thumbs up to the yummy hamburgers and chicken sandwiches served all afternoon from the OC's TK Burgers food truck. Ice cream and popcorn stations had constant traffic. An army of volunteers before, during, and after was responsible for this memorable and well-organized event. Post-event reviews tell us that our members went home happy with this alternative to a dinner/ dance. As a club of more than 470, we'll continue to experiment with a variety of activities to get members outside, active, and having fun - year 'round. And speaking of looking forward… please mark your calendar and plan to attend. On Wed., Nov. 9 the Racquet Club Meeting and Election will be from 4 to 4:30 pm, and the Social from 4:30 to 5:30 pm with meeting and election of 2023 officers in Abravanel Hall. Questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome at our Help Desk ohrchelp@gmail.com. Golf Club Hurray, our golf course if now officially open! The tract looks great and is ready to withstand the onslaught of eager and rusty hackers, I mean scratch golfers, ready once again to enjoy a round or two after a year and a half hiatus, as the smiling faces in these two photos attest. League play officially began the week of Oct. 24, teeing off from all the holes except number 17. In the meantime, the only other game in town is Touring Amateurs, recently played at Lomas Santa Fe on Mon., Sept. 19. Here is a who's who of many of the big winners that day: Closest to the Pin: Debbie Machnick and Len Holness Magic Circle: Rick Brown, Gary Forsberg, Ted Mitchell, Fred Peppe, Scott Sloan, Wayne Worsley, Joan Comito, Darlene Kelch, Mary Laforte, Debbie Machnick, Sheri McDaniel, and Gloria Whitman. Low Gross: Greg Cies, Gary Forsberg, Alan Goodman, and Adrian Verduzco. Congratulations to all! Next up is the final Touring Amateurs Tournament of the season at The Welk Course on Mon., Nov. 14. Soon after that we might begin playing our traditional Guys and Dolls and Special Tournaments. It will be great seeing the hundreds of Ocean Hills golfers back on our beautiful course. Corn hole – Rich Halkyard aims for another corn hole victory Game Day Party planners - Happy but exhausted, Laura & Michael Urban and Pele & Steve Pyle