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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MARCH 2023 | 57 Table Tennis/Ping Pong Like many of the 80 groups and organizations in Sun Lakes, our table tennis/ping pong group has experienced a growing membership. If you walk into our playing spaces in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom nowadays, the place is packed with players of all skill levels at seven tables of which six are high-end Stiga tables, and one of which, has a robot installed for individual practice sessions. Our regular play times are Mondays, Wednesdays, 4 to 6 pm, Fridays,1 to 3 pm, and Saturday mornings, 10 am to 12 pm. However, due to scheduling conflicts with other activities, rehearsals, and events, we sometimes have to accept "special times " to play our beloved sport. These changes are updated on the Sun Lakes website. If there are any questions or concerns, contact Gary Lile at (805) 722-7427, 4lile@yahoo.comg, or John Williams at (951) 489-9737, jgwms.williams@gmail.com. Introducing this month's spotlight player, Susanna Sarvari: Hi, my name is Zsuzsanna Sarvari (Susanna). I was born and raised in Hungary. After college, I emigrated from the communist regime to the USA with my husband. The first year we lived in Michigan, and after a very cold winter we moved to sunny California. We have lived in Los Angeles, La Habra, then in "Surf City" Huntington Beach for 25 years. I was working in the architectural field as a steel detailer and designer. I worked on many interesting, beautiful buildings in Southern California. After retiring, we moved to Sun Lakes in 2020. We changed the "beach view" to the "mountain view." I've always been active; I like to hike, bike, swim, dance, and play ball. When a friend introduced me to table tennis, I happily joined the group, where everybody is very welcoming, friendly, and happy. Come visit us and give it a try! "There's an app for that." Perhaps a dated cliché, yet never more true. Even our sport has an app. If you haven't yet checked out Places2Play you owe it to yourself to give it a download. The free app is sponsored by USA Pickleball and is a terrific resource for any of us hitting the road with paddles in the trunk. Its primary purpose is to provide a comprehensive directory of sites around the US offering pickleball. Just locate the area you want to explore and the map will bring up helpful information on the locations in that area. You'll see addresses, days/times of play, any fees and whether you need a net. You may also see the type of facility, the number of courts, the average number of players, and perhaps, a contact with phone number. (The data on a particular site will depend on how timely it is updated and whether anyone monitors it. So it would be wise to call ahead if possible to be sure everything is current.) A quick perusal of Places2Play in our region shows an impressive number of options. This means you don't have to be a traveler to use it. Hard as it is to believe, even our paradise at Sun Lakes is sometimes a bit breezy, chilly, or damp. The app can suggest many locations within a short drive where indoor courts may be available or communities with calmer conditions are hosting the game. And even if you don't need a directory, just browsing the map reveals the amazing number of places to play pickle. It is a vivid testimony to the increasing popularity of our sport. Worth a visit. The December issue of Pickleball Magazine contained an interview with former pro basketball star Rick Barry, one of the most dominant players of his era. Rick is now an avid pickler. He prizes the multi- generational competition and the chance to keep his famed reflexes exercised. His closing comment is illuminating: "Pickleball is kind of like fly fishing for me. Everybody must have a passion in life. And I think that if you start to play this thing, it'll become a passion for you. It's addictive. If I had a wish, I'd wish that I had been turned on to fly fishing and pickleball earlier in life." Wanna get addicted? Give Judy Luna a call at (949) 929-2390 if you need directions on place and time of play here at SLCC. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club

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