Image Up Advertising & Design

44 | OHCC LIVING | MARCH 2023 | Racquet Club "There just aren't any tennis players at Ocean Hills anymore!" Proving the nay sayers wrong was the sighting of the rarest of round robins at Courts 8 and 9 on Feb. 2, and then again a couple days later. There are indeed still residents here playing tennis and Lynn Wells managed to round up two different eight-person groups for some competitive and friendly advanced matches. The following week, Jim Leveck put out a call for intermediate players to do the same. New residents moving in are bolstering the dwindling numbers, so we are hopeful about these efforts initiated by Wells and Leveck. An updated list of members looking for more playing opportunities is now available on the club website. Paddle tennis, played on smaller courts (so less distance to run) and no overhead serve (so less stress on the shoulder and elbow), is played on shared courts at the HOA with a paddle and a less bouncy ball. The Monday morning drop-in group is adept, so those wanting to learn how to play must first contact Dannica Wood at (760) 277- 4007 to arrange an intro lesson to see if the game is a good fit and show they can safely handle the basics of the sport. Attending our introduction to Pickleball session, scheduled for the third Monday of each month, is a requirement to sign up for free beginner classes. The hour long orientation includes a demonstration game narrated by club president Bob James, and overview of the playing calendar and scheduling system, along with advice about proper court gear. Once completed, those residents who think that Pickleball is a good fit for them are eligible to sign up for the 4-session beginner class which is generally offered beginning the first week of each month, depending on demand. Our goal is to teach "newbies" to play safely and have fun. Equipment is provided. Other recent club activities included an experimental ladies pickleball round robin which required four sessions spread over three afternoons to accommodate 48 interested advanced and intermediate players. The ladies enjoyed the mixed level play and dozens of spectators each session added to the lively atmosphere at the courts. The "no sign-up required" pickleball Play and Stays are back, scheduled for the first Saturday morning of each month. The event features modified drop-ins at the Clubhouse and Pavilion courts and a late morning members-only juice bar at the Clubhouse patio that provides time for socializing along with some alternative lawn games. Questions? Visit our website ohccracquestclub.org or email our Help Desk ohrchelp@gmail.com. Golf Club Our January meeting was well attended, maybe because of the free pizza and drinks. A number of people were thanked and commended for their volunteer spirit and good play. Greg Cies, Club President, thanked Sharon Sorensen, the new Hospitality Chair, Kevin Sorensen, Louie Ward, Annette Guillory, Nora Ward, and Sue Smith for assisting with the general membership meeting. Greg also presented Debie Machnick, Bob Fisher, Tom Vaccaro, and Mark Deutman as Directors of the Golf Club. A special thanks to Rich Halkyard for volunteering to run the first Touring Amateurs Tournament in April. Also recognized were the starters for the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday tournaments: Bob Fisher, Bob Bechill, Ron Carso, Tony Gillette, Steve Malone, Ted Mitchell, Jerry Moskovitz, Allan Paloutzian, Jim Mulvey, and Bernie Alfonso. Another big thank you to Don Russell, Diane Bednarski, and Mike Thornton trying to develop a new handicap system for us; and to Jerry Moskovitz, the new Handicap Chair. We cannot forget the four people who had a hole in one in January. Tim Johnston got one on hole nine, his first in 15 years of playing. Mark Feinman got his on the seventh hole, his first in over 30 years of playing. Ron Carso dropped one in the tenth hole, his first hole in one in 35 years of golfing. Karen Burke made a hole in one on number seven. Karen just took up golf five years ago, taking a much shorter amount of time to plunk one than those three gents. Larry McBride, the hole in one chair, distributed OHGC hole in on certificates and bag tags to these four at the meeting, reminding everyone that they can participate in the hole in one tournament pool by placing $2 in a sealed envelope with their name and date and dropping it off at the golf Casa in the hole in one box. Hope to see you playing in the Guys and Dolls and Touring Amateur tournaments this spring. Pickleball-Ladies Round Robin-These 14 pickleball ladies didn't let cold weather dampen the fun at the round robin experiment Tennis-Adv Round Robin-Lynn Wells' tennis round robin was a welcome sight at the Terrace Courts Tennis-Int Round Robin-Jim Leveck and Pat Honey welcome newcomers Claire and Graeme Hutton to an intermediate drop-in

• Cover