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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JUNE 2023 | 55 POP Tennis, formerly known as Paddle Tennis, is a fun, fast sport that can be enjoyed by people at all fitness levels. Though played on a smaller court with a different paddle and 20 percent deflated tennis balls, POP Tennis is otherwise scored and regulated like traditional tennis. POP Tennis is played on the courts to the left of the Main Clubhouse on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8 to 10 am (spring/summer hours). Additionally, there is a group that plays Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 3 pm and Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 pm. People are free to come and go as their schedules permit. All are welcome and there are always friendly folks to teach beginners the game! Paddles and balls are provided too. For more information or to be on a decision-making committee, please feel free to contact Carl Miller at (951) 512-3131. **All regular POP players are asked to get their $10 membership fee to Jeanne McGuire. The dues are used to plan parties, tournaments and buy balls and paddles. Hope you'll POP by! Table Tennis/Ping Pong As the weather turned warm to hot, our table tennis group ponied up to our tables and exercised our reflexes and timing to hit that erratic little white spinning ball, again and again. What was the result? Fun with no sunburn. We finally got to play on hard wood and newly carpeted floors, and open up all our tables to accommodate the demand for more fun. This month, our spotlight player is Ken Swanson. He describes himself as a fun-loving, God-fearing man. Here is his true-life table tennis story: "I started playing table tennis when I was eight years old at the YMCA in La Porte, Indiana, where I learned to play with sandpaper on the paddles. In those days, a paddle cost $1.95. Today, a much better paddle can cost $500. I signed up for the U.S. Navy in 1958 to 1960 where I was on the Bonhomme Richard Aircra Carrier. I soon became a barber for 10 years, and following this, 30 years as an independent truck driver. "Aer the military I resumed playing table tennis at clubs in Orange County, where the paddles had so rubber. For many years I enjoyed going to Las Vegas to watch the U.S. Open and closed national tournaments. I watched players from six to 94 years old. I even played a table tennis game with the World Champion at the Nixon Library for Charity, many years ago. "I have my own table which I purchased from the world championships and still use it to this day when we play in my garage. I have had a lot of good partners to play with at the local senior activity center tournaments. "I have lived in Sun Lakes for 20 years and have played here for 25 years. We have good equipment here. I enjoy riding my bike, playing pop tennis, driving my Jeep in the back country behind Sun Lakes, and of course, table tennis. "Friendships and camaraderie are a big part of this activity in Sun Lakes. Dr. Oz says table tennis is the best all around activity for seniors!" We usually play Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but it is best to check the SLCC website for updated schedule changes, due to accommodating other activities. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Gary Lile at (805) 722-7427, 4lile@yahoo.com, or John Williams at (951) 489-9737, jgwms.williams@gmail.com.

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