Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1532606
| OHCC LIVING | MARCH 2025 | 37 At Do Dues Day, we welcomed 51 new members alongside many of our 2024 sign-ups. Over the following weeks, we provided a series of basic pool lessons to help them acclimate, culminating in a 90-minute seminar led by pool professional Calvin Coker, who has been coming here to teach our members for over 10 years. He truly is a pro — his highest run in Straight Pool is an impressive 258 shots without a miss! If you miss any lessons or just want to review the material, you can nd all the videos on our OHCC website. Navigate to Social Clubs – Billiards – Recorded Lessons – Charlie's YouTube Videos. Now that basic training is over, we will begin our series of monthly tournaments. How does this work? Well, most of the months, we teach our members a new game, followed by a tournament in which we play that game. Our members get to play the game and deepen their understanding of it. e tournament also serves as a mixer, getting people to play with strangers. It's not so much a clash of deadly pool sharks as it is a chance to learn a new game and meet new people. Any member can join a tournament for these reasons alone. But yes, there is some real competition! Even though there is no entry fee, there are still impressive awards for the winners. e top three nishers will usually share over $80 in cash. ey will also have their picture featured in Living Magazine, allowing them to send copies to everyone they know. But the winner will become immortal, with their name engraved in brass on our Wall of Champions! Below is the plaque with the names of the earliest winners, dating back 18 years. One player from that time, Don Farmer, is still competing. Any resident is welcome to come in and observe our tournaments. e next one will be an 8-Ball tournament on urs., March 27, at 1:30 pm. Written by Charlie Payne Billiards Bob Clarke and Eileen Hyden at the U.S. Open Championships. Do Dues Day was a great success with 24 new members joining. A folded table tennis table with a banner announcing "OHCC Table Tennis Club Celebrates 1 Year" attracted plenty of attention and interest in the club. Membership has grown to 91 players. e 2025 Table Tennis Club Board at Eileen's place. L to R: Bob Clarke (Treasurer), Vickie Foster (Director), Eileen Hyden (Director), Stan Katz (President), Jan Balog (Secretary), Babu Patrose (Director). Not in picture, Cli Sing (Vice President) Our OHCC Table Tennis Club was represented at the 2024 US Open Table Tennis Tournament that took place during Dec. 16-21. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas. e biggest TT championship in the US, the event had 1,478 players from 19 countries competing in 115 championship events, with play taking place on more than 100 TT tables. Martin Sundel, Rita Biner, Bob Clarke and Eileen Hyden from the OHCC Table Tennis Club competed in the U.S. Open Tournament. To quote Eileen, "Several of us, competing for the very rst time, found it to be thrilling albeit a bit overwhelming, just being around the energy and excitement of so much action with so many top players." Marty Sundel, a champion many times over in many events over the years, medaled again this time. Marty is currently the highest rated player in the US in the 80+ bracket. Despite being under the weather Marty did OHCC proud winning Bronze in 80+ doubles and advancing to quarter nals of both the 70+ singles and the 70+ doubles events. Way to go Marty! Rita, entering the event for the rst time, played in the women's singles and mixed doubles. Bob played in men's singles, as well as mixed doubles with Eileen Hayden. Although they did not win medals, Eileen notes that "Just being there surrounded by players of all ages and abilities was exhilarating. What was unexpected and much appreciated was the kindness, acceptance to each other and especially to the new competitors." Submitted by Babu Patrose Table Tennis