By Valerie Rhead
People continue to play golf even though they’re not, and never will be, among the stars of the PGA tour. But the game provides them with healthy physical exercise and enjoyable social interactions. By the same token, even if bridge players have no desire to become Gold Life Masters or professional players who rake in thousands of master points, bridge provides them with healthy mental exercise and enjoyable social interactions.
When the wintry weather rolls in and the fairways are covered in snow, people can still enjoy a game of bridge. During a summer thunderstorm, they can play bridge, maybe with some difficulty if the power goes out. I have played bridge in a tent by flashlight while on a canoe trip. I can’t say that it was the best bridge I’ve ever played, but it was fun.
During the massive power outage of 2003 that plunged large chunks of Eastern North America into darkness, we were challenged to finish the last boards of our match outside in the sunlight at a regional tournament at Sault St. Marie, Ontario. What did we do then? All the restaurants in town (except for one–a wood-fired pizza joint) were closed. We were camping in our travel trailer with our propane-fueled freezer full of frozen entrees, and we had a propane oven. We ended up giving a dinner party in the campground and fed a wide variety of dishes to a gaggle of bridge players. We even served defrosted cabbage rolls to a Hungarian player.
When your sciatica makes golfing uncomfortable, or when your knees have given out and you can no longer play tennis, you can still play bridge. And the game of bridge can even provide you with the same competitive jolt that you once got from winning a close set of tennis against a superior tennis player.
Even very elderly or handicapped people can play enjoyable games of bridge, even though they can’t walk or perhaps have sight limitations. Of course, bridge’s bidding cards are great for those who have hearing issues. I’ve even witnessed people with Alzheimer’s playing, perhaps with a little assist for their short-term memory in the form of reminders of what the current contract is. They still played amazingly well, had a good time and always looked forward to the outing. And bridge is not just for us older folks. Quite a few of our players have sons and daughters who enjoy the game.
Bridge can make the evenings less lonely if you have lost a spouse. It can, sometimes, even help you find a new spouse with whom you have a strong common interest. At the recent tournament in Halifax, where we played, there was even a wedding between two senior bridge players attended by their many bridge-playing friends.
Bridge can be an economical activity. For social bridge, all you need are a couple of decks of cards and a looney to give the game some added spice. Or, you can play a duplicate club game for the cost of a mere, blue, five-dollar bill. Of course, when you go to tournaments, the costs escalate, but that’s a story for another day. We’ve combined playing bridge with sight-seeing in such places as New Zealand, Australia, England and many cities and towns in the United States and Canada. In these many locations, bridge has enabled us to meet interesting people who have provided us with unique insights into the places they call home.
Much in all as I love the game of bridge, I do believe that the true masochist is someone who plays both bridge and golf. But despite the many frustrations of both activities, people still come back for more.
Back to Stayman and Transfers next week.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to vrhead23@gmail.com and I will include it in this column.
TOURNAMENT TRAIL: Gold and Red Masterpoints, North Bay Regional
August 16-21, 2016 North Bay Elks Club, 325 Elks Lane
All pairs games include stratification 0-300 and novice 0-50 if numbers warrant
Tuesday Games 1pm and 7pm with both team game and pairs
Wednesday Games 9:30 2:30 pairs and team
Wednesday to Saturday 7:30 Team games only
Thursday – Team games only all day 9:30 2:30 7:30 (NOTE: No pairs game Thursday – team games only all day Thursday!)
Friday, Saturday Games 9:30 2:30 pairs and team and 7:30 team only
Sunday Swiss Team Only – Play through 9:30
Please confirm the details. Read the tournament info flyer at acbl.org.
Your opportunity for fun and to earn gold and red masterpoints.
Stratification based on average: Open A = 1500+, B = 500-1500, C = 0-500, also 299 game and 50 newcomer game
PORT CARLING DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Port Carling Club are in the summer only Wednesday evening 6:30, Port Carling Community Centre, 3 Bailey Street. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before game time. Call Bill & Gaye Kastning at 705-765-6354 for information and partnerships.
The following winners are from Wednesday, Aug 10 with 6 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Nora Robinson and Billie Anne Robinson; 2. Susan Pennal and Peter Pennal; 3. Valerie Rhead and Peter Rhead; East-West 1. Catherine Patterson and Heather Hamilton; 2. Bev Howard and Liz Barnes; 3. Gaye Kastning and Anne Stevens
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Huntsville Club are Tuesday evening 7:15, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Call Jan Roberts 705-635-2522 for information and partnerships.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Aug 9 with 10 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Betty Fagin and Jan Roberts; 2. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; 3. Bob Schives and Bruce Elliott; 4. Nora Robinson and Billie Anne Robinson; 5. Art Insley and Rod Dixon; East-West 1. Joanne Garvey and Barb Green; 2. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 3. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie; 4. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 5. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games at the Bracebridge Club are at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road 7pm Monday evenings. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Aug 8 with 13 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2. Marilyn Aarons and David Guttman; 3. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 4. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 5. Debbie Scarlett and Michael Scarlett; 6. Gerry Flaherty and Ralph Hair; 7. Val Rhead and Peter Rhead; East-West 1. Bob Schives and David Bryce; 2. Beth Henderson and Tom Dyke; 3. Liz Barnes and Lyn Walisser; 4. Sandy Retter and David Scarlett; 5. Mary Simpson and Bob Simpson; 6. Art Insley and Don Evans; 7. Catherine McMillan and Julianne Guselle
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