In Florida / Arizona / Texas or wherever snowbirds tend to gather for the winter months, everyone takes it for granted there will be Shuffleboard available because it has been around for a good long time!! 100 years in FL!! Click on pic to expand. Pic part of Gray Collection.
Shuffleboard was in the past the big drawing card for mobile home parks and it attracted large numbers of residents from the “North” country each year to the retirement spots in the south.
However these numbers appear to have dropped off in recent years due to the many other low cost attractions that are available to the snow birds now, such as golf and possibly to some extent the internet or the T/V “who knows” . But having said that, we all know the love of the game of Shuffleboard still exists and there are many who would rather play shuffleboard than eat.
When the migration of Ontario Snow Birds travel back to their northern homes in April; they all make their usual visits to the doctors for the medical checkups and all keep their fingers crossed that they will get the good word from their doctor so they can return in the fall without a big increase in their insurance premiums.
However; even though the doctor gave them the thumbs up on their physical health, there were always those who were suffering mental withdrawal symptoms related to lack of shuffleboard, and the only cure was to be playing the game.
The push for the cure, resulted in several new clubs being formed and as a result: we have the Coldwater Club which was started by Ross and Gary Pipher and their wives, then we have the Fergus Cub that was organized by Myrna and Rendall Bilton and John and Lenore Holder, the newly formed Picton Club that was organized by Bish and Durell Kowitz and of course the clubs in Puce and Chatham that were set up by Henry Strong and Hubert Vaneerd .
A new club was recently opened in Nobel Ontario, a community on the eastern shores of Georgian Bay just north of Parry Sound. This club was so proudly organized by Peter and Erica Berg and Dick and Sonya Lubilinkoff and they have a fantastic summer facility.
The latest club to surface this year is one that has been organized by Grant and Linda McRae in Kincardine and they will be hosting a tournament to replace the Woodstock tournament that has now folded.
Since the Coldwater Club has some influence in this story I might add that used equipment from Coldwater and start up information was made available to the Fergus/ Nobel /Picton /Puce and Chatham Clubs by the Coldwater Club.
The relationship that has been formed between these new Ontario based organizations has been that of fun fellowship and understanding of each other’s needs.
We must not forget the new clubs formed in the Maritimes and the fantastic progress they have been making in the Western Provinces. Congratulations to one and all.
The Saltwater Club formed by David and Glenna Earle and the Pugwash Club formed by David and Dini Rushton are both in Nova Scotia.
But unlike our vacation spots in the south where there are an abundance of free use shuffleboard courts, it is a different story in the North Country communities of Ontario. Rental agreements must be arranged with the owners of the facilities, many of which are curling arenas that are privately owned or municipal arenas where other recreational activity is ongoing and there is always that competition for available time.
Curling clubs and their members are a breed of their own and yes they are more than happy to see their facility in use throughout the off season. But history shows that they soon become greedy and begin to see extra dollars on the horizon.
This was never more evident than at the Coldwater Club where the rates have now increase over 250% since the club began. The Fergus Club is another example, and the only salvation to their story is that due to the excessive rate increase among other things the Center Wellington Club have pulled up stakes and are moving to another facility in Elora.
The rent there is much less than in the previous facility and let’s hopes it will continue.
We hear great things about the Chatham Club moving back to their original facility on the farm of the late Harold Mackness. This is a fantastic facility and we wish them well in the relocation.
The recent Any Double Tournament in Coldwater was a great start to the 2013 season of Shuffleboard in Ontario and the attendance was in the 180’s once again. There are tournaments in Picton June 11/13 Kincardine June 25/27 and Nobel on Sept 4/6.
Please come out and support these tournaments.
The Granddaddy of all the Canadian Events this year will be the 3rd Inter Provincial Tournament in Dieppe New Brunswick from July 22 thru 26th in the Arthur J LeBlanc Arena.
There will be 26 Teams from all across Canada competing once again for the Provincial bragging rights, but more important will be the friendship that is made between the players and participants.
The International Shuffleboard Association will be holding the 2013 World Singles Championships in St Pete’s Florida from Oct 21 thru 25th
This 32nd World Championship Singles event promises to be the largest of all ISA tournaments held thus far since they will be celebrating 100 years of Shuffleboard in Florida.
Canada is proud to say they will be the host Nation for the 33rd ISA World Championships in Midland Ontario Aug 10 to 15th 2014 and look forward to another great event.
We wish everyone good shuffling and look forward to seeing you on a court this summer.
Gary Pipher. 2013 05 30
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do u have any information on the “newly formed Picton club” referred to above? when & where they play, membership fees, etc. contact phone number?
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