All a Board

They gather each morning for a few hours of sport and friendship, these white-haired competitors of the shuffleboard court. They come to forget about their aches and pains, to talk about sons and daughters, to share a little coffee and Danish.

They are members of the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Shuffleboard Club, and for 30 years they have quietly built a following of loyal players who range in age from their late 50s to the 90s.

“This is about comradeship, about companionship,” said Harold Russell, 77, the club’s president. “It’s about having some place to go, about being with people who are interesting, who make you feel wanted and needed.”

Russell says that most people have the wrong perception about the sport--that it’s only for old people. It’s a game of strategy for the thinking person, he says. A game that stokes the youthful fires of players who use cues to send black and red disks humming across the skinny courts, landing in triangles marked with points or knocking opponents’ disks out of the way.

“A person 20 years old could have trouble beating a man 70 years old if he doesn’t have the skill,” Russell said. “It’s like baseball: The more you practice, the better you get.” The players gather four mornings each week at the club, located at Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park. One Saturday each month, they play with clubs from other areas, including Glendale and Sunland. And once a month, they gather for tournaments that offer trophies for top scorers.

But Fridays are the special day for club members. After they finish playing, they gather inside the senior center for their weekly meeting.

Russell calls the meeting to order, the members salute the flag, sing the club song and offer best wishes to those celebrating birthdays that week. Refreshments and social hour follow the brief meeting.

With coffee and Danish in hand, some hum the light tune of the club song:

“It’s right here in Sherman Oaks, we have the greatest folks. We leave our worldly cares behind and try to find a friend or two to play with you at a game that’s not too new. We call it shuffleboard, it’s fun you can afford and no one is too old to play. Come out and join the fun, fresh air and lots of sun and be happy you’re here today.”