Sports

Ukulele - Sun City Strummers Pres. John Sand 520-308-5883 jocher_sand@hotmail.com Musical Director Don Bong Tue., 10-11:30 AM, Desert Oasis/Saguaro www.scovaz.com/clubs/ukulele

Come and sing and play with us. Beginner class is from 9:15-9:45 AM. Regular group from 10-11:30 AM at Desert Oasis. Loaner ukes are available. We need a big group for the Activity Center opening in January; come help us get ready.

Bike - Vistoso Cyclists Pres. Scott Schlapkohl 970-846-1951 schlapkohl@msn.com VP Lisa Lawless 401-239-6758 lisa.lawless@gmail.com www.vistosocyclists.wildapricot.org

Vistoso Cyclists membership is only $15/year, which is hard to believe, given we are one of the best cycling clubs for seniors in the nation. Aside from the rides, our members enjoy our very useful website, including a searchable member directory, club classifieds, online ride schedule, cycling resources and more.

We offer several hundred scheduled rides year-round, among four different ride subgroups, from 20 to 60-plus miles, to cafe destinations within Tucson and nearby towns, utilizing both pathways and roadways. Occasional away rides are offered as well. Our cafe stops offer coffee and conversation, which are greatly enjoyed by our members.

The club has e-bike, mountain biking and Women on Wheels subgroups. There’s also our monthly club newsletter email.

All schedules can be found within the excellent member area of our website. We also host social events and support both the Interfaith Community Services Food Bank and Wheels for Kids. For more information or to join, visit our website.

Miles, smiles and tailwinds.

Billiards Pres. Robert Dufur 503-312-0809 robertdufur@outlook.com Mon.-Fri., Noon-4 PM, Catalina Vista/Billiards

New members are always welcome. The club dues are only $5 pp.

Our weekly activities include two round-robin tournaments on Mondays, 2-4 PM, and Thursdays, 10 AM-Noon. All members at all levels are welcome. These round robins are for fun only (not for money). Based on the number of players that show up, we will have a rotation set up, so everyone plays every round. Wednesdays from 10 AM-Noon are reserved for the women’s division. The Billiards Room is reserved for members only, Monday-Friday, Noon-4 PM.

We have a traveling team that plays six other communities on the second Saturday of each month.

A new weekly 1-15 eight-ball round robin activity has started on Tuesdays. Just show up before 1:30 PM. Birders Group Peggy Smith 520-344-0991 pdsaz@aol.com Fourth Fri, 4 PM, Catalina Vista/Art Studio (no Dec. meeting) www.scovbirding.wix.com/birdersgroup

While the Gila Woodpecker is by far the most common woodpecker in SCOV, the Red-shafted Flicker (the western form of the Northern Flicker) shows up quite often, too. It is usually seen foraging on the ground, because its main diet consists of ants. With reddish underwings in flight, it may be found throughout western North America, year-round in Arizona, but only in the summer in the cooler climes. We are a 100-plus member, activity-oriented group, and all SCOV residents are invited to join us on our field trips (we carpool) to learn more about the birds here in Arizona. Below is a list of upcoming field trips. If you are interested in going on any of these, be sure to contact the trip coordinator for details at least three days in advance and ask Peggy (above) to be added to our mailing list. Wed., Dec. 7 Christopher Columbus Park Nancy Bern, lanbern@hotmail.com Tue., Dec. 13 Sweetwater Wetlands Mike Robertson, sawdust@springnet1.com Wed., Dec. 28 Fort Lowell Park Mona Connoy, mjconnoy@gmail.com Tue., Jan. 3 Whitewater Draw Barbara Gates, bgates@udel.edu

Bocce Pres. Gail Parson gailscov@comcast.net VP Jim Steinmetz vintner731@gmail.com www.scovbocce.weebly.com Mon., Wed., Fri., 2-4 PM, Bocce Courts

Bocce Halloween

We had a fun Halloween playing bocce with lots of clever costumes and great food. Patti Krumm won the Golden Orb with her Freudian Slip costume.

Bocce is a fun, easy-to-learn activity that people of all ages and abilities enjoy. No experience is required, and anyone who can pick up and roll a ball can play. Annual dues are just $5, and a membership form is on the club website under Club Info. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the starting time and pick up a wooden stick from the starter. Space limits each session to the first 32 players, with members given priority.

Gun Club Bill Snead 425-246-8100 wgsnead@gmail.com Meetings suspended until further notice

Hiking Pres. Georgene Porter gvporter@live.com Scheduled hikes are posted on the website www.scovhiking.org

November 1, 2022, mileage award recipients

The Hiking Club’s annual fall picnic was held November 1, at Catalina State Park. Members were able to enjoy a variety of hikes at different levels, reconnect with old friends, meet new friends, get some exercise and eat a great lunch from Jersey Mike’s. Thirty-one hikers were awarded patches for miles hiked with the SCOV Hiking Club. The highest award went to Dave Fraser with 6,500 miles.

Join us for the club’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration on Saturday, December 31, at Catalina State Park. Hikes at different levels will be offered to enable members to have an opportunity to appreciate our fabulous outdoors, drink something hot to ring in 2023 and eat delicious food to replace all those calories burned while hiking. See the club website for more information about this event and the variety of upcoming hikes.

Horseshoes Ron Knudson 520-825-9307, cell 520-250-4183 for info Tue., Thu., Oct.-Apr., 2 PM; May-Sep, 8 AM The Pits at Catalina Vista

How about a fun time in the great outdoors? Join us Tuesdays and Thursdays at the horseshoe pits. Horseshoes are available or bring your own. No fees or membership required. Just come and have fun. Everyone is welcome, first timers or old timers.

Mini Golf Cindy Silverlock 707-537-5911 scovminigolf@gmail.com Tue., 3:30 PM, Oct.-Apr. (except 2nd Tue., Jan.-Apr.) www.scovminigolfclub.com

Objective: To promote the use and enjoyment of the minigolf course for socialization, with an emphasis on providing an outdoor activity for those unable to play more active sports.

Game days: We meet on Tuesday, October-April 3:30-5 PM. (We do not meet the second Tuesday of the month, January-April.)

Annual dues: Your $5 dues pay for an end-of-season party and prize for the most holes-in-one.

Tournaments/Competition: We are a club that promotes fun and socialization. We do not keep score, but we do offer a prize for the most holes-in-one at the end of the season. Pickleball Pres. Tony Masterjohn tmasterjohn15@gmail.com VP Training Doug Brown wizisland@comcast.net Sun.-Sat., 8 AM-9 PM www.scovpb.org

Left: Halloween costumes, right: Greg Whipkey

On October 22, the Pickleball Club had their annual Welcome Back Halloween party. Members brought a covered dish or dessert. The food was good and very little was left. We had a costume contest, and the winner was Jim, the Pope, Steinmetz. Our music was provided by Greg Whipkey. The music was entertaining, and everyone enjoyed the evening. We welcomed back the seasonal residents and talked the night away. There were 102 who attended the party, and we are looking forward to next year. Thanks to all who set up and decorated for the party.

POP Tennis Pres. Brian Goff 518-577-2022 bwgoff@outlook.com VP Warren Burda 520-308-1118 wpburda@gmail.com Treas. Jim Steinmetz 440-552-6173 vintner731@gmail.com Tue., Thu., Sat., 8:30-10:30 AM, Desert Oasis

Ready to play and guaranteed to laugh

December is here and so are the holidays, so this may be a good time to gift yourself a new pair of court shoes or a new POP Tennis paddle. Good court shoes can have a very positive effect on back or leg joint pain, and you know your health is most important. Grab your paddle and meet us out on the courts. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays, 8:30 AM, at Desert Oasis.

Racquetball Pres. Jerry Moss 360-772-0780 Mon.-Fri., 8-11 AM, AFC/Racquetball Court

Our hard hitters getting ready for action

The club is always looking for new members. If you have ever played racquetball, or are interested in giving it a try, we play weekdays at 8 AM. We supply the balls and have racquets in the storeroom. All you need is a pair of safety goggles. Dues are still only $5. The January Tipster will have info about our January and March social events. Our goal is to have fun, on and off the court.