Led by Ron Klinger, 7 renowned bridge players will each contribute a column one day a week for the new ABF Daily Column, which started on 1 March.
As bridge columns are being cut from printed newspapers that are suffering reduced advertising, this option from the ABF provides an easy and convenient way to get your daily two minute bridge fix by email. I have received a week's worth so far, one from each of the seven experts, and recommend it for any competitive player. Based on the first week the standard is more accessible and probably a little easier than Ron Klinger's columns in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The cost is only $52 a year - find out all the details and subscribe on the ABF site.
Most members will be aware that the red section on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons has often been "full" 40 minutes before session start. In some ways related the green sections on Wednesday and Fridays have also been "full" as those green members ready to move out have seen limited alternatives available to them. This in turn has made the green section less attuned to its primary purpose of meeting the needs of those new players graduating from beginner classes and supervised sessions.
We are a volunteer-run not-for-profit club. Some volunteer needs we currently have are:
- Event Support - helping our event conveners prepare fliers and other communications - some comfort with email, computers and word processors would be useful - talk to David Farmer in the first instance
- Fill-in Players - being happy to be called to see if you are available to come in for a free game with an unpartnered player - helps us avoid sending home players whose partner is unexpectedly unavailable - ask any director to add you to the noticeboard list
Thirty or more Peninsula members travelled to the Gold Coast in February for the premier bridge event in the country. Great bridge and a great location for a social bridge getaway.
For those who have not been to one of these major congresses, you need to understand that there is a wide range of events from the tough open competitions to those restricted to much lower masterpoint ranges - something for everyone and a number of our novice players will have great stories to share.
I have tried to list our club members' successes over the various events - if I have missed one please let me know so I can add it in for the record.
This long story is relevant to the concept of enjoying the foibles of oldies playing bridge, rather than being irritated by the unusual nature of the overlap between club bridge and aged care.
Fifteen years ago I directed at a bridge club where Norma played. Norma found 28 husbands and relatives who wanted to learn bridge. Norma asked the legendary Sydneysider John Roberts to teach them. For this unusual group where about 20 had played social bridge and only 8 were relatively new to the game, John's method of teaching was that all the 7 tables simply played bridge (duplicate style, to some extent) with John attending to the 2 tables of newbies, with the other 20 players instructed to put their hand up and ask questions whenever they liked, learning bridge from John's answers.
Readers will remember from an article last month that some members, especially some of our newer members, have expressed some concerns about difficulties progressing between sections.
A brainstorming meeting was held on 7 January which helped identify the pluses and minuses with the four general options that have been identified.
You are invited to read the post-meeting summary paper of these options and, of course, provide any feedback on any option's strengths or weaknesses - these can be provided to me at
We have come a fair way in helping our disabled or mobility challenged players play at the club, including providing more nearby parking (thanks to Meals on Wheels) at our large day-time sessions and ensuring stationary seating wherever possible during our sessions.
But we are not yet perfect. There are times when non-disabled drivers are using the disabled parking spaces directly outside the club-house. You might think this unimportant for a small session, such as a night or supervised session. But it is still against the law and if you were to cause a disabled person difficulties you would feel bad... So please respect the provisions made for the disabled among us!
This is a busy time of the year for Peninsula Bridge Club (PBC) Membership renewals.
Many of our PBC Members have already renewed however there are some who have not yet paid their 2019 Annual Membership Fees.
You are invited to promptly renew your membership or maybe you know someone who needs a "gentle nudge" to renew.
