SUN CITY – Mention pool to most folks today, and they probably think of rough, tough, beer-drinking men in smoke-filled bars playing games of 8- or 9-ball and betting money on every game, or sometimes on every shot. In a previous generation or two, the town’s “pool hall” was not always considered a fit place for decent folks.
Those with some sense of history might conjure memories of the late Willie Mosconi, the world’s first professional pool champion and trick shot artist. He barnstormed around the country in the 1940s and ’50s, winning every tournament in which he played and setting shot-making records. He played a major role in popularizing pool as a national recreation activity.
Sun Day file photo
Fast forward to today in Sun City. The community’s Cue Club reflects the continuing popularity of the sport, even though it took almost a decade for the Cue Charter Club to get going. The Sun City “pool hall” is a room just inside the entrance to the Millgrove Woodshop on Sun City Boulevard. But this one is different. There’s no smoke, no beer, and no betting (the latter probably because the players don’t want to gamble away their pension or Social Security money).
Sun City pool is a kinder, gentler activity. It is a laid-back, low-key leisure sport, far from the high-stakes, frenetic activity portrayed in the 1961 film “The Hustler.” Today, at Sun City, it is played for its socializing aspects as much as it is for competition.
At any given time seven days a week, there are up to a dozen or more players using the three tables. Laughter, joke-telling, and friendly jibes about various players’ talents can be heard, and everyone is enjoying the company and the activity.
Today’s pool is also a game for women. Of the 60 current members of the club, about a dozen are women who have their own time to come and play at Millgrove. Many of the men have provided instruction to the women, and the club’s social activities, including a summertime picnic or two, are coed affairs, where spouses of both genders are invited.
A typical Sun City pool player’s history in this sport goes something like this: got started in college or during military service, then backed away from the sport while a career was started, then got back into it upon retirement and/or arrival at Sun City, which often occurred at the same time.
“I didn’t play at all until I came here and started playing with some of the guys,” said Chuck Volpi, a retired Chicago police officer. He quickly showed his newfound skill, however, deftly dropping a couple of balls into the pocket in a game of 8-ball. He is a former treasurer of the club.
“I played at Aurora College many years ago; there were six to eight of us there who played often between classes,” said Bob Shepard, current club vice president. “Then I stopped playing and picked it up again when I came here, about five-and-a-half years ago.”
“I played casually in high school and college, but I really got interested when I came here in 2000,” said Jon Schuler. “Now I play almost every day, even by myself sometimes. I like to fish, work crossword puzzles, and play pool; that’s what I do now. I also enjoy helping other players improve their skills. If they get better, I get better. That’s one of the good things we do in the club.”
The club had some challenges in getting to its present location at the woodshop building. Over a decade ago, a couple of tables were located in what is now Jameson’s Pub in Prairie Lodge. As the demand for activity space grew along with the number of charter clubs, the tables were moved to a room behind the former CAM desk. With a growing number of pool players, the need for better facilities became acute.
“We collected all of the players we could, more than 50, and went together to an association board meeting and asked for a better location,” said Clark Jones, who is one of the founders of the club and its only president since it was chartered in 2009. “After a lot of discussion, we ended up here. This is a much better place; it isn’t exactly what we’d like, but it’s acceptable.”
“Like a lot of groups here, we’re shrinking, and we’re in the hunt for more members,” Jones said. “We were up to 86 members at one point not long after we started, but now we’re down to 60. There’s so much going on here, and so many groups. Some folks have moved on to other activities and interests.”
One of the group’s most dedicated members is Jim Burns, who hasn’t let a badly dislocated thumb and broken hand prevent him from playing several times a week. He has a large cast on his left arm and hand ¬¬¬– the one that supports the cue for a right-handed player.
“I’m playing okay with it right now, but I might learn how to play with the cast; then I may have to re-learn how to play without it after it comes off in a few weeks,” he joked.
The club has a few players who reportedly are highly skilled. But for the most part, the players possess average to above-average ability.
“We don’t play tournaments or encourage a lot of intense competition, because it is so hard to handicap the players, like they do in golf or bowling.” Jones said. “So we just play for fun, and players can enjoy winning on a good day and congratulate others on their good day.”
By the way, back to Mosconi. He died in 1993 at the age of 80, but he still holds the world record of 526 consecutive shots without a miss at a two-day straight pool exhibition in Springfield, Ohio, in March, 1954. Most pool experts predict this record may never be topped. He also made a cameo appearance in “The Hustler” and was a technical advisor, especially to Newman.
Eight-ball, anyone?
