THE “BAKER FARM DOUBLES”
Many of you know, Tim Baker built two courts on his farm south of Indianapolis and I’m sure he wishes he had built at least a couple of more!
Tim’s not only caught the shuffleboard fever but is big time into promoting the game. In the winter he plays all over the State of Florida with his home base being the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club. In the summer he plays the Ohio circuit and even in the State of Michigan; did I mention he lives south of Indianapolis and is a full-time farmer and I mean a big-time farmer, which takes a lot of time. He reminds me of another big-time farmer, Henry Strong, we’ve all read the stories about how he went home one summer and built a court so he could improve. He not only improved; he is now a top 10 all-time Champion, so we all know what can happen; maybe we will see it again. He is preparing now to head for Hendersonville to play the Eastern National Championships with regular partner, Dave Stoops. This will be his first trip to Hendersonville but if you’ve been there you know it won’t be his last.
Back to the story!
Tim got 16 players together for a singles tournament and you should never underestimate what a shuffler will do to get on the courts. The closest player came from 4 miles away but the next closest came 1 ½ hours. Mike Miller brought his snap together court, traveling 3 ½ hours but 5 players traveled 4 hours and one came five hours to play a one-day tournament. Bill Badgley brought his roll out court giving them four courts to play on. At the end of the day Silvia Smith, a fine Ohio and Arizona player claimed the Championship.
Everyone did their best to follow CDC guidelines wearing masks and observing social distancing as best they could.
BAKER/STOOPS TO HENDERSONVILLE EASTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
In the last article about the “Baker Farm Singles” I told you a bit about how crazy Tim Baker is about the game; well Dave Stoops is at least as bad maybe worse!
Dave is at the Club every chance he gets and plays every chance he gets, talks shuffleboard every change he gets and about every day he talks by phone with Tim; remember those days when you were rather new and had a shuffle friend you couldn’t wait to talk shuffleboard with, I do. Joan Cook and I talked every evening! I couldn’t wait to hear how she did in the tournament or where she was traveling to, to play next. Tim and Dave do the same thing. You know Tim goes everywhere; and so does Dave. He traveled to Lakeside to play, only, the Summer National Doubles with Tim and drove back to Florida. Dave talks to me about Hendersonville on a regular basis and I knew he wanted to go; I’m sure he inspired Tim and now, how to get the wives to think it was a good idea. Well of course you talk about a vacation in the Mountains of North Carolina, a beautiful place with lots to do and see with all the shopping you could ever ask for. Tim’s wife Pat and Dave’s wife Orea (o-Ray-uh) bought in but only 1st class. They did inform their husbands their wallets were going to take a hit but then what’s money when it comes to a chance to play a little shuffleboard.
How about the rest of you? You’ve been sitting at home, the money’s piling up because you haven’t been any place to spend it. It’s just not that far to travel and you owe it to yourself to see it at least once. You’ll love it!
Earl Ball 8-28-2020
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