Try your hand at bridge in PA
Some time ago, the National Health Service in England recommended that the aging population take up playing a card game called bridge, to help them keep a healthy mind.
When taking up bridge, one learns a new skill, which is very beneficial for the mind.
Bridge is a partnership game, which also provides the opportunity to socialise with your partner and opponents.
“We are very fortunate in Port Alfred that we have a bridge club that concentrates on encouraging new players or people who have played bridge in the past, with bridge lessons,” Port Alfred Bridge Club member Elzabe Rodrigues said.
“We also encourage existing players to improve their game through more advanced lessons.”
The Port Alfred Bridge Club offers beginner lessons and refresher, intermediate, advanced and tournament director courses, as well as tuition from Springbok bridge players.
The club is accommodated in the Moth Hall and has regular playing days on Mondays and Thursdays, starting at 1.30pm.
Once a month there is a teams competition, played between Makhanda, Kenton and Port Alfred, and the club hosts two major open competitions during the year, which brings visitors to the town.
“Three times a year we take bridge into town and play cafe bridge in the local restaurants for the day. It is a very popular event,” Rodrigues said.
The club is starting beginner bridge lessons on Friday February 7 at 9am.
“The idea is to introduce the game to newbies and encourage them to play regularly,” she said.
“These lessons are not dependent on the players becoming members of the club.
“In the past, bridge clubs were very serious, [but] that is no longer so and the Port Alfred Bridge Club see bridge as a more social activity than a serious competitive activity.
“We are fortunate that the club is big enough so that we can cater for both groups of people.
“Once you can play bridge and you are on holiday, or on a cruise, or moved to a new town, you will find a bridge club or bridge players looking for people to play bridge – you never have to be alone,” Rodrigues said.
For queries contact Arie on 072-607-7499 or Elzabe on 073-218-5735.