LAGUNA BEACH : Time Comes for a Sport to Push On

Heisler Park’s shuffleboard court used to be a center of social life for beach-goers, as dozens flocked to the court to vie for a spot. But in recent times, says longtime shuffleboard buff Willis Leach, 77, it’s been tough just to find four people for a game.

It won’t make many “Things to Worry About” lists, but for at least a few devotees, the demise of shuffleboard in Laguna Beach has been a sorrowful experience. And soon, they expect to lose their court altogether because of lack of use.

The Laguna Beach Shuffleboard Club’s membership has now dipped to under a dozen. And efforts to entice seniors with shuffleboard clinics and free lessons have failed.

“It’s just dying out,” said Ellie Stroughton, club president. “We just haven’t been able to get people interested.”

As a result, after attending city-led meetings to consider how the prime property could best be used, club members have agreed to a tentative plan calling for the shuffleboard court to be removed, the concrete to be replaced with grass and shrubs.

The City Council earlier this month endorsed the plan for redesigning the area of the shuffleboard court--without the court. City recreation director Cindy King said timing and money for the new project are still fluid. There is little question, however, that shuffleboarding is on its way out.

“It is sad,” Stroughton said. “I don’t think you can do anything about it. I can see the city’s point. It doesn’t get used like it should.”

In some circles, shuffleboard buffs say, social life once revolved around the court, which is located next to the lawn bowling green, a sport that has held its popularity.

“The whole week we would go down there until about 10 in the morning and play until about 4:30 in the afternoon,” said Leach, a club member for 25 years. “That was every day of the week.”

Locals who walked to the park played regularly with tourists and with shuffleboard lovers from neighboring communities. Club members still play every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, Leach said, but the numbers and widespread interest just aren’t there.

Club members say they are mystified as to why the sport of lawn bowling has continued to thrive while interest in shuffleboarding has evaporated. Also, they wonder where they will turn for a new hobby.

“What are we going to do when we can’t play shuffleboard?” Stroughton said a friend recently asked her. “We’ll have to think up something else.”