Game Time!

THE TRADITION of playing games stretches back through history, with rules evolving to make them more organized and accessible. In Spring Lake and Sea Girt, activities such as canasta, bridge, and mahjong are more than pastimes—they are traditions that connect generations, build friendships, and keep minds sharp, all with a healthy dose of laughter and strategy.

LASTING LOCAL PLAY

Canasta, bridge, and mahjong seem to be the most popular games played in Spring Lake and Sea Girt, with some players trying their hand at more than one.

Marybeth Walsh of Sea Girt recalls when groups of players, sometimes up to 20 people, used to play cards at the Spring Lake Bath and Tennis Club. “Now we play in small groups in Sea Girt,” she says. “Four of us meet on Mondays for bridge and Fridays for canasta. I find it very enjoyable to play cards and socialize in this casual and friendly manner.”

Trish Connor, a trustee at the Sea Girt Library, has been playing bridge with friends for over

10 years. She and her partners meet at each other’s homes and enjoy the game, the company, and sometimes lunch. “If we don’t have enough players for bridge, we play canasta, which we enjoy very much,” Connor says. “Card games are a great way to enrich the sense of community with the added benefit of keeping our brains stimulated and active.”

Sea Girt resident Joyce Cornelius, who also enjoys playing bridge with friends twice weekly, remembers many years ago there was a card club in Sea Girt that consisted of the wives of police officers and firefighters. “They played canasta together for quite a few years until the club broke up,” she says. “They called themselves the Turnabouts.” While the Turnabouts—named for the small sailboats with catamaran rigging that Sea Girt youth had fun with in the 1950s—are long gone, their spirit and love for canasta lives on in today’s residents.

CRAZY FOR CANASTA

In 1939, inside a small tavern in Montevideo, Uruguay, two bridge partners set out to invent a card game that wouldn’t take as much time to play. While sitting in the tavern, they borrowed a flat basket from the waiter called a canastillo and experimented with their cards, which led to a new card game.

Today, we call that game canasta, which can be played with two to six players. By the 1950s, it was wildly popular in England and the United States, where it was played in clubs, casinos, and gambling halls. Today, players can find games right in their hometown.

In Spring Lake and Sea Girt, canasta seems to be the most popular of the top three games.  Janet Griffin of Sea Girt enjoys teaching canasta to friends. “Once you start, you realize how therapeutic playing cards with friends can be,” she says. “As a former teacher, I enjoy teaching canasta and holding games at my home. I have card tables set up where we gather, play, and develop bonds of friendship.”

A few years ago, Luann McGraw, Katie Doyle, and Nancy Robinson took canasta lessons at Duggan Hall in Spring Lake. “Since then, we have formed a nice group that includes Cookie Dolan and Carol Rahill,” McGraw says. “We meet on Tuesday afternoons for a lovely game on the front porches of their beautiful homes. There is also a canasta group that meets every Monday at Duggan Hall. I believe that group has been playing together for a very long time. Some of the ladies are in their late 80s and 90s.”

BEGUILED BY BRIDGE

Bridge is considered more complex and time-consuming than canasta—a true game of skill, strategy, and communication, with endless variations. Its roots trace back to the 16th century as an offshoot of the game whist. By the late 1800s, new versions such as auction bridge and bridge-whist had gained popularity in the United States. Then in 1925, during an Atlantic crossing, Harold Stirling Vanderbilt established the rules for contract bridge, the form of the game still played today.

In addition to Vanderbilt, several notable bridge players have made their mark on the game, including Helen Sobel Smith—often hailed as the greatest female bridge player of all time—Charles Goren, Marty Bergen, Bob Hamman, Omar Sharif, and even Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.

Jewel Barkley, a seasoned player residing in Sea Girt, likes to acknowledge the contributions of mathematical probabilities. “I highly recommend ‘Modern Bridge’ and ‘Modern Bridge Conventions,’ books authored by Rick Hartley,” she says. “Rick is a professional statistician, and his books are easy to understand, logical, and sequential. There are also self-guided quizzes at the end of each chapter. Bridge is an enjoyable and challenging game for life.”

In Spring Lake, bridge draws a mix of newcomers, casual players, and seasoned competitors. Helen Nugent, a longtime local player, has been enjoying the game since she was 10 years old. A devoted and accomplished player, she participates in games at Duggan Hall every Friday, typically with anywhere from four to nine tables in play. The more formal games follow the American Bridge League international point system and are overseen by a director. “Bridge is something that stimulates the mind since there are always new things to learn and endless possibilities,” Nugent says. “It is also a wonderful way to connect with friends and meet new ones, whether in competitive or more casual games. It’s fun.”

Lynn Ward of Sea Girt believes bridge is a social outlet that improves cognition with age. “I gathered eight friends and set up weekly lessons using the book ‘Bridge for Everyone’ by D.W. Crisfield,” she says. “When the pandemic hit, we were able to play online using Trickster Cards, and the group continues to play to this day.”

MAKE ROOM FOR MAHJONG

A game of skill, strategy, and luck, mahjong was developed in 19th-century China. But it’s not just a game—it’s a centuries-old tradition with history. In fact, during Mao’s Cultural Revolution (1966 to 1976), mahjong was banned in China for allegedly encouraging immorality.

The game is played with 144 tiles featuring Chinese characters and symbols. Its name, meaning “sparrow,” comes from the clattering of the tiles, reminiscent of sparrows chattering. The Old Hong Kong version is most popular in the West. Today, mahjong tournaments are held in every state—from Las Vegas to Atlantic City’s Mah Jongg Madness.

Christine Hammitt of Spring Lake was searching for a pastime that was both engaging and fun—and she found it in mahjong classes at Duggan Hall. “In summer, the games are so crowded, and the tiles get so noisy that tables are covered with tablecloths,” she says. “During the winter, things get quieter. Mahjong is a game I can play by myself, but I also enjoy the positive and participative play with others,” she says.

About five years ago, Sea Girt resident Maria Winant, a certified public accountant, was in search of a casual hobby to relax. She heard about the beginners’ mahjong classes at Duggan Hall. “I find mahjong is a welcoming game,” she says. “It is always challenging, always fun. In our area, players also can find games in neighboring towns. I find that rules change according to the group you play with. During winter months, I play in Florida and adjust to their rules. I like the flexibility mahjong offers—it can energize the brain yet be a casual and fun hobby to enjoy.”

FEELING LUCKY

Whether it be canasta, bridge, or mahjong, many players embrace rituals when playing these games. They may choose where to sit, how to hold the cards or tiles, and carry lucky charms. Some players even favor wearing red underwear while playing mahjong—the symbol of good luck in Chinese culture.

While none of these superstitions has been scientifically proven, for some, these personal rituals are an essential part of their gaming experience. But more than just a pastime, these games bring friends together, spark laughter, and keep minds sharp. In Spring Lake and Sea Girt, the tradition of playing, learning, and connecting continues to thrive.

BY JUDITH JONES-AMBROSINI