fbpx

Shuffleboard 101: A Blend of History, Fun, and Community

Welcome to Shuffleboard 101! At Optima®, we’re not just about sleek designs and stunning architecture; we’re about creating vibrant communities where fun and engagement are part of daily life. And what better way to bring people together than a timeless game of shuffleboard? Let’s slide into the history of this classic game and explore how it plays a significant role in our community.

A Stroll Down Memory Lane
Shuffleboard, a game with roots dating back to 15th-century England, has come a long way. Originating from a game called “shove-groat,” where players slid coins across a table, shuffleboard has evolved into a beloved pastime worldwide. It’s fascinating to think that this game, which started with people pushing coins in taverns, now brings laughter and friendly competition to our modern community spaces at Optima.

Modern shuffleboard is a blend of skill, strategy, and, most important, fun. The goal is simple: players use cues to slide weighted discs down a narrow court, aiming to score points by landing the discs within designated areas. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned player, shuffleboard is accessible to all, making it a perfect game for community interaction.

Cruise ship shuffleboard (vintage photo)
Cruise ship shuffleboard Credit: WLouis E. “”Slim”” Gordon Special Collection Photo

Shuffleboard at Optima®: More Than Just a Game
In social spaces at Optima Kierland Apartments® and Optima Signature®, shuffleboard is a community catalyst, allowing residents to gather for friendly matches, fostering connections, and relaxation. It’s not just about scoring points; it’s about the smiles shared, the conversations sparked, and the sense of belonging that comes from engaging in a shared activity.

Incorporating amenities like shuffleboard into our living spaces aligns perfectly with our philosophy. We believe in crafting environments that encourage interaction, relaxation, and a sense of community. The courts are a testament to this belief, offering a space where residents can unwind and connect in a laid-back, enjoyable setting.

Join the Fun!
Whether you’re an aficionado or new to the game, we invite you to join in the fun at Optima. Discover the joys of this timeless game, meet your neighbors, and experience firsthand how simple pleasures can enrich our lives and strengthen our community. At Optima, it’s not just about where you live, but how you live—and shuffleboard is a part of that vibrant, engaging lifestyle.

So, grab your pucks, step up to the court, and let the good times slide!

Attention all board game lovers!

As we continue to anticipate great times ahead once the Optima Verdana® card room opens — when we will spend many an evening with friends huddled over a backgammon or Scrabble board — we can, in the meantime, feed our curiosity about the history of board games. It’s fascinating!

While much has been written about board games by scholars and laypeople alike, one of the best sources around is It’s All a Game:The History of Board Games from Monopoly to Settlers of Catan. Written by Tristan Donovan and published by St. Martin’s Press in 2017, this smart, engaging book by a renowned games expert helps us understand how board games continue to captivate our attention and to bring us back to the proverbial table, in spite of the allure of myriad technology toys and the scourge of decreasing attention spans.

Optima Verdana’s sky deck featuring various game rooms among the pool, sauna and spa.

Throughout the book, Donovan explores the roots of board games’ consistent popularity. Analyzing the influence of social, political, and economic influences on board game designers and manufacturers, Donovan maps the evolution of our modern-day relationship with board games across time, geographies, and cultures. He also examines the impact this leisure activity has had on popular psychology. 

Donovan writes expansively on the history and evolution of ancient games and their current-day counterparts. He traces the Indian and Persian influences on chess and explains how the rules and game pieces evolved to reflect first Muslim and then European societies. He also examines how games like Monopoly developed as games that required both strategy and luck, paying special attention to how the original versions of these games reflected the times in which they were born, and how they changed over time.

Marvin Glass, a board game inventor from Chicago, in the a 1961 issue of Chicago Tribune Magazine

Donovan’s survey of gaming history is full of amusing anecdotes and eccentric characters, including a discussion of Marvin Glass, an eccentric and paranoid toy inventor from Chicago, whose infusion of plastics into board games like Operation and Mouse Trap brought the board game and toy industries together.

If you’re a trivia buff, you’ll also love It’s All a Game, since Donovan spares no detail about board games and their histories. And if nothing else, it will help you build a huge arsenal of interesting tidbits and stories to share when you find yourself gathering and gaming at Optima Verdana®!

person name goes here

Maintenance Supervisor

Glencoe, IL





    Acceptable file types: *.pdf | *.txt | *.doc, max-size: 2Mb