While many of the Club's activities are undertaken for fundraising reasons, the members of the Club have often pursued a few competitive games purely for fun and fellowship. While there has never been a consistent sporting activity to which members have subscribed, over the years there have been attempts at creating teams to participate in local leagues and tournaments.
For many years a regular feature on the golf courses of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was a group of up to sixteen Rotarian golfers who travelled south to play for five days on five different courses, later extending to eight days and eight courses. The concept was originally introduced by Past President Glynn Reynolds. The group would drive to Myrtle Beach in motor homes with specific assigned roles: 1 hour driving, 1 hour navigating and 6 hours of sleeping/card playing. The motor home occupants used the latest technology to stay in touch "walkie-talkies". As time has passed the golfing excursion has continued for those who find the long dark days of winter hard to endure, however, the location has moved to Florida and the motor homes have changed to air travel.
Prior to the development of golf courses such as Trillium Wood Golf Club and Black Bear Ridge Golf Course, the diehard golfers of the Rotary Club of Belleville met on Thursday afternoons at Oak Hills for a round of golf and fellowship. This was originally organized by Past President Glynn Reynolds. Today, those in the Club who continue to be diehards, often play at any of the local courses in groups of Rotarians and non-Rotarians. Regardless of the membership, the desire for fun and fellowship still lives on.
One of the standing traditions of District 7070 Conferences has been the Friday afternoon golf game. Again, these games are designed for fun and fellowship, this time among Rotarians from across the District and Belleville continues to be at the tee.
As the work weekend at Camp Merrywood has evolved over the years, the addition of a Thursday afternoon golf game became an added enticement for those who showed up at the Camp early to set up for the weekend and get in an early spring game of golf -- if the course was free of snow, water and ice!
Rotarians are not just golfers. Beginning in the 1970's members formed a slo-pitch team that competed in a local league, playing two games per week and in many instances,, taking home the win. At one time, there was a District competitive slo-pitch tournament for Rotary Clubs. In 1984, the Rotary Club of Belleville earned the title of District Champs! Today, these leagues no longer exist locally and so Rotarians are no longer competing.
For a few years, with a desire to remain active, about 16 Rotarians took up a Sunday tennis game meting at Ben Bleecker Auditorium and then at covered court at a local fitness centre. Alas, tennis as a sporting activity ran its course and the weekly matches ended in the 1980's.
Curling is a sport near and dear to the residents of Belleville and has in fact been an organized activity of the Rotary Club of Belleville since its early years. Members have formed squads to compete in local tournaments as well as curling leagues and bonspiels in Belleville. The Belleville Club has occasionally registered a squad in the Rotary Club of Quinte Sunrise bonspiel for Camp Trillium as respite camp for children with cancer.
