Annual Yoswein Turkey Classic heads indoors for a round of shuffleboard

Royal Palms hosts Genovesi Scholarship fundraiser

November 20, 2017 By Andy Katz Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Left, Brooklyn Eagle mascot “Eddie the Eagle” battles the Turkey Classic mascot at Royal Palms. Eagle photos by Andy Katz

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On a chill November night, a Brooklyn reporter crossed the Union Street Bridge over the Gowanus Canal, heading toward Red Hook. Whom should he encounter, going in the opposite direction, but the Chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party Frank Seddio?

“I thought it was back that way,” Seddio explained with a nod at Red Hook, “but the numbers don’t work.”

Our destination, 514 Union St., is the same. For the first time ever on Nov. 16, Yoswein New York held its Turkey Classic at The Royal Palms, Brooklyn’s only regulation indoor shuffleboard court.

But where was it? There was nothing obvious from the sidewalk, and street numbers might as well have been classified Top Secret. Finally, an appeal to Google Maps brought us to a low-slung brick structure midway between Third Avenue and Nevins Street.

“We’ve always held golf tournaments in the past,” Joni Yoswein, founder of Yoswein New York (YNY) and sponsor of the Turkey Classic, explained. “That left us at the mercy of the weather. Also, this year we decided to something more Brooklyn based.”

Given the Classic’s function is to raise funds for the Hon. Anthony J. Genovesi Scholarship Fund at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights, selecting a Brooklyn location makes perfect sense.

And what says “Brooklyn” more than shuffleboard?

OK. Many things, actually. Isn’t shuffleboard more West Palm Beach, AARP or the Love Boat?

Nevertheless, the folks inside were really having fun.

“Eddie,” the Brooklyn Eagle’s mascot, horsed around the courts with his Turkey Classic counterpart, both making Royally exaggerated shots then raising their cues in triumph regardless of where the biscuit (the iron disc shuffleboarders use) might have wound up; State Sen. Roxanne Persaud took instructions on basic shuffleboard technique from one of Royal Palms’ instructors; and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Andrew Hoan debated a line call with his opponent.

All were on hand to support a scholarship fund established in 1999 in memory of former state assemblymember Genovesi, who represented Brooklyn’s 39th District from 1987 to 1998 when he was killed in a traffic accident. The fund, created by friends and family of the late lawmaker, originally paid tuition for one student to attend St. Francis College per year. “We’ve done so well this year,” Yoswein said, “that we were able to add another whole tuition.”

In addition to Seddio and Persaud, state Assemblymembers J. Gary Pretlow, Jo Anne Simon and Peter Abbate and City Councilmembers Alan Maisel and Corey Johnson were also on hand, learning the basics of shuffleboard for a very good cause.

“I spent summers with my grandparents,” explained Royal Palms owner and shuffleboard champion Jonathan Schnapp. “They lived in a retirement complex in Florida, where shuffleboard was a big deal.”

Schnapp mastered the sport, becoming the No. 4 player in the world, producing YouTube instruction videos and finally opening the Royal Palms.

“Sometimes evenings like this are so stressful. People’s jobs depend on their outcome. But when people come here, they just say, ‘Hey, we’re just going to have a good time!’” Schnapp mused, leaning casually against a rail in his trademark denim jumpsuit. “They remind me of my grandparents.”