PebbleCreek organizer turns mahjong passion into community event

By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

For Sue Branton, the click of mahjong tiles is the sound of community, mental acuity, and friendship.

Now, the PebbleCreek resident is channeling her 22 years of experience playing and teaching the game into a major event, hosting the upcoming Robson Communities Mahjong Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 20.

The tournament, which will gather players from the various Robson active adult communities, is the culmination of Branton’s deep love for the American version of the Chinese game of skill.

“It's intellectually stimulating,” said Branton a 75-year-old PebbleCreek resident. “Doctors actually recommend this for anybody, especially for seniors, because of the mental acuity that it takes. The socialization, the confidence, the loneliness, there's a lot of reasons that a physician, and I,  would recommend seniors to play.”

Branton’s journey with mahjong began modestly. When first introduced to the game, she admits she found the engraved tiles and intricate rules overwhelming.

“I struggled with the teaching style, I looked at the tiles and I ran,” she recalled. “It took me two years to come back to mahjong.”

But once she returned, the game quickly became a passion. She was so dedicated she began teaching, often instructing 20 to 22 people at a time in six-week courses. For Branton, teaching was a way to share the mental and social benefits of the game.

“That’s the bug, I'm telling you, that draws you back to the game every week, every time,” she said.

The strategic depth of the game, which, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, involves obtaining sets of tiles similar to rummy while preventing opponents from completing their hands, is a major part of its appeal. Studies have shown that playing mahjong can help slow cognitive decline and improve general memory in older adults.

For Branton and the many others she has taught, it’s a non-negotiable part of a healthy, active lifestyle.

“It is intellectually  and socially stimulating. I just love it,” Branton said.

Sue Branton plays mahjong with her PebbleCreek community.

Mary Goldmeer\Independent Newsmedia

For players like 96-year-old Mary Coon, mahjong is a vital part of staying young. Coon, a PebbleCreek resident credits the game and her active lifestyle with keeping her mind sharp.

“There's a quiet focus. I like it to stay social and it keeps the mind going,” Coon said. “And at this age, you have got to keep going.”

Sue White and Mary Coon play mahjong.

Mary Goldmeer/Independent Newsmedia

Branton has lived in PebbleCreek for 25 years and sees the upcoming tournament as an extension of the tight-knit community life she said she  cherishes.

“I think we have a really good thing here in the West Valley, we have a community that really cared.  PebbleCreek, hands down, the best place I’ve ever lived. I wouldn’t, for the world, leave here.” Branton said. “It’s family and you just can’t get enough of the stuff our community offers.”

The Mahjong Maniacs tournament is a chance to expand that sense of community, inviting players from all Robson locations, including Arizona’s Robson Ranch, SaddleBrooke Ranch, The Preserve, Quail Creek and Robson Ranch in Texas.

The event, which runs from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., is limited to 88 people. Branton said the event will feature friendly competition and cash prizes. The $60 entry fee includes a catered lunch.

In addition to the main competition, there will be a 50/25/25 raffle benefiting a charitable organization.

The deadline for registration and a refundable cancellation is Monday, Nov. 10. For Branton, the event is a testament to the enduring power of a simple tile game to bring people together.

Visit pebblecreekpost.com for more information.