Welcome to the Tulsa SCRABBLE® Club web page. Below is information about the club and how you can become a part of the wonderful experience we call SCRABBLE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mission
The Tulsa SCRABBLE Club is a community of tournament, club and avid home players of SCRABBLE. We foster a casual and friendly atmosphere for people of all skill levels to play their favorite game, to improve their abilities and, above all, to meet people who share a similar love of the game. We are here to have fun.
When and Where Does the Club Meet?
The Tulsa SCRABBLE Club meets at the coffee shop of the Barnes & Noble Book Store at 5241 E. 41st Street (northeast corner of 41st and Yale) at the east end of the Southroads Shopping Center. We meet at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays and 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings, and play four to six games per session. The only time we do not meet is if a holiday falls on our regular meeting day or if there is very bad weather. If schools are cancelled, we cancel club, too.
Barbara Santee 918.663.4278, co-director
Joan Hess 918.850.4495, co-director
tulsascrabbleclub@cox.net
Does it Cost Anything to Play?
No. Although we are an officially sanctioned club of the National SCRABBLE Association and a member of the North American SCRABBLE Players Association, we do not charge dues, have business meetings, or otherwise do the “club” thing. We exist for one reason: to play SCRABBLE, and that’s what we do.
Do I Need to Bring My SCRABBLE Board and Equipment?
No, not unless you want to. We have enough equipment to provide for those who come to Club.
What Level of Players are in the Club?
We have all levels of skill, ages, and interests. A few of our members have played in tournaments, but most of them haven’t. We have had people of all occupations, interests and backgrounds who have played with us at one time or another, including a country-club golf professional, a housewife, a law professor, a drug rehab nurse, a Ph.D, a restaurant owner, a computer expert, a welder, a dishwasher, a female member of the U.S. Army, and a belly dancer. Their skill levels were as interesting and diverse as they were. It is guaranteed you will meet some of the most interesting people when you play SCRABBLE, and some of them will become life-long friends.
Can I Just Watch A Game?
Newcomers (whom we affectionately call “Newbies”) may come at any time during our sessions. They may play one game or more, or just observe until they feel comfortable about playing. Each newcomer is given a copy of all of the two- and three-letter words that are used in club play. During their first few visits, they may use this list to look up words before playing them. Some newbies may want to have an introductory game with one of the members who can help them with the rules, strategy, word lists, etc. that are used in club play. Other Newbies may prefer to play without an introductory session. Either way is fine with us.
What Rules Are Used in Club Play?
Many new players come to club expecting to play by the same rules they use in casual games at the kitchen table with friends or family. Unfortunately, different players using different sets of rules would not be workable. In club play, everyone uses the same rules as those used in official SCRABBLE tournaments.
We do this for two reasons: (1) to make sure everyone is “singing from the same page” to avoid the confusion of using players using different rules in the same game; and (2) to prepare players for the possibility of playing in a tournament in the future. If a player always uses the tournament rules in club play, it is not a huge adjustment to play in a tournament using those same rules. Of course, if you have no wish to play in a tournament, you are never pressured to do so, but you will still be asked to use tournament rules in Club which are very simple and straightforward.
History
Barbara Santee is a native Tulsan who founded the Tulsa SCRABBLE Club in 1996. The first meeting was held at the downtown Library attended by about a dozen people. We moved to the Henthorne Recreation Center for a year, and the Promenade Food Court for two years before moving to the Barnes & Noble Coffee Shop in 1999, where we have met ever since. Joan Hess joined the club in 2002. Currently, Joan and Barbara are the co-directors of the club.
Our Club (#492) is officially sanctioned by the National SCRABBLE Association (http://www2.scrabble-assoc.com/) and the North American SCRABBLE Players Association (http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/w/Welcome_to_NASPAWiki). Barbara is an official SCRABBLE Club Director certified by the NSA.
Additional Information
Here are some web sites that may be of interest:
Important Words to Raise Your Score:
http://www2.scrabble-assoc.com/images/PDFs/IMPORTWORDS07.pdf
Useful SCRABBLE Word Lists: http://kisa.ca/scrabble/cheatsheet.html
A Site for Buying Equipment, Timers, SCRABBLE Boards, etc. http://www.samtimer.com/
You also may buy some SCRABBLE items at http://www2.scrabble-assoc.com/ Look for “Word Gear” when you get to the site. Available are the Official SCRABBLE Players Word List Dictionary, the Franklin computerized dictionary, T-shirts, and other SCRABBLE items.
To purchase plastic Pro-Tiles, go to: www.protiles.net
Tulsa Scrabble Club 