Rooting for Munich's English-speaking sports clubs
One disadvantage of life in Germany is that regular exercise is either extremely expensive or actively discouraged. Spa memberships are pricey, most sports are regulated by a parochial club structure and a casual jog around a neighborhood soccer field usually means an encounter with an angry groundskeeper. There are, however, alternatives for foreigners seeking regular exercise, but who have neither the cash to join a gym, nor the inclination to wade through the petty bureaucracy and complexity of local sports clubs. Expatriates living in Munich have formed a number of sports clubs. Some are legally registered, others are little more than a loose collection of friends. Some broaden the city’s sporting palette by offering exotic types of sports, others simply provide an English-speaking environment. Here are some of the possibilities open to area expats:Sir Winston Churchill once said golf ruins a good walk, but it is obvious to Munich’s English Golfing Society that he never shot an eagle. “Golf is a complete waste of time,” agrees Rick Parry, one of the founding members of the club. “It takes up valuable hours, but somehow you get hooked on it.” The 17-year-old EGS currently has 50 members, the majority of which are British or American, with a sprinkling of other nationalities, including Germans. Initial membership costs DM 150, plus an annual membership fee of DM 100. “We play every three weeks throughout spring and summer. We rotate through five different courses and change the selection of courses each year. In this way, we get a lot of variety,” explains Parry. Members pay reduced green fees and a game usually costs between DM 50 and DM 60. The club also holds a number of events, such as annual Ryder Cup and President’s Cup matches. Further information may be obtained from Rick Parry at (089) 420 177 05.
Do not suggest to Stephanie Butler that baseball and softball are similar sports. When the American coach of the Grünwald Jesters softball team finishes redressing your misconception, she may concede there are similarities — but only to the uninitiated. The Jesters are one of six teams in the Bayernliga (Bavarian league) women’s fast-pitch softball circuit, which also includes the Haar Disciples, the Freising Grizzles and teams from Rosenheim and Regensburg. The Gauting Indians compete in the higher-ranked six team Bundesliga (national league). “There has been a softball league here for only about seven years, so it is a new sport to the area. We try to take it seriously both in terms of our commitment and training,” says Butler. Although some of the women playing with the Jesters hadn’t even seen a glove before joining, most are experienced players. New players are encouraged to begin in lower-ranked Landesliga (state league) clubs.
The cost of a year’s membership in a Bayernliga team ranges from DM 150 to DM 300, depending on whether or not such extras as coaching and uniforms are included. Butler explains a system is in place for new players to train and travel with the club for a year before signing up.
“It is similar to the ‘red-shirt’ system used in American colleges. Potential members can experience the atmosphere of the club before committing.” The baseball scene in Germany is also thriving. The local Grünwald Jesters, coached by American Dan Blednick, offers first Bundesliga play.
For those seeking a casual hit, most summer Sundays find a mixed pick-up game of slow-pitch softball in the English Garden near Münchner Freiheit. For further details about baseball and softball, turn to www.dvbnet.de. The Grünwald Jesters can be contacted at www.jesters.de or call (089) 74 79 10 64. Further information on casual softball teams can be obtained by checking out the bulletin board at the New York Café on Leopoldstrasse 43.
Because the Munich Hash House Harriers describe themselves as “a drinking club with a running problem,” the emphasis is clearly on social stamina, not physical fitness. The Harriers hold their curious race, a cross between orienteering and a treasure hunt, every second Saturday. Newcomers imbibe for free, but after the initial trial run, a small fee is charged to help cover the cost of drinks. Information can be obtained on (089) 760 57 22 or at http://s.stack.mh3.tripod.com.
The German English Association is one of the most active groups organized by English-speaking foreigners in Munich. Apart from a host of cultural and social activities, club members also host regular weekly sporting events such as badminton and squash. The club is open to all nationalities and there are no membership dues, however, a fee is charged to cover the cost of sporting events. Details can be obtained from the club at (089) 54 73 85 41, or by attending their weekly Friday night Stammtisch at 20:00 at Rechthaler Hof, Arnulfstr. 10.
“The English invented rugby, soccer and cricket. It’s just a shame they are not very good at them. I mean they even lost the world championship in conkers last year,” said Rod Murray, a member of the Munich Kangaroos. The team, a group of Australians and New Zealanders who regularly play Australian Rules football in the Hirschgarten, recently issued a friendly cricket challenge to Munich’s English community. “Australian Rules can be pretty demanding and we’re all getting old, so we thought we’d challenge the local English to a game of cricket instead,” says Murray. Two one-day games are planned for May and June. Players are needed for both teams. Contact Kevin at The Australian Bar at (089) 48 99 78 80. The Munich Kangaroos will also play regular Australian Rules matches against teams from northern Germany. Information from Ron at (08178) 90 52 15.
The Munich Cricket Association organizes more serious cricket games. A total of eight teams compete locally, and most of them practice once a week. Players are expected eventually to become members, but it is not necessary to be a member in the beginning. Membership costs DM 150, or DM 25 for the unemployed, students or pensioners. The MCA also organizes regular one-day and indoor tournaments, as well as trips abroad. The MCA has competed against teams from England, France, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.
For information on the MCC, contact David Carr at (089) 51 60 27 76 (work). Gerry Collins, who can be reached at (089) 23 39 11 04, can provide information on the European Patent Office Cricket Club. Munich International Cricket Club can be contacted through Rajendra Nath at (089) 670 20 03. Further information is also available on the Deutscher Cricket Bund Web site: www.dcb-cricket.de.
Bavaria may not rate among the Caribbean or the Seychelles as one of the world’s best diving locations, but the Alps offer crystal-clear lakes with superb visibility. “The drawback is that the water is always cold, so you have to be enthusiastic about diving,” says Thomas Villinger, a member of the Munich English-Speaking Sports Divers. MESS, which was formed more than ten years ago, is a clique of diving enthusiasts rather than a formal club with membership fees. “It was established by a group of English expatriates who didn’t like the ballyhoo and regulations of similar German organizations. We attract professionals who live in Munich for a few years and then move on, so the membership is fairly fluid,” explains Villinger.
MESS undertakes one trip on the last weekend of each month, from spring to autumn. Frequent trips are taken to the Bavarian lakes, but the group also travels to Austria and other locations. An annual fee of between DM 10 and DM 50 is charged, depending on if the club needs new equipment. Some club equipment is available to people who lack their own. Call (089) 448 48 28 for details.
Progressive Fighting Systems is a form of martial arts combining kickboxing and various forms of self-defense. “It is not widely known in Germany, but it is established in America, where it is taught to more than 50 police departments. In England, it is used by the Royal Marines,” explains Ken Hollows, a PFS trainer at the Postsportverein. PFS was developed in the 1960s and is based on the ideas of film star Bruce Lee and Dan Innosanto, a leading martial arts expert. Lee’s Zen-like concept was that the only limitation that should be imposed on the sport is that there are no limitations. “It is not only a martial art for self-improvement, but is designed for practical self-defense on the streets. What we teach includes stick fighting, knife fighting and ground fighting. It is absolutely core stuff, with an emphasis on improving one’s speed and reflexes,” says Hollows.
The Postsportverein at Franz Maderstr. 41 offers PFS as one of its sports clubs. Training is in English, and courses are held on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Ages in the beginners’ class range from 16 to 57. Membership is open to all and costs DM 19.80 per month, plus a surcharge for each sport entered. PFS costs an extra DM 18 per month. The club also charges an initial sign-up fee of DM 25. Inquiries may be addressed to Ken Hollows at (089) 18 42 84 or Michael Grüner at (089) 149 37 05.
For those who have a more relaxed attitude toward exercise, Richard Gipps offers a monthly walk with groups of between 10 and 30 people. “It is not particularly strenuous, but we walk at a steady pace for about three hours with a one-hour lunch break. It is not recommended for those with toddlers or young children or for people expecting a Café Spaziergang (café tour),” says Gipps. “We generally go to the south of Munich because I find that area relatively underdeveloped. There are not many villages and housing, and far more forests and fields.”
Meeting at the Giesing Bahnhof, the group travels either by car or S-Bahn to a location chosen to fit weather conditions. No costs are incurred, save those of gas or train tickets, and it is not necessary to register. Walks are planned a month in advance. Phone (089) 86 30 86 10 for dates and details.
Geoff Harries, also an avid walker, conducts “brisk” weekly walks every Sunday afternoon. Beginning at 13:30, the group usually covers 15 km in three hours, but Harries cautions that he waits for no one. “I enjoy taking people with me on my walks, but part of the deal is that they are expected to keep up,” he explains. Again, there is no charge. Contact Geoff Harries at (089) 691 22 88 for details.
People seeking serious hiking challenges can contact the Munich Wanderers, an English-speaking subgroup of the Deutscher Alpen Verein (German Alps Club). Formed last June by Mike Page, the group has already undertaken 20 tours ranging from short mountain walks to long weekend trips. “We don’t have an official membership, but there are about 40 people on our mailing list — a mixture of Brits, South Africans and Americans, along with a few Germans,” says Page. “We are fairly serious about what we do in the mountains. People can attend a couple of hikes and see if they enjoy them, but after that we put pressure on them to join DAV. This is mainly for insurance reasons.”
The Wanderers are planning a series of eight-hour hikes for this year, plus a few weekend trips, including one glacier trek with a Bergführer (mountain guide) from the DAV. The group has also scheduled a one-week hike through the Zillertal in September. Wanderers’ members range in age from 20 to 40. Participants need a reasonable level of fitness and it helps to have some hiking experience. Contact the Wanderers at (08141) 537 991 or through www.munichwanderers.de. DAV membership costs DM 105 per year.
Lack of snow does not deter members of the Munich International Ski Club. In summer, the club organizes several adventure outings, including white-water rafting, sailing, glacier skiing and even a visit to the Oktoberfest, to help members bridge the months between ski seasons. “The sense of a group, the feeling of comradery, that’s one of the attractions. That, and the opportunities it offers to ski,” says Donna Peavey, MISC membership director, when explaining what is special about the club.
The club has more than 120 members, between the ages of 19 and 51, from 15 different countries. During the ski season, from October to March, the club organizes ten one-day skiing trips and five longer trips. The longer outings range from overnight stops in Austria, Liechtenstein or Slovenia to week long visits to France, Italy and America. Membership is DM 70 per year. Information can be obtained at www.curry-design.com/ski/club.html. Inquiries can be sent to coulgers@aol.com.
“Dancing is not a sport — it’s foreplay,” Scottish comedian Billy Connolly once said. “I don’t quite know about that,” responds Sue Bollans, publicity officer for the Munich Scottish Association. “but I know dancing requires a lot of stamina and fitness.” Traditional dancing, as perpetuated by the Munich Scottish Association, has experienced a renewed surge of interest in the last few years. Irish folk dancing, in particular, has ridden the coattails of the River Dance phenomenon to unprecedented levels of popularity. “It is not just Irish dancing, however. All folk dancing styles have attracted new members. Scottish dancing is now practiced all over the world,” says Bollans. The Munich Scottish Association practices Wednesday evenings at the Evangelische Kirchenzentrum on Helene-Mayer-Ring 25. Membership costs DM 40 per year and a small fee is charged to help cover hall rental. Call (089) 39 12 53 for details. Munich also boasts two Irish dancing groups. Contact Breid McKeonn at (0170) 711 30 20 for information on the Mary Murray School of Dance. For details on the Emerald School of Dance, call Simon at (089) 723 99 29. Contact Jürgen at (089) 316 29 17 for information on children’s Irish dancing. For information on square dancing, contact the Dip-N-Divers at (089) 60 72 17 71. The group meets Thursday at 20:00 at the Bürgerpark Oberföhring, Square Dance Ranch, in Oberföhringer Strasse 156.
Whatever you choose, you may rest assured many friends are to be made while keeping fit in Munich.
