To most people, Badminton is backyard sport usually played on a lazy summer afternoon during a barbecue.
But for Laurence and Candice O’Dess, residents of Addison Township since 1976, the sport has been a source of exercise, friendships and Olympic gold.
Last week, the couple won a combined five gold medals playing Badminton at the Michigan Senior Olympics 2009 Summer Games held in Rochester.
Laurence, 65, earned gold in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events, while Candice, 64, earned her medals in doubles and mixed doubles.
‘We have wonderful teammates,? Candice said. ‘My partners ( Jeanine Golden, of Rochester Hills, and her husband) were absolutely wonderful.?
Besides his wife, Laurence played doubles with Thomas Woelfel, of Rochester.
The couple started playing Badminton three years ago while exploring all the programs the Older Persons? Commission (OPC) Center in Rochester has to offer.
‘We just happened to look through the window in the gym and noticed they were playing Badminton,? Candice said.
‘After about 15 seconds, I realized it wasn’t just some simple game,? Laurence said. ‘It was very complicated. I was hooked right then.?
‘We were hooked for sure,? Candice added. ‘I was never into sports before.?
The Badminton most people are familiar with is usually played outside on the grass. The Badminton Laurence and Candice play takes place indoors on a hard wood court.
Laurence said there’s tons to learn from the proper way to hold the racquet to how to swing and serve.
‘You always keep the racquet below your waistline when you serve,? he said.
‘It takes time to learn,? Candice noted. ‘At first, you’re whacking at air sometimes. Then you start to get an eye for where (the shuttle cock’s) going to land on your racket.?
Every Monday and Thursday night between 6 and 8:30 p.m., Laurence and Candice, who have been married for 41 years, can be found playing Badminton at the OPC center.
‘The people we play Badminton with are probably the nicest people in the world. We always get along,? Laurence said. ‘Everybody’s got a smile on their face all the time they’re playing.?
‘It’s the best group of people you ever want to know,? Candice said. ‘It’s like a family almost. They just welcome you.?
‘You start playing right away,? Laurence noted.
This year’s Senior Olympic Games represented Laurence’s third year of competition and Candice’s second.
Prior to this year, Laurance won two gold medals, one silver and a bronze. Candice earned two golds last year.
‘It’s fun to compete. It really is,? she said.
Besides enjoying the thrill of victory and their weekly dose of camaraderie at OPC, Laurence and Candice are also enjoying the health benefits of playing.
‘When I play, my heart rate sticks around 160 to 170 (beats per minute), all the time I’m playing,? he said. ‘It’s really great exercise. You don’t even notice you’re exercising. You go play and you don’t know you’re working out.?
Laurence credits proper diet and playing Badminton with helping to reduce his cholesterol to 178. It was once as high as 300.
Candice said playing’s helped her lose weight.
When they’re not on the court, Laurence and Candice run Heritage Flag & Banner, a local company that sells flags. They’ve operated it together since 1983.

Volunteers Carolyn Morrison and Richard Vogt help keep Independence Township Adult Activities Center growing.
The gardeners keep the grounds surrounding the center alive with flowers, vegetables, and other plants.
‘Everything we have here is donated, begged, or borrowed,? said Vogt, 62, organic gardener.
Around the center are a Butterfly Garden, six garden beds, Sensory garden, and lots of landscaping.
Student volunteers from Renaissance High School constructed the beds this past May.
‘The kids were great,? Vogt said. ‘Once shown what was to be done, they took over and did it. They’re good kids.?
Senior center members plant and maintain Victory Gardens in three of the beds, Morrison said.
‘Retirees are downsizing their homes into apartments or condos, where they have no place to grow a garden,? she said. ‘This provides them the opportunity and space for a garden, an outlet.?
Originally, Victory Gardens were planted during World War II’s food rationing.
‘President Roosevelt started it with a garden at the White House,? Morrison said. ‘In these times, with the economy, it seems appropriate.?
Produce from the other three, including broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, beans, peas, cucumber, and squash, are available to the community. Vogt harvests and places vegetables for the public in a basket in the senior center, labeled ‘Compliments of ‘Rotten Richards? organic garden.?
‘I wanted a name to put on the sign, and this is what I came up with,? he said. ‘It’s caught on quick.?
The Sensory Garden, started by Senior Services Coordinator Karen Koenigbauer, includes four raised beds behind the center, emphasizing all five senses.
‘It’s an awesome idea,? Morrison said. ‘It’s so gorgeous to look at.?
‘Sight? plants include colorful flowers such as lilies and monarda. A set of wind chimes provides sound, with ‘Touch? provided by plants with different textures such as Lambs Ear and Sedum.
For ‘Taste? are tomatoes, lettuce, basil, and other vegetables. Under ‘Smell? are plants like lavender and yarrow.
Local businesses donated building materials and plants, and Eagle Scouts constructed a patio with benches and walking paths around the center.
‘The community pulled together ? there’s been so much involvement,? Vogt said. ‘It’s really neat.?
Morrison has been a certified master gardener since 2005.
‘I love gardening and being outside,? she said. ‘I have a hard time being in the house when it’s nice outside. I like being outside, getting my hands down and playing in the yard. It’s very therapeutic.?
Vogt has been an organic gardener for about 36 years, learning it from his father.
‘No chemicals, spray or fertilizer, just cow manure and grass clippings,? he said. ‘That way, you don’t have to worry about what’s on it.?

When Joe Savino of Independence Township retired at the age of 62 after 32 years with General Motors, he was ready to try something new.
“I was never so bored in my life,” said Savino, now 82.
He was taking community education courses in Spanish and German when he noticed a $36 woodcarving course, and enrolled.
“The instructor asked where my tools were. I told him I didn’t have any tools,” said Savino, who’s from Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to the Clarkston area in the 1950s. “He said it was an intermediate course, but he let me stay ? I started buying tools.”
Now Savino is the instructor, teaching a four-week beginning woodcarving at Independence Township Adult Activities Center in Clintonwood Park.
Student David Green isn’t new, carving since he was 8 years old, but still enjoys the class.
“I’m always willing to learn ? I like to learn,” Green said. “We learn from one another, different tips and techniques.”
Students Ernie Finley and Denise Holzhausen are new to carving.
“I always wanted to do it, but never thought I could,” Finley said.
“I like it,” said Holzhausen, who also enjoys painting and drawing. “It’s for fun, something I wanted to try.”
For more information on classes and activities at the center, call 248-625-8231.