ASR AMBASSADORS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
December 15, 2010
December 15, 2010
The Atlantic South Region (ASR) E-Newsletter is distributed on the 15th of each month to all ASR Ambassadors. this newsletter is intended t keep all of you apprised of what is happening in your Region, and to consoli
date our news into a once/monthly communication. Please forward this information to all USAPA members, all pickleball players/clubs in your regions and post to your local pickleball Blogs or Websites.
HAVE YOU REGISTERED YET?
DEADLINE: Entry forms must be received by January 8, 2011
GEEZER MEISTER
PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
JANUARY 12-15, 2011
DEL WEBB SPRUCE CREEK
COUNTRY CLUB,
SUMMERFIELD, FL
PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
JANUARY 12-15, 2011
DEL WEBB SPRUCE CREEK
COUNTRY CLUB,
SUMMERFIELD, FL
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER
.......Recently In The News...... and we have a lot this last month!!
2010 Florida Senior Games State Championship - 162 Pickleball players competed at the Estero Community Center i
n Estero, Florida on Saturday and Sunday, December 5th and 6th. Pickleball ranked number one this year with more participants than any other sport in the Senior Games event . Player participation in pickleball increased almost 30% over 2009 and it is drawing players not only from across the state, but across the country. There was an excellent turnout of USAPA Ambassadors in attendance at our State Championship games. Florida Ambassadors: Russ Cuccia - Venice/Sarasota, Rich Donald- New Tampa, Cindy Eddleman- Ft. Myers, Nancy Myer- Ft. Myers, Rick and Karen Skaare, Summerfield, and Atlantic South Regional Ambassador, Donna Donald. And we sure hope our visiting Ambassadors had a great time; Bev and Ed Beyster- San Antonio, TX, Jan Pasternak-Houston, TX, and Tom Burkhart - Mid Atlantic Regional Ambassador. CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES AND STORY
Pickleball Clinics- Ambassador Bob Huskey introduced pickleball to some energetic players at their brand new court in Opelika Alabama on November 20th, and Ambassadors Rich and Donna Donald introduced nine new RV'ers to the game, and held a skills clinic for a group of the regular players. Click here for OPELIKA, WAUCHULA
Pickled Pilgrim Pickleball Playoff - The North Georgia Pickleball Club courts were festive for this holiday event to benefit the Cherokee County Humane Society. Congratulations to the Pilgrims, Indians and Turkeys, some who travelled a great distance to take home some pretty great tournament prizes. Hosts, Tom and Ann Earley presented a check for $500 to Otis Moore of the local humane society. Another Great Pickleball Event. Great Shirts too!! READ MORE
IN HOUSE PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT- November 29th, members of the Seminole Recreation Center participated in an In House Pickleball tournament. Open to members only. Everyone had a great time competing for those pickleball medals!!! This recreation center will host the Good Life Senior Games in March 2011. Read More
Holi-Daze II, The Geezers and Gals who play at the Bacall Recreation Center in The Villages, Fl celebrate the holiday season, pickleball style! They held their second annual Holi-Daze tournament on December 9th. Ambassador Al Rosati sent along this picture. All players were required to don their holiday attire for the festive pickleball event.
.....Upcoming Tournaments/Events....
For more information and registration links go to our Atlantic South Website: http://www.south.usapa.org/
- Benefit Toys for Tots Pickleball Tournament, The Villages, December 13-17, 2010
- Pickleball Skills Clinic - December 15, 2010, Sun City Center, Fl.
- Pickleball Clinic and Pizza Party, Geezers and Gals, The Villages, Dec. 20, 2010
- New Year's Eve Pickleball Round Robin - TT Peace River/Wauchula, Fl December 31, 2010
- Geezer Meister Tournament - Summerfield, Fl January 12-15, 2011 USAPA Sanctioned (Tier4)
- Pickleball for Paws, Benefit Tournament, Wauchula, Fl., January 25, 2011
- Benefit Senior Pickleball Tournament, Jacksonville, NC., February 4-5, 2011
- Collier County Senior Games, Naples, Fl,February, 12-13, 2011
- Collier County OPEN (ages 35-49)Tournament, Naples, Fl, February, 12-13, 2011
- Lee County Senior Games, Ft.Myers, Fl., February 26-27, 2011
- Spruce Creek Senior Games, Del Webb, Spruce Creek, Summerfield, Fl. March 1-4, 2011
- Polk County Senior Games, Poinciana, Fl., March 8-9, 2011
- Heartland Senior Games, Sebring, Fl, March 11-12, 2011
- Charlotte County Senior Games, Punta Gorda, Fl., March 19-20, 2011
- Peace River OPEN (ages 35-49), Punta Gorda, Fl, March 19-20
- Good Life Games, Seminole, Fl., March 21-22, 2011.
- First Annual PB Tournament, March 26-27, Key West Florida
- Annual Mid South Regional Pickleball Tournament, April 8-10, Mandeville, LA
Do you have a tournament/round robin or social event that should be listed here?
..... A Little More Pickleball News Across the Region....
Florida
Dave Majick from Highlands Ridge in Sebring Florida has taken the lead role in creating a League/Conference in the Central Florida area. Dave tells us: "The intent is to grow the sport of pickleball and to test our metal against the best in our area. Surrounding the growth and competitive nature of this endeavor, is the simple fun of playing the game of pickleball and the joy of, one more time, allowing the competitive juices to flow." Several of the pickleball leaders from their respective communities met at Torrey Oaks RV Resort this past week in hopes to set the foundation for the league and have their first matches played just after the new year. Included in this league are : Highlands Ridge and Tanglewood (Sebring), Solavita (Poinciana), Lake Ashton (Winter Haven), Peace River RV Resort (Wauchula), Torrey Oaks RV Resort (Bowling Green), and possibly the Sun City Center Club.
North Carolina
Rick Laskey reports that "there is now a 6-court indoor pickleball facility in Wilmington, NC. .... "I put the info on the Places to Play page on the USAPA website. Our gym here at the Jacksonville Commons has a new floor. We have been playing outside in the chilly weather, but look forward to going inside again on Dec. 6. There is a possibility of pickleball being offered at the New Bern NC Parks &Rec. Dept. I have a meeting with their center director in mid-December.
Connie and I have been invited as volleyball officials to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens Greece next Summer. We will be sure to take our pickleball stuff with us!!!"
South Carolina
Mike and Loretta Beckner , Aiken, SC - It was just a few months ago that these two were introducing pickleball at the Odell Weeks rec center in Aiken. Now the players are asking for more time to play - and a third day has been added to the schedule. Evening play will resume again in March.
"We are planning to start contacting other places after the first of the year, such as the YMCA and Gregg Park Civic Center. It may be possible to play at different times and these two places are not located that close to Odell Weeks, so we may get some new players. : ...so many players have gotten their own paddles, one even got her own net/standard and I think a couple have joined USAPA"
Rena Grant - Myrtle Beach, SC -"I will be helping at Pepper Geddings with the Choose to Lose program again this year. I also have been busy teaching alot of new people how to play Pickleball. 16 of our players and myself went to Socastee High School for a few days and taught 160 Sophomores the game. I really appreciate the help I get from our players to spread this wonderful game. Their names are: JoAnne Williams, Janie Young, Audrey & Jim Conary, Chris Fontaine, Faye and Pat Mills, Eva Dickmann, Maggie Clark, Dick Brown, Mary McCall, Doris Struthers, David Gould, Tony Marrace, Jolyn Kuhn and George Moustakis."
Rena has also contacted the Athletic Directors in 6 local high schools to introduce them to the game of Pickleball and has offered free instruction. On January 7th, she is booked at the St. Andrews Catholic School to teach pickleball to 5th through 8th grade, approximately 104 children. A USAPA portable net system is now absolutely necessary and is being ordered immediately, since she is finding nets are not always available at the school. Good thing she has all those fellow pickleball players to help her out!
"I am still waiting for "Doc" to approve Pickleball courts at Canal Street Recreation Center." and several of the players are planning a trip to Jacksonville, NC in February to participate in the Senior Pickleball Tournament there.
"I am still waiting for "Doc" to approve Pickleball courts at Canal Street Recreation Center." and several of the players are planning a trip to Jacksonville, NC in February to participate in the Senior Pickleball Tournament there.
A message from your editor:
WISHING EVERYONE
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
AND GREAT PICKLEBALL IN 2011
Before I hit the send button for this newsletter, I want to thank everyone out there for all the great pictures and articles and news on tournaments and events and pickleball stories that you've sent in this past year. With your help we have created a great communication tool for pickleball players in our Region, both with our newsletter and our Atlantic South Website. Our Region has experienced some phenomenal growth in places to play, tournament play, USAPA memberships and so many of you have taken a leadership role in promoting this game in your area and across the country. Let's have even more fun in 2011 !!
KEEP SWINGING
Donna Donald
