ATLANTIC SOUTH PICKLEBALL
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
December 15, 2012
2013 ATLANTIC SOUTH REGIONAL TOURNAMENT UPDATE:
Hi Pickleball Players!
Just a reminder, registration for the first Atlantic South Regional Pickleball Tournament closes Saturday, January 12th, 2013 for mail in entries and Monday, January 14th, 2013 for on-line registration. We have included below, for your convenience, the Tournament Flyer which will have all the detailed information available for now and the Registration Forms.
We are happy to announce that the Quality Inn and Suites Golf Resort will be the Host Hotel for this year’s Regional Tournament. The hotel has Standard Rooms / Two Queen Beds, Junior Suites King Bed/ with Sleeper Sofa/Kitchen, and Deluxe Suites/Full Bedroom with Kitchen and Living Room/ Sleeper Sofa/ Two Bathrooms. They have a full Continental Breakfast/ Restaurant, Heated Swimming Pool, Outside Tiki Bar, Golf Course that you can play at a discounted price, and Two Tennis Courts which will be lined off for Pickleball Warm-up and Play.
The Dinner/Social will also be held there which will begin at 6:30pm. Come early, Happy Hour runs from 3:00-7:00pm. We will have a full Cash Bar set up with Bartender during the dinner. All are encouraged to come and enjoy, make sure to mark your form, only $6 per person if you are not a USAPA member.
Any hotels you choose from those listed on the link or listed on the info page have agreed to extend days before and after the tournament at the discounted prices. So come and spend a week in Naples, Florida during prime time at discounted prices. Enjoy the beach, activities, shopping, restaurants, and places to go and see! The average winter temperature in February is high 70's with lows in the 60's. Hope you come and join us!
Your Atlantic South Regional Tournament Team
WELCOME NEW AMBASSADORS
From Georgia:
From North Carolina
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About 18 months ago we moved with our wives to Bailey’s Glen. This new 55+ active adult community is in Cornelius, NC, about 20 minutes north of Charlotte. I was introduced to pickleball in Michigan after playing handball for about 40 years.
Bob was the coach of a championship girls’ softball team and started playing pickleball shortly after moving to NC. We have worked together to foster the growth of pickleball both in our community and in the local area. We conduct group clinics and offer individual instruction.
Bob worked with city officials to start a program offering pickleball for seniors in a school gym. Our first session had over 24 participants anxious to learn about our great sport! The growth we have seen in this area has been rewarding, and we are only at the beginning stage. We plan to offer many of the same promotional activities as we work to introduce pickleball into different venues and add additional courts.
RECENTLY IN THE ATLANTIC SOUTH NEWS
2012 Florida International Senior Games and State Championships: Many were out to qualify for the 2013 National Senior Games – and many were just out for some good competition and to have fun. The pickleball event was played on December 1st 2nd, and 3rd at the Kelly Recreation Center in Lakeland, Fl. One of the last qualifiers for the year attracted players from not just Florida, but Michigan, New Hampshire, PA, Canada, Ohio, Virginia and Juneau Alaska. Congratulations to all our winners. CLICK HERE for results.
Saturday featured the Charlie Brown and Lucy Divisions, with Floyd Moody and Pat Denman taking home the first place prizes. On Sunday Don Lucas prevailed in the Snoopy Division and John Pile in the Linus Division.
Checks for over $1,500 were presented to Ottis Moore of the Cherokee County Humane Society, and a check for $250 was presented to Commander Santiago Santana for the Teasley Middle School Jr. ROTC. Atlantic South Mascots Bocce and Clyde (standard poodles) were on site and assisted Ann with the awards presentations.
Despite a cool start, the day was clear and spectacular! All the great pictures from the tournament have been added to the GA Pickleball Photo Gallery. CLICK HERE to view.
Besides the participants, we had many spectators and everyone made new friends and had fun. The Riverbend volunteers turned out in force and worked very hard to make the tournament a huge success. This year, the tournament was sanctioned, and we had referees at each match. Many thanks to all the folks who volunteered to referee matches and a big thank you to the Tanglewood referees who used this tournament as a warm-up for their sanctioned tournament in January.
Jodie Pree, Ambassador, Marco Island, FL (with her partner took home the Silver Medal in the ladies 4.0) sent along the following comments: My first tournament experience was one I will never forget. The competition was fantastic, and the organizers did a great job trying to keep everything flowing (even with the rain delays). I'm looking forward to many more tournaments in the future! It was an incredible experience to see & play against some truly talented players...but what I loved most was the camaraderie!
In spite of the rain on Saturday, it sounds like everyone had fun, made friends and definitely played some great Pickleball!!! Photos- CLICK HERE, Results - CLICK HERE
Pickleball Courts Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting in Salem, SC: Ambassador Dick Stone is proud to be part of this great success story. It has taken 2 ½ years, but on Wed. Nov. 7th, the Keowee Key Pickleball Club
was host to a Community Open House and Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. According to Richard Webster, (Keowee Key’s Pickleball webmaster!), the Open House was a great success. The weather was perfect, the turnout was excellent, the play was fun and the food was delicious!
UPCOMMING TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS
Additional information and all links to registration forms are available in the Upcoming Tournaments/Clinics/Events section on our Atlantic South Website: www.south.usapa.org
- The Villages Toys for Tots Tournament – December 17-21, 2012, (TV residents only), The Villages, Fl.
- 2012 Tanglewood Winter Classic, January 5-6, 2013, Sebring, FL – Skill Level tournament (Tier 4)
- Warm Up to the Geezer Meister Tournament, January 12-13, 2013, New Port Richey, FL
- Pickleball Kick-Off Clinic and Open Play, January 14, 2013, Temple Terrace, FL
- Geezer Meister Pickleball Tournament, January 17-19, 2013, Summerfield, FL (Tier 3)
- Atlantic South Regional Pickleball Tournament, February 1-3, 2013, Naples. FL (Tier 4), Registration Deadline – Postmark 1/12/2013, On-Line – January 14, 2012
- 3rd Annual Senior Pickleball Tournament, February 8-9, 2013, Jacksonville, NC
- Daytona Beach Senior Pickleball Tournament, February 8 -10, 2013, Daytona Beach, FL
- Gulf Coast (Manatee County) Senior Games, February 19, 2013, Bradenton, FL
- Lee County Senior Games, February 22-24, 2013, Ft. Myers, FL
- City of Ft. Myers Skatorium Classic – March 1-3, 2013, Ft. Myers, FL Skill Level Tournament open to ages 16 and up. (Tier 4)
- Polk County Senior Games, March 5-6, 2013, Poinciana, FL, REGISTRATION DEADLINE, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
- Heartland Senior Games, March 8-9, 2013¸Tanglewood, Sebring, FL
- Charlotte County Senior Games, March 15-17, 2013, Punta Gorda, FL, (Tier 4)
- 2012 Fit For Life/Pinellas Senior Games, March 19-20, 2013, Seminole, FL (Singles – Clearwater – April 6th)
- 3rd Annual Riverbend Resort Classic, March 23-24, 2013, Labelle, FL – Skill Level Tournament open to ages 16 and up.
- East Naples Skill Level Tournament, April 5-7, 2013, Naples, FL 2013
- US Open Senior Doubles Championship at the Villages, April 18-21, 2013, The Villages, FL • Pura Vida Pickleball Adventure, May 2-9, 2013, Westin Playa Concha, Costa Rica. (Registration is Full – Closed)
- Mid-South Regional Tournament, May 30 – June 2, 2013. Mandeville, La
- National Senior Games Association (NSGA) Pickleball Tournament, July 21 – August 5, 2013, Cleveland, OH
- 1st Annual Myrtle Beach Invitational Tournament, November 16-17, 2013, Myrtle Beach, SC
REPORTING IN FROM ACROSS THE REGION
FLORIDA
Dennis Sarlo, The Villages, FL: Planning is moving forward for a seniors doubles pickleball tournament scheduled for April 18 19 20 and 21, 2013 at The Villages, Florida. The event will be open to all seniors, 50 and up. The tournament will take place on April 18 and 19 and the last two days, April 20 and 21 will feature an exhibition and clinics by guest elite national players. The "elite national" players are: Timothy Nelson, Dan Gabenek, Billy Jacobson, Don Paschal, Mark Friedenberg, Mona Burnett, Deb Harrison, and Lydia Fenster-Willis. The event is listed on our USAPA and Atlantic South websites. Save the dates as we are planning registration by January 14, 2013. More information will be forthcoming.
The club is working on scheduling times for open play - so we should see this listed on our places to play page pretty soon. Larry also has a large supply of paddles and balls available for sale to interested players.
Next is to take his portable nets on the road to surrounding communities in New Tampa, (Tampa Palms), Heritage Springs (Trinity) and to Tampa's MP Tennis and try to introduce a Tampa Bay Pickleball league. All pictures of the Cheval Start Up Clinic have been posted to the Land O Lakes/Lutz section in the Florida Photo Gallery.
Nancy Meyer,Cindy Eddleman – Ft,Myers. Fl: Just a quick reminder that the Tanglewood Winter Classic Skills Tournament entry deadline is fast approaching. Forms are due this week. If you don't have a registration form, you may go to our website: www.pickleballspecialties.com and download it from there.
Due to the schedule of the shirt shop, we need your registration ASAP in order to get all the shirts ordered. Tanglewood, located in Sebring, FL, has a section of their park called the Outback, which is for RV camping. The rate is $38 per night if you tell them you are with the tournament. The number to call to make reservations is: 863-402-1500 and ask for Heather or Debbie. There is also a Holiday Inn Express across the street from Tanglewood.
We are looking forward to the tournament and look forward to seeing you there. We hope everyone has a safe and Happy Holiday season!
Ken and Lynn Corbett, Leesburg, FL: There is now a public park in Leesburg, FL, that offers pickleball. PEAR Park is located about 4 miles north on Highway 27 from the Florida Turnpike Highway 27 North exit. The entrance to the park is directly across the highway from the entrance to the Legacy community.
Scott Andrews, Temple Terrace, FL: Pickleball is coming to Temple Terrace starting January 14, 2013! The Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation Department is proud to roll out Pickleball starting January 14th. The games will be played indoors in the gymnasium on a badminton-size court. The games will take place between 9am and 12pm on Monday and Wednesday in an open play fashion. We will have a group on hand to lead an orientation in the art of Pickleball play for all newcomers on January 14. The games will take place at our Family Recreation Complex at 6610 Whiteway Dr. Temple Terrace, FL 33617. The fee is free to all members. Non-members can pay a $10 guest pass, or pay $25 for the month. For more information, contact Scott Andrews at 813-506-6600, or sandrews@templeterrace.com.
Scott Nelson, Florida’s Space Coast: Pickleball growth continues in Brevard. As we move into our most popular season for play, the word on the street is not what is pickleball anymore but where can I play.
Some notable milestones are:
- Dick’s Sporting Goods and Sports Authority and now carrying Pickleball paddles and balls. Unfortunately they cannot keep enough stock meet the demand.
- The South Melbourne Beach Recreation Center has now replaced the Volleyball & Basketball programs with Pickleball. Pickleball is now played 5 days a week during the days and twice in the evenings.
- Satellite Beach Recreation Center has started a new prime time play slot in the evening and may be starting another.
- There are now 152 Pickleball players (that we know of) that plays in the Space Coast.
Cathy Stansbury, Daytona Beach, FL – Thanks Cathy, for sending along this adorable photo! Looks like Loki is ready to take to the courts and maybe shag some balls? Ron Robillard is a Daytona Beach pickler. Seems that his dog, Loki,who goes everywhere with Ron, loves the game as much as he does. Loki – you get my vote for Volusia County’s Pickleball Mascot!
Anita Rimler – Daytona Beach Shores, FL: Anita, and all the players from Daytona Beach Shores, want to send their congratulations to their USAPA National Tournament winners. This is the first time that Daytona Beach Shores was represented in Buckeye AZ at the National Tournament. We are so proud of our Florida State Champion in men’s singles, Mike Pascale!! Also to Connie Fenchel who took 4th place in women’s singles. Big time reward for our little Shores area !
GEORGIA
The North Georgia Pickleball Club, Canton, GA extends their congratulations to Pat Dunn who partnered up with Florida’s Diane Reynolds of Sebring, FL at the USAPA National Tournament in Buckeye, AZ. Diane (left) and Pat (yellow shirts) pictured with their Bronze Medal. And special thanks to Floyd Moody for the brand new North Georgia Pickleball Club banner! What a great job!
And to Tom and Ann Early – who generously provide great fun pickleball events at their courts in North Georgia, local artist, Katie Brown, presented Ann with a painting of a heritage turkey (like the ones she and Tom used to raise) as a "thank you" for their work on the recent Great Pumpkin Tournament.
From Katie “Thank You Tom and Ann for being such gracious hosts! We are so lucky and blessed to be a part of such a fun, friendly group of awesome players!”
NORTH CAROLINA
Rick Laskey, Jacksonville, NC: Rick wants to remind everyone that the informational flyer and registration forms are now available for the Jacksonville Doubles Tournament on February 8th and 9th. Deadline for registration is January 18th. CLICK HERE for registration.
Earl Cunningham, Gastonia, NC: On Dec. 4th we visited Rock Hill SC and demonstrated the great game of pickleball at the Boyd Hill Recreation Center. Two Recreation Center Managers were present. A local Tennis Club had two representatives there and I am told they plan to add two pickleball courts at their facility. The city purchased balls and paddles and furnished a volley ball net lowered for pickleball height. My friends Dennis and Trudy Collins furnished a portable net they borrowed for the event and Anita McBride, from our Gastonia NC group did a great job of instructing.
Thirty seven (37) people attended the pickleball demonstration. Everyone seemed to enjoy the sport and I am expecting great things from Rock Hill. We are already talking about the possibility of their team playing our team in the not too distant future.
We spent three hours giving everyone an opportunity to play a game of pickleball.
Special thanks to Dennis and Trudy whose great efforts made this pickleball day In Rock Hill, SC a reality. And special thanks to Wendy Waddle with the city of Rock Hill, SC for sending along photos. We hope to see this facility listed on USAPA’s places to play page real soon. Click here for all pictures posted to the NC Photo Gallery.
Mike Walsh, Cary, NC : The excitement and support for Pickleball continues to grow here in Cary, and the neighboring area. Last Spring my wife Lyn and I helped inaugurate Pickleball at the Pinehurst Tennis Club with strong support from their Pro Matt Downing. That program has really flourished and our Cary group invited them to visit us for an inter-club round robin and luncheon event on November 14th. What was the most surprising was to see the level of play that they have achieved in such a short time. Rudy VanZanten and Larry Cox have played key roles in bringing that program along and it is our understanding that they have new courts almost ready for play.
Then on November 19th, at the invitation of Kurt Bienias, Education and Sport Studies Instructor (and Head Women's Soccer Coach) at Barton College in Wilson N C , Lyn and I assisted Kurt by putting on a clinic for 12 of his students. Kurt had introduced the game to those physical education students (all of whom are NCAA DII student athletes) but was in need of support in expanding their knowledge of the game. It was a very dynamic hour and a half and the students caught on very quickly, and moved far more easily than the senior groups we most often deal with. We're looking forward to being invited again next semester.
Then on the 27th Lyn and I ventured to Hope Mills NC, for yet another clinic at their start-up program. Ryan Gordon, Hope Mills Sunshine Senior Center Assistant Supervisor had done an excellent job at promoting the clinic. He had arranged for a detailed article in the Fayetteville Observer which was published in both their main and regional issues. (Photo from fayobserver.com) The result was that over 30 interested folks showed up (one whose last name was Pickle....true) and all were given a chance to play and learn. More growth can be expected from that area for certain.
Additionally, I was very happy to respond to several folks who had traveled to the Cary area to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving ( from Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Winnipeg Canada) and who wanted to know where they could play Pickleball. Like most of us they are addicted. Finally, I am happy to report that we are getting new USAPA members and expect another Ambassador in this area soon.
Laura Patterson, Winston-Salem, NC The pickleball players in Kernersville got an early Christmas present from the City’s Parks and Recreation Department! The tennis courts at the 4th of July Park were resurfaced earlier this year and lines painted on one of the courts for 4 Pickleball courts. But there was not enough space allowed between the tennis net and the service line for the courts and this caused a safety hazard. Well, those lines were taken up and we were told that we would have new lines painted on the courts within a few weeks. The weeks extended to a few months but they finally got it done and we are very grateful (even though we only have two courts instead of four)!
With the weather getting cold, we already moved pickleball into the Kernersville YMCA but had a couple of days of unseasonably warm weather last week so we ventured to the outdoor courts at 4th of July Park. Wed found a guy painting lines on the courts (we would normally have to mark the courts with chalk or tape so this was a pleasant surprise to us). We still use the Kernersville YMCA but whenever the temps are 50 degrees or higher you will probably find some of us on the outdoor courts!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our pickleball friends and family.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Mike and Loretta Beckner Mike and I went to the SC State Parks & Recreation meeting on December 5th in Cayce, SC, which is just outside of Lexington. There were around 40 staff members from around the state representing their Parks & Recreation programs. Some of those present already have programs up and running (Myrtle Beach was one of them), but others showed good interest in the sport.
We used a power point presentation and spoke about the history of the sport, how to start a program at their facilities, and talked about the benefits their community centers would realize. We gave them the USAPA website address and suggested they check it out for further information. We encouraged them to join USAPA, as well, if they do start a pickleball program. We also showed a video which demonstrated pickleball being played.
We provided them with a list of places to play in SC, along with all the Ambassadors' contact information and suggested they contact an Ambassador nearby if/when they start a program. Afterwards, we spent quite a bit of time with the Director at the Tennis and Fitness Center where this meeting was held. She was very interested in starting a program there. Hopefully, we sparked a desire in some of the people attending this statewide meeting to start a pickleball program in their community recreation centers!
A few days later…..our first pickleball social was a great success! We had 20 players competing in a round robin format. After playing six rounds of matches, we had a playoff among those players who won the most matches. Stacey Dezelon, Dick Keeler and Jules Lockwood took home the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (respectively) trophies (large, medium and small jars of Mt. Olive Pickles!)
We followed our pickleball with a social, enjoying food/drinks contributed by all of the players. It was a fun afternoon of good pickleball and socializing and we all agreed that we will definitely do this again! I’m sending along a few photos to give you an idea of what the afternoon was like.
If you have ANY story, news or information from your area that you would like to share with our readers in our monthly newsletter or on our Website, please send it to Donna Donald at rddonald2@gmail.com
