ATLANTIC SOUTH PICKLEBALL
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
January 15, 2013
The Atlantic South Region (ASR) E-Newsletter is distributed on the 15th of each month to all ASR Ambassadors. This newsletter is intended to keep all of you apprised of what is happening in your region and to consolidate 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
A Message from your Editor:
It has been an absolute pleasure preparing and sharing this Atlantic South Newsletter for better than three years. I can remember when I first took on the job, how I struggled to find news to share, and today I have a hard time finding the room to include all the great stories that all of you share with me every month. The same is true of our Atlantic South Website, which was built and introduced to our readers by former Ambassador Wayne Roswell, more than three years ago and then passed on to me. Well it’s time again to pass on the reigns, for fresh ideas and probably a new look. I am so pleased that Mitchell Ball our newest ambassador from South Florida has offered to take on this responsibility. Including all of our ambassadors, my personal distribution list for our monthly newsletter has reached nearly 300! So there are a lot of people each month who look forward to news from our region. I have told Mitch how great you all are……..so don’t disappoint me! I’ll be reading this every month! I know I can count on all of you to give him the same great support that you have given me.
Donna Donald, USAPA Atlantic South Regional Director
WELCOME NEW AMBASSADORS
In Florida
Mitchell Ball joins our ambassador family from Hallandale, FL and his designated area is Broward/Dade County.
I just learned Pickleball about 1 month ago when I went to a resort in Orlando, FL and fell in love with the sport. I have been playing Tennis, Racquetball and Ping Pong for over 35 years so adapted to the sport rather quickly. I said to the other players at this resort, ‘does anybody know if there are courts in the South Florida area’ and I heard a resounding ‘No I Don't Think So’. So I have a mission to bring pickleball to South Florida; a mission from USAPA to promote the game in South Florida.
Mitchel has also started a meet-up called South Florida Pickleball which you can find on line at: http://www.meetup.com/SouthFloridaPickleball/
The first meet up was scheduled for Jan 10, 2013.
He has also set up a website for the South Florida players at: http://www.southflpickleball.com/
Don Bass – Please extend a warm Atlantic South welcome to Donald Bass, recently appointed as our ambassador to Wesley Chapel, FL. Don was born in Brooklyn, New York and after living most of his life in Carmel, New York, was transferred to the Tampa Bay area in 1990 by AT&T along with his wife Linda.
He is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University and is now actively engaged in his second career, this time as a Broker Associate selling residential real estate throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Don was introduced to Pickleball by our current Regional Ambassador Donna Donald and her husband Rich (ambassador, Florida Heartland) back in the winter of 2007 and fell in love with the game. He continues to help organize a group in Wesley Chapel that plays in the Meadow Pointe (MP) community.
He has encouraged new players in the surrounding community and taken part in demonstrations at local schools and neighboring communities helping them get their groups started. He plays 3 nights a week with his group in MP and wishes he had the time to play more.
He hopes to take a few of the MP players with him to the upcoming tournament in New Port Richey, FL and then to Temple Terrace, FL to help introduce pickleball at another new pickleball facility in the Tampa Bay area.
In North Carolina…
Rick Ezrol: A warm Atlantic South welcome to Rick Ezrol, representing Asheville, NC. Rick is now retired after working as a systems analyst with a large financial firm.
He’s been playing pickleball for about 3 years in Asheville, Waynesville and Fletcher, NC.
He’s joined the tournament schedule successfully medaling in recent tournaments in both Connestee Falls and High Point, NC.
Rick began playing in Asheville but because of the poor condition of the courts at the Stephens Lee Center, many of the players prefer to travel 20-35 minutes into Waynesville or Fletcher. Asheville is a major metropolitan area and Rich plans to aggressively work to build up pickleball there. He plans to work with the Parks and Recreation department to find a better set of courts for the existing group of players and encourage those who are travelling to return to Asheville to play.
The next step would be to advertise and run some clinics to get new players involved. He’d also like to introduce a ladder league and or tournaments to the area,
“I’d love to see the game I love in the town I live in.”
Amy Watson: And let’s all welcome Amy Watson our recently appointed ambassador for Clayton, NC. I am a stay at home mom after 8 years of teaching elementary school. I have 2 little ones a 3 and a half year old and a soon to be 1 year old. I also have a 9 year old step daughter and a 13 year old step son that keep us very busy.
I grew up playing tennis and went on to play tennis at Mercyhurst College. I was introduced to pickleball in Lakewood, NY and Bemus Point, NY where I spend my summers with my family. I live in Clayton, NC and I am trying to introduce pickleball here.
Amy has talked to several different groups of people about pickleball and has already generated some interest. She already has some paddles and a portable net and plans on chalking lines on the local tennis court to introduce the game and generate more interest. Longer term plans are to talk to local parks and recreation representatives and with her local athletic club as well as some of the volunteers for the NC Senior games to make sure pickleball is on their local schedule. Beyond that perhaps she can encourage the city of Clayton to build pickleball courts for the local players.
Ryan Gordon: Also joining us from North Carolina and representing Cumberland County, is Ryan Gordon. Previously with the Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Department for almost three years, Ryan is now the Senior Center Assistant Supervisor with the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department and currently sits on the Steering Committee for the Mid-Carolina Senior Games.
Pickleball was implemented into the Mid-Carolina Games for 2013 as a non-sanctioned event. This past year, Ryan introduced pickleball to the folks in Hope Mills, NC.
As the ambassador for Cumberland County, Ryan hopes to introduce more pickleball clinics and do presentations at 50+ groups at churches and organizations. His plans include holding pickleball socials and tournaments and promoting pickleball through the local media.
His goal is to get more people involved in the game of pickleball through the Mid-Carolina Senior Games, getting more pickleball competition at the local level in an effort to get the games accepted as a Sanctioned Event on the State level.
RECENTLY IN THE ATLANTIC SOUTH NEWS
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
- Pickleball Clinics – Learn To Play – Every Wednesday in January, Hope Mill,
- SC
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),
- 3rd Annual Senior Pickleball Tournament, February 8-9, 2013, Jacksonville, NC
- Daytona Beach Senior Pickleball Tournament, February 8 -10, 2013, Daytona Beach, FL
- Delray Beach Senior Games, February 14, 2013, Delray Beach, FL
- City of Ft. Myers Skatorium Classic – February 15, 16, 17, 2013, Ft. Myers, FL Skill Level Tournament open to ages 16 and up. (Tier 4)
- Gulf Coast (Manatee County) Senior Games, February 19-20 2013, Bradenton, FL. Deadline to receive applications is February 1, 2013
- Lee County Senior Games, February 22-24, 2013, Ft. Myers, FL
- Doubles Tournament, Marcus Jewish Community Center/Atlanta, Dunwoody, GA, March 3, 2013
- Polk County Senior Games, March 5-6, 2013, Poinciana, FL, REGISTRATION DEADLINE, FEBRUARY 6, 2013
- Capital City Senior Games, March 15-16, 2013, Tallahassee, FL
- Charlotte County Senior Games, March 15-17, 2013, Punta Gorda, FL, USAPA Sanctioned (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.
- Gardens Senior Games, March 24 – Apr 4, 2013, Palm Beach Gardens, FL ( Pickleball dates not yet available)
- Heartland Senior Games, March 29,30, 2013¸Tanglewood, Sebring, FL
- East Naples Skill Level Tournament, April 5-7, 2013, Naples, 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
Do you have a tournament/round robin or social event that should be listed here?
PickleballNow paddles and balls available in a store near you…….
Last month one of our ambassadors reported that paddles were available at the Dick’s Sporting Goods and Sports Authority stores in his area - the Florida Space Coast. Well that’s true! I spoke with a representative of PickleballNow.com and they are supplying several Dick’s stores locations across Florida with some of their paddles. Their entire line of paddles is not available, but for our ambassadors starting new pickleball venues, and for players new to the game – it’s great news! Scott Nelson of Florida’s space coast says that the stores in his area can’t keep up with the demand. That’s also great news. Once they see that the demand is there, we should start seeing more variety and greater availability. So if there is a store near you ……….let them know we need them to support our game. PickleballNow.com is also available on-line.
REPORTING IN FROM ACROSS THE REGION
FLORIDA
Bill and Valerie Wilson, Bradenton, FL, want to remind everyone of the upcoming Gulf Coast Senior Games in Bradenton on February 19th and 20th. This year the tournament has been extended to 2 days. This will be an indoor tournament, double elimination event. All registrations must be received by February 1st…………..so get your registration in the mail and come play with the folks in Bradenton, FL!
Alfred Palumbo, Clearwater, FL: 17 players show up at the Countryside Recreation Center on Friday, December 21st to help us welcome in the holiday season. Everyone enjoyed a fun tournament and shared coffee, tea and great treats. The event was repeated on Friday December 28th, when the Sunrise Pickleball Club welcomed in the New Year. Outside of the great pickleball it’s been reported that the highlight of this event was the home made egg rolls provided by Newton Tran. Well – these were tournaments – so who were the winners? Answer: We had a holiday tournament where we ate and played so we were all winners courtesy of Santa Clause. We are the early bird players and play every Tuesday and Friday mornings from 8am [yes 8am] till 11:30am....and if anyone still has any energy left we can play beyond that time. Future plans for our center is to have a number of outdoor courts so players can practice the outdoor play skills required to play in most State and Nationals games, run tournaments and develop a training program so players can improve their skills. Contact information is available on the USAPA places to play Florida page.Cathy Stansbury, Daytona Beach, FL: Pelican Bay Community club in Daytona Beach, Florida, had a great turnout for their New Year’s Day pickleball round robin. The round robin began at 11:00, but not early enough for those addicted. Many of the players showed up at 10 because they just couldn’t wait. I guess they were the ones who didn’t make it to midnight to bring in the New Year. It was suggested we just play pickleball under the lights next New Year’s Eve. Hal and Jackie Burroughs brought their 2 grandchildren, Jacob (10) and Haley (14). It is amazing how youth has an advantage in the game. They were two of the four players who continued play way past the time others quit. The Capital One bowl was on in the club house, several contributed to a football pool, everyone brought great snacks, and non-pickleball players played Mexican train and other board games. Fun was had by all.
Dick Freshley, Palm Beach, FL: Went to Palm Beach Gardens (PBG) Friday and there were 25 players; half new and, surprisingly, half women. Women now outnumber men there. They have ordered two new nets and will also play on Wednesday mornings from now on. The new nets are for the other gym. They will have four courts, 2 in each gym, when the nets arrive. I guess overcrowding is a good problem to have. Anyone would be comfortable playing at PBG. We even had a bunch of, non-playing, spectators watching. I don't think they will be content with just watching for long. Needless to say, the staff at PBG is thrilled with all the interest. They are charging $5 per session, $2 for residents. They check you in at the door where you sign in, pay, and get a colored wrist band. Information has been updated on the places to play page.
NORTH CAROLINA
Activity Director, Lisa Venancio, recently ordered equipment for two new indoor courts and stated that enthusiasm is strong for the new sport. North Mecklenburg encompasses the cities and towns North of Charlotte NC. Dan and Bob have been busy promoting Pickleball and now have (5) venues within driving distance of their residences. Area venues include Bailey’s Glen, Mooresville, Cornelius PARCS, Charlotte and now the new Lake Norman Davidson YMCA. Venue information and details can be found on the USAPA web site.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Jean Borden, Lake Keowee, SC: Well, I have headed down south for the winter. Dan and Diana McGonagle will continue the Pickleball at The Reserve at Lake Keowee in SC. Meanwhile, I will be at Lake Ashton, FL to join the pickleball people there, under the great leadership of Larry Judd. We will be getting Pickleball Courts at Lake Ashton in the future. What exciting news! The people have worked long and hard and with unbelievable enthusiasm to make that happen. Congratulations... Pickleball people of Lake Ashton!!
