HIGHLAND LAKES PICKLEBALL

It was back in 1993 that George Hastings introduced the sport of Pickleball to the Highland Lakes Community. Joe and Marie Falcon and Kathy Hart were three of the original players who responded to a small newsletter article that George posted asking people to come out and see what the game was all about. Today it is one of the most popular sports in the community.

Determined to improve their playing conditions, players solicited help from the commnity tennis players and met with the Highland Lakes Board of Directors. They increased the number of courts to four, kept the courts full with eight to ten people waiting, secured better equipment and today play in this beautiful "Arena".

During their inital growth period, George Hastings moved back up north, so to keep the game going, the group implemented the practice of electing a "Chair Person". Joe and Marie Falcon were the first to take that lead role. The practice has continued and today Manny and Marie Cardoza hold that position.

Marie tells us "We are the spokesperson(s) for the group and responsible for the events during the year. We represent the group to the Homeowners Association. We are in charge of buying equipment. We play indoors, so we are responsible to see that the equipment in the arena is set up & taken down at the appropriate time allotted to us. Highland Lakes Pickleball is a Community Activity Club and there are no dues. We get some of our money by hosting Saturday breakfast once during the year. This money is used for our social events.

Every year we get money from the community to fund our sport; this money must be used for equipment only. We write up a report as to how much money we will need for this particular year and it goes to the board for approval".

The highlight of the year is the Annual Senior Olympics, open only to Highland Lakes players. Random draw determines your partner in this double elimination event. This years top performers are: (Photo's of first place winners).

Ladies Doubles: Gold: Sue Mc Ginnis and Belena Zeis, Silver: Connie O'Leary and Dena Randall, Bronz: Brenda Neafsey and Marie Cardoza.

Mens Doubles: Gold: Don Gullakson and Marvin McGinnis, Silver: Cal Blenis and Walter Tajmajer, Bronze:Harry Yorgensen and Joel Zimmerman.

Mixed Doubles: Gold: Marvin McGinnis and Anita Pasiak, Silver: Don Gullakson and Sue McGinnis, Bronze: Ed Buonopane and Connie O'Leary.

What a Great Idea!!!! Beginner Olympics was successfully introduced two years ago. Winners of the "Beginner Olympics" are: Gold" Kathy Garza and Donna Leach, Silver: Ann Parker and George Brown, Bronze:Dyan Zimmerman and Richard Ekstrand. Marie tell us, "This has worked out very well and it gives the beginners recognition for their hard work ".

And Another Great Idea!! There are approximately fifty active players right now. Like many Florida communities, 'snowbirds' who head back north for the summer, account for a large majority of community players. Joe Fuller, a player from nearby Pennbrooke Fairways Community in Leesburg, Fl, suggested the idea of Inter-Community play. The Cardoza's represented Highland Lakes at a meeting arranged with Pennbrooke Fairways, Hawthorne and Legacy, all communities in or around the Leesburg, Fl area, and a summer schedule was put in place where Inter-Community Play would be rotated among the communities.

" It is working out very well. Last Monday night June 8th we hosted ' Inter-Community play and had 12 players from Legacy, 4 players from Hawthorne, 8 players from Highland Lakes, a total of 24 players for that evening."

Hawthorne’s Inter-Community play is at 6:00 PM on Wednesday evening.

Pennbrookes Inter-Community play is on Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM.

Highland Lakes Inter-Community play is on Monday evenings at 6:30 PM. This will run throughout the summer months and right now it is strictly for fun. "

Speaking of fun.........

Highland Lakes players also enjoy their Pickleball Social

Events. The annual Picnic/Barbeque immediately follows the Senior Olympics and the Pot Luck Supper takes place each November. It is at the annual barbeque that anyone interested in running for the "Chair" position enters their name for election.

"We encourage anyone who is interested in playing including children and guests to the community to let us know and we will set aside one of the courts to teach them. Don Gullakson is our best teacher and enjoys giving instructions to the new players. All of our players help with teaching also and when a new player starts playing with our regular players, they will go slow with them so they do not get discouraged. Our first and major rule is that this is for fun and we all enjoy playing no matter who we play with and whether we win or lose" .

Pickleball is played every Monday evening and every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. You can read more about Highland Lakes and Inter-Community Play by visiting the Highland Lakes website at http://www.hl-pickleball.blogspot.com/

A link has been added in our Photo Gallery or you can click here to see more pictures of this beautiful arena and Highland Lakes Pickleball