Deadline Extended for Good Life Games

To all pickleball players - you still have time to register for the 2012 Good Life Games in Seminole, Fl

Pickleball is scheduled for March 19, 20, and April 11

Go to our web site at  http://www.goodlifegames.org/  to download an entry form.

We hope to see you there.

Thanks
Good Life Games Committee

Pickleball Joins the Gulf Coast Games

The 23rd Annual Gulf Coast Senior Games were played this year in Manatee and Sarasota counties in Florida.  But this was the very FIRST year that athletes were able to compete in the game of pickleball.  Thanks    The Pickleball event was held  in Bradenton, FL on Tuesday February 21st. 
The Wilsons of Anna Maria Island competed in this event, and shared a few pictures taken that day.

 Three courts were set up for a single elimination event with one game played to 21 points and included singles, doubles and mixed doubles competition.

Pick up a pickleball paddle at St. Pete Beach Community Center
Tampa Bay Times, http://www.tampabay.com/  January 17,2012

"Anybody that walks in and has a pair of tennis shoes on could pick the game up and start playing. You don't have to be John McEnroe to play it. You can be Jim Wikoff," he said with a laugh.

Pickleball can be played inside or outdoors on a court with similar dimensions to a badminton doubles court. It is played with two or four players and generally lasts 10 to 15 minutes per game.

READ MORE

HAVING A BALL WITH PICKLEBALL: Snowbirds bring a new game to Destin

Destin, Florida, theDESTINlog.com - 2/23/12

Pickleball is the game that has caught the eye of more than a couple of dozen snowbirds that gather each Wednesday and Friday at the Destin Community Center for a friendly game.

“It’s just taken off,” said Phil Holdsworth of Ontario, who is coordinator for the game.


FULL COURT: The Destin Community Center has three courts open for Pickleball play and all were busy.

Holdsworth commended the crew at the Destin Community Center for providing the courts, nets and paddles and setting up the game.

“They have been absolutely wonderful,” he said. When he asked about setting up the game, “there were no questions … they just got to it with no hesitation.”

Pickleball is played at 10:30 a.m. until noon on Wednesday and Friday at the community center. For more information, call 654-5184.

CLICK HERE for full article and more photos.

Twenty Three Players sign up for Pickleball Skills/Techniques Clinic

 On Saturday, February 18th, twenty-three pickleball players at the Peace River RV Preserve in Wauchula, Fl came out to learn how to improve their game.  New Tampa ambassador Rich Donald provided skills/techniques clinic providing training on improving court position, proper grip and serve, dink shots, punch volleys at the net, ground strokes, lobs  and the all important third shot! 

Below the players get to participate............. 

Lots of group participation, lots of practice and lots of questions make for a great pickleball clinic!  Below is a group photo.  Ambassador Rich Donald on the far right.

Many of these players are preparing for the Sarasota Expo, where they will be competing against fellow ELS Parks, Bay Indies in Venice and Harbor Lakes in Punta Gorda on March 6th!   Good Luck!!!

Collier County(Naples) Tournament

The Collier County Senior Games are usually played this time of year in Naples, Florida.  But this year, due to budget restraints, the games were cancelled.  Thanks to Nancy Meyer and Cindy Eddleman, our ambassadors from Southwest Florida - they turned the cancellation of the games into a USAPA Sanctioned Tier 4 Tournament open to players 16 years of age and older!      The games were played from February 10-12, 2019 at the East Naples Community Park where more than 12 court were set up to accommodate nearly 130 players. 

It seems that Mother Nature likes to test our Florida players - bringing rain,  cold weather and winds gusting to 20+ miles/hour.  But despite the weather, we all played on.  

The Singles competition took place on Friday evening, followed by the  men's and ladies doubles on Saturday and the mixed doubles on Sunday.  Below are a few pictures from the doubles competition.

This was a double elimination event, best two out of three games played to 11 points/win by two.   The competition was superb, and the winds and cold weather  emphasized the need to be able to battle the weather as well as your opponent.  Below are some of the winners from the Mixed Doubles competition on Sunday.

This was the first time that we have held a USAPA Sanctioned event in Southwest Florida.  We could have used a few more referees - but despite that we had some excellent competition and three days of great pickleball fun!!

CLICK HERE for more PHOTOS

CLICK HERE for Tournament Winners

2nd Annual Seniors Pickleball Tournament, Jacksonville, NC

This Doubles Tournament was held at the Jacksonville Recreation Complex, 100 Recreation Lane, Jacksonville, NC on January 10 and 11, 2012.   The tournament was sponsored by the Jacksonville Recreation and Parks, Department, Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission.

Four of the Jacksonville, NC Players

 The tournament was open to seniors (50 or over by December 31, 2012). Player competed in one single age category in Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. Age groups were categorized by ages 50+, ages 60+, and ages 70+.The format was a  double elimination on both days. A match consisted of one game to 15 points (switch courts at 8 points) for all matches leading up to the “medal” matches. All “medal” matches were 2 out of 3 games to 11 (switch at 6 points if a 3rd game is necessary).

High Point, NC Players


A total of 97 players registered from the games. The States represented were Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Sun City, South Carolina Players

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

 

MEN’S DOUBLES 50+

1st PLACE: Thomas Anderson (Indian Land, SC) / Robert Meng (Fort Mill, SC)

2ND PLACE: David Allen / Kevin Chandler (Wilmington, NC)

3RD PLACE: Bill Robertson / Calvin Vaughn (High Point, NC)

MEN’S DOUBLES 60+

1st PLACE: Rick Laskey (Jacksonville, NC) / Jonathan Lind (Manassas, VA)

2ND PLACE: Fiore Bergamasco (N. Myrtle Beach, SC) / Frank Kolbe (Little River, SC)

3RD PLACE: Tom Henry (Taneytown, MD) / Hugh Zartman (Finksburg, MD)

MEN’S DOUBLES 70+

1st PLACE: Neil Hopkinson / Tom Schaller (Myrtle Beach, SC)

WOMEN’S DOUBLES 50+

1st PLACE: Debby Rea (N. Myrtle Beach, SC) / Tricia Snyder (Myrtle Beach, SC)

2ND PLACE: Brenda Dail (Morehead City, NC) / Mary Powell (Hubert, NC)

3RD PLACE: Helen Boston (High Point, NC) / Laura Patterson (Walkertown, NC)

WOMEN’S DOUBLES 60+

1st PLACE: Carolyn Law (Earlysville, VA) / Karen Pearson (McLean, VA)

2ND PLACE: Ann Henry (Taneytown, MD) / Ruth Lampert (New Windsor, MD)

3RD PLACE: Eva Diekmann / Faye Mills (Myrtle Beach, SC)

WOMEN’S DOUBLES 70+

1st PLACE: Pat Clark (Sandston, VA) / Mary-Tom Gardner (Topsail Island, NC)

2ND PLACE: Kashiwa Funk / Sue Ramsey (Jacksonville, NC)

3RD PLACE: Connie Chambers / Vicki Rickard (High Point, NC)

MIXED DOUBLES 50+

1st PLACE: Debby Rea / Dan Sturzenbecker (N. Myrtle Beach, SC)

2ND PLACE: Laura Patterson (Walkertown, NC) / Kevin Chandler (Wilmington, NC)

3RD PLACE: Pam Kolbe / Frank Kolbe (Little River, SC)

MIXED DOUBLES 60+

1st PLACE: Karen Pearson (McLean, VA) / Jonathan Lind (Manassas, VA)

2ND PLACE: Ann Henry / Tom Henry (Taneytown, MD)

3RD PLACE: Carolyn Law (Earlysville, VA) / Rick Laskey (Jacksonville, NC)

MIXED DOUBLES 70+

1st PLACE: Mary-Tom Gardner (Topsail Island, NC) / Jim Legg (Mechanicsville, VA)

2ND PLACE: Pat Clark / Jim Clark (Sandston, VA)

3RD PLACE: Bernice May (Indian Land, SC) / Gary Hart (Fort Mill, SC)

 

Watch for more photos from this event in our NC Photo Gallery.

Pickleball Tournament - Seminole Recreation Center

Submitted by:
Kristyn Sabbag
Recreation Leader II
City of Seminole


Just wanted to give you the winners from our tournament we had this past Thursday, February 9, 2012.

 There was a great amount of outstanding play, long and hard rallies and a tired, but happy Pickleball group at the end of a very long day.We opened it up to other facilities, so we had some participation from Clearwater, St. Pete Beach and some visiting folk’s from Rhode Island in addition to our regular players!

Gold Medals winners pictured below: 

Women's Doubles----Mitsuko Onishi and Cheryl Kinnebrew

Men's Doubles ---------Jerry Triplett and Mike Roth

Mixed Doubles ------Mitsuko Onishi and Jerry Triplett

Silver MedalWinners Pictured Below: 

Women’s Doubles --- Donna Scott and Roberta Cecchi

Men’s Double---- Jeff McQuinn and Rick Whissel

Mixed Doubles---- Cheryl Kinnebrew and Keith Reynolds

Congratulations to all the winners!