The Villages - April 2021 - 2

CHECKING IN

BY RICA KEENUM

A Season for Growth and Renewal
Spring has not so much sprung as creeped up slowly, offering
breezy mornings and sunny afternoons. But whatever the weather,
pickleball players show up at courts around the community. Some
say it's the fastest-growing sport you never heard of. And that may
be true outside of The Villages. But for longtime residents, the pop of
pickleballs against paddles is unmistakable.
Fast-paced but not overly challenging, the game is a favorite among
singles, couples and residents from all walks of life. Patrick Lee and his
wife, Tanya, are new residents in the process of buying a Village of Pine
Ridge home. A natural athlete, Patrick looked forward to playing sports
with new friends in the area. But pickleball? He'd never tried it. Now
that he's picked up his paddle, however, he has no plans to put it down.
" I'm addicted to pickleball, " he said.
Pickleball has had a 650% increase in participation over the last six
years, according to USA Pickleball Association (USAPA). And while it
may look a lot like tennis, it's not nearly as difficult to play.
" The beauty of this sport, the reason it's grown so much, is that
it's unlike any other racquet sport, " said Village of Sunset Ridge
resident, Steve Richter. " In tennis, there's a learning curve, a lot of
hours involved. But pickleball is different. You can go to a court and
make a rally and control the ball - anyone can, within 10 minutes.
You get exercise and enjoyment almost immediately. "
Richter is chairperson of The Pickleball Community Volunteer
group (PCVG), a club that meets monthly to support all Villages
Recreation Department-approved pickleball activities. With around
100 volunteers who teach classes, do administrative tasks, run
tournaments and keep schedules or work as referees, these men and
women ensure thousands of residents learn and enjoy this muchloved game in The Villages.
Read the story in this issue, and learn about other incredible clubs,
including The Poetry Discussion Workshop club. These wordsmiths
love the repetition and flow, the rhythm of a poem come to life -
whether silly, soulful, prolific or merely amusing. Their poetry is an
art, and they inspire one another to create new works. Marc Rissman
came to the club when he moved to The Villages nine years ago.
" When I joined, there were maybe 25 people and now there are
about 60 (on the roster), " he said. Members are free to play with style
and structure - whether perfect rhyme, free verse, sonnet or haiku.
Rissman notes that trying new things, stepping out of your comfort
zone, is always worth the effort.
Whether with pen and paper or ball and paddle, we wish you a
month of good times as you step out and try something new. After all,
spring is the season for growth and renewal. Enjoy!
2

APRIL 2021
The Villages - April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - April 2021
