Pickle Ball

[kittylecroix]

Can anyone tell me how many Pickle ball courts there are in TV? I want to tell my brother who lives in Surprise, AZ where the sport is very big.

[JAV0108]

I googled pickleball in The Villages and saw one thread that said over 100 courts but couldn't find anything else.

[villages07]

I think Sterling Heights brought it up to 106 ... anyway, just over 100 is a good roundabout figure.

[kittylecroix]

Thanks for the info!

[foxmeadow]

Can anyone tell me how many pickel ball courts there are in TV? I want to tell my brother who lives in Surprise, AZ where the sport is very big.

Kittylecroix...Here are some facts you might spout to your brother: National Pickleball has long been held in the Arizona/Washington areas, where they formed a national organization to establish standard rules for all to play by (USAPA). After the USAPA was formed, an effort went out across the country to enroll membership. Until The Villages jumped on the bandwagon, Arizona had the greatest membership. Once the word got out around here, The Villages easily became the largest membership and still is. Once you add the rest of the state of Florida, no one state should ever match us.
Next, in 2009, a group of Villages players decided to see how well they might do on the "National" platform. I believe there were approx. 16 players who made the treck to Surprise, Ariz. Those 16 residents bought back a total of 27medals, with most being gold and silver. Many of the age groups had to play other Villages players in the medal rounds. Although there are still some of our folks who participate in Arizona, many are now traveling to play in the Utah Huntsman Senior Games. Make no mistake about it......THIS IS THE PICKLEBALL CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY and maybe the world. This is not to minimize the efforts and beauty of Surpise, Arizona and the National Tournament they run. They do an exceptional job in running their tournament. We here in The Villages are hopeful, that one day soon, we will also be hosting a tournament of that magnitude. It just takes a little more coaxing of the powers that be.

[dreambig]

Hope I posted in the right place :wave:
My wife and I are visiting in Dec. and wanting to play Pickleball (we play regularly). Where is the best place to play? Will we be welcomed at most courts if we are not regulars? Any mixed doubles that would be interested?
Thanks can't wait till we can be full time Villagers.

[MelZ]

Hope I posted in the right place :wave:
My wife and I are visiting in Dec. and wanting to play Pickleball (we play regularly). Where is the best place to play? Will we be welcomed at most courts if we are not regulars? Any mixed doubles that would be interested?
Thanks can't wait till we can be full time Villagers.

The pickleball courts are located at the Recreation centers through out the villages. At most courts you just show up and get in line during open play. As a word of caution some courts do not welcome beginners, in what village are you going to be staying?

[Mudder]

oPEN TIMES ARE USUALLY 7 TO 10 am. Anyone can join in and play then. If you are experienced players you should be able to play almost anywhere. La Hacienda is very friendly as is Mulberry and Bacall. I'm sure other places are too. Some people will give you the "once over" when you step inside the gates, but fear not , just get in line and you'll be on the court soon.

[dreambig]

Thanks for the info. We are not beginners and we will be staying close to Spanish Springs. Looking forward to Visiting.

[Mudder]

dreambig....come to La Hacienda to play then! We will all welcome you.

[elevatorman]

This was compiled over a year ago right after Seabreeze was completed.


"THE VILLAGES" INFORMATION



BRIEF HISTORY



Harold Schwartz purchased the Orange Blossom Garden manufactured home park in the early 70's. In 1983 he convinced his son H. Gary Morse to join him to help build and run his enterprise consisting of 783 residents who enjoyed an active lifestyle. The Villages concept was born!!



MORSE FAMILY



The Morse family lives on 2,754 acres - 4.3 square miles off CR 466 in the heart of The Villages.



LAND



The Villages covers 26,000 acres - 32 square miles in three counties - Marion, Lake, and Sumter.

Highway 301 (West) to CR 25 (East) is 8.5 miles..
Highway 42 (North) to Highway 44 (South) is 15 miles



EMPLOYMENT



192 folks work directly for The Villages. 12,000+ work in The Villages. Employees who work in The Villages may send their children to the Charter Schools which were started by the developer. There is always a wating list of children wanting to attend the Charter Schools.



HOMES



The highest month for home sales was 400. Home sales in 2010 averaged 200 a month.
Villages as of 2011: 67 "Villages" - Projected by 2015: 72 "Villages"

Total homes in 2010: 42,000. Total projected home in 2016: 55,805.



In 2010, 2000 homes were built and 4,074 folks moved to The Villages.

In 2010 the average monthly building permits (new homes & additions) issued was 250.

Home prices in The Villages range from $120,000 to $1,800,000.

Existing homes range from 700 - 4000 sq.feet
Average Home Price for 2010: $220,000.



2010 was the sixth consecutive year of no property tax increases in Sumter County

POPULATION



Pop in 1992: 11,000 - Pop in 2000: 21,000 - Pop in 2006: 60,000
Pop in 2010: 80,000 - Projected Population in 2016: 105,000

Population in Lake Co in 2010: 293,500 Projected for 2016: 328,400 +12%
Population in Marion Co. in 2010: 330,600 Projected for 2016: 360,700 +10%
Population in Sumter Co. In 2010: 99,400 Projected for 2016: 119,100 +20%



BUILDING



100,000 yards of material are being moved every day - 6 days a week to keep up with expansion
2.4 million sq feet of retail space. The plan is for 2.7 million sq feet

In 2010 the average retail vacancy rate in The Villages was 3%. Orlando-13% Tampa-12% US-10.9%



HEALTH AND SAFETY



Six Fire-Rescue Stations with response time of 3:56 (Three min. 56 sec.)
2% of Fire/EMS calls are for fire. 78% of calls are medical emergencies

20% of calls are miscellaneous

There are five urgent care facilities in The Villages
Five house fires in 2009



RECREATION

9 Regional Recreation Centers - 14 Village Recreation Centers - 39 Neighborhood Centers for a total of 62 Recreation Centers!!!

13 parks which includes 4 dog parks / 2 Fitness Trails / 2 Walking Trails / 1 Children’s playground

A polo field with grandstand seating for 1000 with 30,000 spectators a year watching Polo.

A Golf Academy featuring club fittings and instruction

4 fitness centers

100 tennis courts / 6 paddle tennis courts / 100 pickleball courts / 1 sand volleyball court /

62 swimming pools / 115 shuffle board courts / 115 bocce courts / 85 horseshoe pits / 1 lawn bowling area

2 bowling centers with 32 lanes each (a third is in the planning stages) - 12 fishing lakes inside The Villages
1800 sq. ft. woodworking shop

1 archery range

3 libraries

GOLF

513 golf holes
29 - 9 Hole Executive courses - 261 holes (6 more courses scheduled to open within 18 months)
8 - 27 Hole Championship Courses - 216 holes (4 more 27 hole courses scheduled to open wothin 18 months)
2- 18 Hole Championship Courses - 36 holes

There are 10 Country Clubs within The Villages complete with food and beverage service. All residents are automatic members of all the clubs with no yearly dues. Green fees vary depending on the time of the year. Green fees in the fall (10/15/2010 to 12/31/2010) range from $21 to $62 depending on whether you are a resident, a guest or fall somewhere in between. Resident green fees effective 01/01/11 to 04/30/11 range from $24 - $77. Fees effective 5/1/11 to 10/14/11 range from $16 - $43.00. Cart rentals are available for all golf at $10.00.



Golf on all of the 9 hole Executive courses is FREE for all residents. Many of the Executive courses have one or two par four holes.



Championship Rounds in 2010 -- 717,124
Executive Rounds in 2010—1,657,367

In 2010 there were 2,374,491 Golf Rounds played in The Villages!!
9,000 tee times a day
Open tee times are available every day!!!

Estimated 5.5 MILLION golf balls LOST in 2010!!!



WANT TO GO FISHING???

There are 165,643 acres of fresh water lakes within 40 minutes or less of the Villages.

The Gulf of Mexico is a 50 minute drive and the Atlantic Ocean is less than 2 hours.



TENNIS



There are 74+ tennis courts, many hard surfaced, at the various recreation facilities throughout the Villages. The majority of these are free for all residents. Court times and leagues are posted weekly in the Recreation Guide in our Daily sun newspaper.

Lopez Country Club has four hydrated clay courts which are available for league play as well as open times.

The main tennis facility is at Glenview Country Club where there is a pro shop and six hydrated clay courts. Tennis rates for these facilities vary depending on the season and residency. There is a priority membership with country club pool privileges available to residents. This type of membership is the least expensive for the experienced tennis player who wants to play on clay twice or more a week.



OTHER ENTERTAINMENT



There are two "Town Squares" with free entertainment every night from 5 - 9. A third Town Square in the southern portion of The Villages being developed and scheduled for completion within 18 months.

1,700+ clubs and activities.

9 softball fields (a new complex is planned South of 466A)

10,000 softball games per year
502 teams, adding 11 per year
16 Movie Screens /4,700 seats



WEATHER



Temperatures for The Villages - by The Weather Channel
Average High Temp for Jan - 68. Average low 48 Mean 57
Average High Temp for Feb - 71 Average low 49 Mean 59
Average High Temp for Mar - 76 Average low 52 Mean 64

Temperatures For Fort Myers - by The Weather Channel (for the folks who think Fort Myers is a lot warmer)
Average High Temp for Jan - 74 Average Low 54 Mean 64 Avg high 6 degrees warmer.
Average High Temp for Feb -75 Average Low 54 Mean 65 Avg high 4 degrees warmer.
Average High Temp for Mar- 78 Average Low 58 Mean 68 Avg high 2 degrees warmer.



GOLF CARTS



80% of resident trips are inside The Villages by golf carts
45,000+ golf carts operating on 87 miles of trails
$360 million+ in carts (avg $8,500 ea) as of 2010

Over 100 restaurants accessible by golf cart



OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION



A Veterans Clinic completed in 2010
A Hospice Center
The Villages Hospital with 200 beds

Permits have been approved for a second Villages Hospital on 60 acres of land adjacent to Brownwood Town Square!!

Opening in the fall of 2011 The Moffitt Cancer Center with 51,668 sq feet of health care! First floor-radiation therapy managed by

Moffitt and chemotherapy operated by The Village Hospital with second and third floors for private medical office space.

Promise Hospital with 40 beds for acute care.

Freedom Pointe at The Villages is a Continuing Care Retirement Community with 240 independent living condominiums. It offers Exceptional Independent Living, Personalized Assisted Living, Alzheimer's and Dementia Care and Skilled Nursing Care (72 beds) options for seniors.
A new Assisted Living facility will be complete within 12 months.

The Village Lifelong Learning College with 98% of courses taught by residents.

3 Charter Schools for elementary / middle / and high school with 2000 students.

The Villages prints a newspaper every day called The Daily Sun and owns a radio and TV station.
The Villages run a shuttle service daily to Orlando International Airport with 5 trips leaving/ arriving from Spanish Springs and 5 leaving/arriving from Sumter Landing.
The developer listens to Village residents and consequently the resident survey for 2010 had a 97% satisfaction rating!!

There are 40+ roundabouts



FUTURE OF THE VILLAGES SOUTH OF 466A



4 new Championship Country Clubs with 27 holes each.
6 new Executive courses.

A new Town Square

A new Villages Hospital

More restaurants and retail space.

The first "village" south of Rt 466A has already started selling homes.

A new softball complex will be announced along with a new bowling center.





*This information was compiled by Jay Nelson because of his love and interest in The Villages…

[elevatorman]

...

[dreambig]

Thanks Mudder, we will be there the week after x-mas.