PICKLEBALL IN THE VILLAGES with George Brewer, Guest Contributor
So there you are one morning in your kitchen wondering what your gona do today. You glance down at the newspaper and see a story about golf and you say to yourself "I think I'll go play golf today." Never mind that you have never played golf in your life but what can be so difficult about learning how to play. You call one of the golf courses in The Villages and ask if it would be O.K. for you to sign up and played today. The nice man on the phone say, "Come on over." So you get all "gussied up" and head on over to the golf field. It doesn't matter that you don't have any clubs, balls or cart ;the fella behind the counter will rent you all the stuff you need to get out there and play. Just as the nice fella hands you back your credit card you casually mention to him that you've never played golf before. "That's right ," you tell him "But I'm a fast learner." You're money is quickly refunded and you are encouraged to come back after you take some lessons, read the rules, maybe buy your own clubs and learn how to play. Confused, you walk out the door wondering what hit you.
Back home you are just getting over what happened when you see those nice folks on VNN talking about tennis and you see how much fun all those "dressed up" people seem to be having. "Sugar" you say to yourself. "I can do that. I'll just give them a call and see if its O.K. for me to come over." You give them a call and they say "Come on over." So, you go and get your "gussied" up clothes on again and off you go. When you arrive there are some other nice gussied up people sitting around and they invite you to join them and you follow them out on the courts. One of them suggests you should bring a tennis racket with you and when you tell them you don't have one they suggest you go to the tennis shop and rent one. Just as the clerk has finished writing up your ticket and entering your credit card number into the register you casually share with him that you've never played tennis in your life but you are a quick learner. Those other nice folks that had asked you to play with them overhear the conversation and suddenly the whole tribe of them has to leave early. Someone suggests that you go home read the rules, buy your own racket and balls, practice and then come back when you know how to play.
You feel "doubled dipped" and rejection is about to set in when you see in the Daily Sun the Villages Recreation Department is offering Pickleball lessons today. You decide to take a chance and after trading in your "gussied up" clothes for something comfortable you walk over to the Pickleball courts and peak thru the fence to see if the natives are friendly. There's a bunch of people standing around visiting with each other and having fellowship. They're introducing themselves to each other, shaking hands and smiling at one another so you decide to venture in and act like you know what you're doing and be very casual about everything. Someone approaches you and hands you a paddle. You reach for your credit card but you're told "Pickleball is free." "The Villages furnishes the paddle and balls and there is never a charge." Already you like these people and since they are so nice to you, you decide to confess that you have never played Pickleball in your life. You squint your eyes and grit your teeth ready to be drummed off the courts. In addition to that, you confess, you've never even heard of this game before. The instructor says , "Good, that means you don't have any bad habits and you're just the kind of person we're looking for to come out and join us." "The lessons are free, the paddle is free, the balls are furnished and the instructions are free." Most important, you are told, you're welcome to be here and join us.
"So far", you say to yourself, "the worse thing about Pickleball is Wonderful"
CU on D Courts.George brewer Editors Note Don't miss George's contrbution of regular articles to this site. Gerry
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