The Villages Re-Wrap

I didn't mention much about pickleball down here, but this is pretty much the Pickle Ball capital of the US. They have 104 pickleball courts here. The competition was very tough. I played quite a bit and I think I learned quite a bit and strengthened my game. Frank and Yvonne Nobile visited The Villages for a few days. Frank is the founder of our Pickleball group at Rossmoor, and Frank and I are co-pickle ball ambassadors. We had a chance to get together and I have added those pictures. (I had a little trouble downloading them at first, so I just added them). Take a look.

The Villages 2009 Wrap Up

(Before I start, be sure to scroll all the way down on the page to see all the newer pictures)(Also, please be sure to read my brother Dick's comments to which I can only reply "I rest my case!")Dick and Lou left on Saturday, the 28th. Carol, Jim, Janet and I went to Homasassa Springs near the Gulf Coast on Saturday to see the Manatees. They had an animal sanctuary there, including alligators, a rhinoceros, several different types of birds, including a couple of eagles, and Swiper the Fox! The Manatees were quite big. Sunday we relaxed and played golf at Turtle Mound a 9 hole executive course. On Monday, Jim and I played golf. Neither of us shot an 85! At dinner time Jim and Carol treated us to Sushi at a Japanese steakhouse at Sumter Landing. Jim and Carol left on Tuesday. Diane and I played golf with Dot and Paul on Wednesday and had dinner with them at the Arnold Palmer Country Club. Had a few Mai Tai's. I forgot how good they were. On Thursday Diane and I visited Jim and Zena at their home. They have a very nice little home with an outdoor patio. We went to Dinner and then Friday, we packed and ended our stay on Saturday. All in all it was our best visit to the Villages (except for the hot cross bun incident!)

The Villages, Friday, Feb. 20th., Continued

Well, here it is. Dick came out of nowhere to shoot an 81 to tie Lou for first place. Their total aggregate (3 low rounds) was 260. That's an average score of 86.6. I finished with an aggregate of 267 for an average of 89. Jim, on the other hand shot the round of his life with an 85, and has decided not to quit golf!! He finished with an aggregate of 273 for an average score of 91.1. Dick is happy as a pig in doodoo, as is Jim. Strangely I have not heard either of them complain any further about their injuries. We had a trophy presentation for the co-winners of the DelMasto Spring Classic as well as first and second low medal trophies to Dick (81) and Jim (85). Jim keeps bugging me to play more golf. I don't understand it!!!!

The Villages, Friday, Feb. 20th., 2009

Well today is the last day of golf and Lou has a pretty big lead. Dick and Jim have been struggling and, as I said, are threatening to quit golf and switch to pickleball. By the way, Dick and Carol played Pickleball with Diane and I and enjoyed it. In the meantime, a friend of mine from Rossmoor is down here, i.e., Frank Nobile and his wife Yvonne. Her mother lives here in The Villages. He is a co-Pickle ball Ambassador with me in New Jersey and we went to a couple of beginner lessons, and played once with some beginner/intermediate players at Chula Vista, the original pickle ball Village here. This is where it started. I think we all held our own. I'll post the golf scores a little later on.

The Villages, Thursday, Feb. 19th, 2009

Well, today is a rain date (Thank God!). Today is movie day. Carol, Jim and Diane are going to see "The Reader" and Dick and I are going to see "Gran Torino". Dick and I thought Gran Torino was great. Carol, Jim and Lou all liked "The Reader". I still think Slumdog Millionaire will win the Academy Award for Best Picture. After the movies, we went to Urban Flat in Sumter Landing, a bar/restaurant for a drink and some flatbread. Then we went across the street to the Town Square where they had a Vendor Fair and a Polka Band from Massachusetts (Hadley). Lot of fun.

The Villages, Thursday, Feb. 19th, 2009

The Villages, Wed. Feb. 18th, 2009

Today we played at Spruce Creek again in a Shotgun format:



Here are the scores:



Lou: 89

John: 90

Jim: 98

Dick: WD



Dick is about at the end of his rope, and I believe Jim is about to give up golf entirely!! We're taking tomorrow off because it's going to rain and we all need a break from golf.