I bought my home in Sabal Springs two years ago. From the minute I toured the community, I knew this was the place for me. I immediately felt at home. I don’t golf but loved the golfing landscape, enjoyed the huge pool, and was very interested in the amenities and activities. I was most excited about learning how to play pickleball and was so happy when I saw it offered here. I went to a beginner’s clinic, taught by Jim Van Kuiken, and was greeted by an abundance of kindhearted people.
Being new to a community, it can be hard to make friends, and this group welcomed me with open arms. I learned how to keep score, how to serve and how to “dink.” I didn’t and don’t have to be a “powerhouse” to be successful at the sport and learned it’s all about ball placement.
Exercise has always been a part of my life — playing basketball in high school, teaching aerobics classes, playing badminton, and ping pong but nothing is as much fun as pickleball. The thrill you get when you get a volley of 10, 20, or 30 shots is nothing short of an adrenaline rush!
Especially as I got older, and the other activities became harder — pickleball was it! It is a game for all ages. When my grandkids visit, we play. When family visits, we play. Sun up or sun down, I am down to play. The pickleball community here is wonderful — they’ve done fundraising for updated hard surface courts, created a Facebook group, encourage new people to play and form friendships.
It was a disappointment when the vote didn’t pass to upgrade the tennis and pickleball area and unfortunately, the pickleball clinic will not continue to be offered due to the poor court conditions. My hope is that this wildly popular and growing sport will find a permanent home here in our beautiful Sabal Springs community.
