The USA Pickleball Association recently held its’ National Tournament in Buckeye, Arizona and The Villages were represented by eight of our pickleball players. Now here is the great news, these eight players brought home 13 medals, including 9 gold medals. And these winners thought they were coming to The Villages to retire. I would love to know how many said when I retire I am going to compete in a National Tournament for a Gold Medal, in Pickleball? What is that? Well retire they did and they sure represented their hometown in the grandest of styles.  I can only imagine what a fantastic experience it was for those competing and doing so well, as it was  fantastic just reading about their accomplishments.  I don’t know this for sure but I would have to say The Villages must have more pickleball courts and more players than any other community.  I know of one individual that has been a part of promoting pickleball and has taken paddles to England to help them get off the ground with their own Association.  I also know of some avid golfers splitting their time between courses and courts, or better said clubs and paddles.  It is a sport that appeals to all ages.  On my son, daughter-in-law and grandson’s recent visit they definitely wanted to get some pickleball time in.  And that they did.  The History Of Pickleball can be found at www.usapa.org/aboutUSAPA/history.php and the Barney McCallum Interview at the bottom of the page is extremely interesting.  I want to say Congratulations to those eight players that represented us so well at Nationals. You make us very proud and we thank you.