Spring Hill, FL Weekend

    Look up in the "Places to Play" in Florida and Spring Hill, FL will be in the "hits" you get. For those of you unfamiliar with the area the place may be hard to find. Take the new Suncoast highway or 75 North to 52 east to Route 41 north to Spring Hill drive, go west to Deltona, turn north. A couple of miles and on the right, there they are- the area's best and only paddleball courts. Where one would least have expected is a hotbed of blackball paddleball with a crew of "regulars" who on fair-weather weekends, for the love of their game break out their sports togs, grab their paddles and are at the courts playing when most of the rest of us are still "sleeping in."

    During a recent visit to Spring Hill from Hollywood, I had the want to go practice- so I got myself up earlier than usual on a Saturday after the drive up, grabbed my gear and went up to the courts. At that time, the courts were shady, the temperatures were comfortable and there was no one there except the local curious wildlife. I did my usual practices- albeit the court differences- what I'm sure are different dimensions (I never got to measure them) and no "Low" line and after about an hour, people started showing up. Another person arrived to use the paddleball courts- this one with a tennis racquet and what seemed like case of balls while others went on to the tennis courts but eventually others started showing up carrying paddles. I went over and introduced myself. There was Raul and Leo, Eric, Joe, Eddie and Al- most of these guys were former New Yorkers. We BS'd for a while and paired up for some games. After so many years of not playing the small-ball I did worse than I normally do- but still managed to get a couple of shots and serves in. Much to my partner's disappointment I double-faulted a couple of points away and served outs- but hey- I gotta say that after so many years of not playing, I didn't WANT to do the safe thing and just put the ball back on the wall as he wanted me to do- I wanted to go for the shots. No, I wasn't successful every time I tried but I could feel them just waiting to come out with a little practice. I played a total of three games- 1 with the A players and the other 2 with the senior players there. The The oldest of these guys was 82 and God bless him- he had the shots and reflexes still! I gave up after 2 games- I could not take the heat by that time as I'm an "evening" playing guy- these guys were still looking for another! 

    I came out again Sunday with my son but only to practice- I lost count how many times the guys asked me if I wanted a "regular" ball to practice with. My reply? "I do have a regular ball- a Wilson Regular Duty tennis ball!" 
I have to say "thanks" to all the guys that made me feel welcome at the Spring Hill courts and I'll say this also: I was in Rome and did as you Romans and it was fun- but when if and when you come to the Historic Courts on Garfield Street? Do as we do here in Hollywood and try yourself some tennis-ball... you may just want to come back again!

Spring Hill, revisited.

   Here, about 40 miles north of Tampa, is a facility that falls in the "if you build it, they will come" category (if you ask me). Not that Spring Hill is exactly the "boonies," but if you're used to cites like New York or Miami- you may think boonies (and even grow to like it that way!). But a 10 minute drive from any part of town will bring you to the Deltona Woods Park and the excellent courts there. You can miss the turn-off to the park- but you can't miss the courts as you do so- because they're just beyond the entrance. So Memorial Day weekend, we made the trip up again and well, we had the hankerin' to play some paddleball. (What?? you don't bring your gear everywhere you go?) Off we went to the courts; parked, got our stuff and headed to what I know to be the "A" court. Sitting back there were some from the group of guys I'd met on our previous trip- forgive me all for not remembering all of your names- Eddie's the easiest one to remember- don't ask why- Eric and Willie and a couple of other guys. Right away we got good-natured razzin' on our big ol' fat padel paddles. We'd met previously but I guess it was so long ago, the guys forgot us. We introduced ourselves, bs'ed a little about the Game then my kid and I got on the "A" court for a few hits. I guess curiosity got Eric and Eddie because eventually they wanted to try a few hits also. It took them a bit to get used to the different paddles and the tennis ball but after a little while we were able to get some good volleys going and a few fun games in which they got the best of my son and I! I gotta say- those guys again gave us a great welcome and we all had a blast. Los Guys promised (threatened?) to come down to our area later this season-  I'm hoping they make it out to the Historic Courts and our Beach- they're gonna have a great time by me!

    Below are some shots of the courts and surrounding area. Click on a thumb-nail to enlarge the picture, hit your backspace key on your keyboard or click the "Back" button on your browser to return to this page.