2016 POLK SENIOR GAMES SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

The 24^th Annual Polk Senior Games are scheduled for February 27 – March 14, 2016 and offer a two-week series of 99 athletic and recreational Olympic-style events. They attract over 2,500 men and women, 50 and over, with a variety of skills - the serious competitor, the fun at heart, the seasoned athlete, the late bloomer, and the physically challenged. The purpose of the Games is to promote friendly competition, fellowship, health and wellness, an active lifestyle, and volunteerism.

Competition, held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Archery, Badminton, Bag Toss, Basketball Shooting, Basketball 3 on 3, Billiards, Bocce, Bowling, Bridge, Checkers, Chess, Cribbage, Ballroom and Social Dancing, Square Dancing, Darts, Euchre, Field Events, Fishing, Fly Casting, Golf 18 Hole Singles and Mixed Doubles and Putt & Chip, Horseshoes, Lawn Bowling, Pepper, Pickleball, Punt Pass Kick, Racquetball, Road Race 5K, Scrabble, Senior Smarts, Shooting – Rifle, Skeet, Sporting Clays and Trap, Shuffleboard, Softball, Sudoku, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track, and Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division.

Registration begins the first week of January. The individual entry fee is $10 for the first event and $3 for each additional event up to a maximum of $28. Fees for team sports are $125 for Softball, $50 for Basketball 3 on 3, and $50 for Square Dancing. There are also facility fees for some events. Everyone receives a T-shirt specially designed by artist Chryssie Tavrides. A free Closing Celebration at The Lakeland Center for participants, family and friends includes goody bags, health fair, entertainment, special awards, and door prizes.

Polk Senior Games was founded in 1992 by Nancye Thornberry of Lakeland who was inspired by her 70-year old brother competing at the National Senior Games in Syracuse, NY. With the support of the Polk County community, the Games began in 1992 with 777 entrants. Polk Senior Games has grown to be one of the largest senior games in the country with over 2,500 participants in 2015.

Polk Senior Games is a non-profit, 501(c) (3), organization managed by a Executive Director Deena Wilbur and a volunteer Board of Directors. The Games are presented annually in cooperation with parks and recreation departments, sports and civic organizations and over 700 volunteers.

Polk Senior Games is sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation to qualify participants for advancement to the annual Florida Senior Games, which leads to the bi-annual National Senior Games.

To request an entry booklet to be mailed in January or for more information about participation, volunteering or sponsorships, contact Deena Wilbur at 863-533-0055 or polkseniorgames@verizon.net or check out the website at www.polkseniorgames.org.

2016 Polk Senior Games Schedule                                                   
Saturday, February 27
8:00 AM          Softball, Southwest or Westside Complex

9:00 AM          Powerlifting, Debs Gym, Lakeland

9:00 AM          Opening Ceremony, All Saints Academy
9:20 AM          Track, All Saints Academy, Winter Haven
2:00 PM           Dancing, Schalamar Creek Golf & Country Club

                     
Sunday, February 28
8:00 AM          Softball, (if needed)

2:00 PM           Senior Smarts, 1st Baptist Church Bartow

Monday, February 29
8:00 AM   Tennis Singles, Beerman Tennis Center
9:00 AM          Putt & Chip, Women, Highland Fairways, Lakeland
9:00 AM          Shuffleboard, Men’s Singles, Lake Parker
1:00 PM           Putt & Chip, Men

1:30 PM           Square Dancing, Lake Ashton Clubhouse

Tuesday, March 1
8:00 AM          Tennis Doubles, Beerman Tennis Center

8:30 AM          Mixed Doubles Golf, Schalamar Creek Golf

9:00 AM          Shuffleboard, Women’s Singles

9:00 AM          Horseshoes, Rotary Park, Winter Haven

2:00 PM           Checkers, Spring Haven Retirement

Wednesday, March 2
8:00 AM          Tennis, Beerman Family Tennis Center
9:00 AM          Cribbage Doubles, Auburndale Civic

9:00 AM          Basketball Shooting, Kirkland Gym, L W
9:00 AM          Shuffleboard, Doubles, Lake Parker P   
1:00 PM           Trap Shooting, Lakeland Rifle and Pistol
1:00 PM           Cribbage Singles, Auburndale Civic

Thursday, March 3
8:00 AM          Tennis Mixed Doubles, Beerman Center

8:30 AM          Fishing, Tenoroc Fish Management Area
9:00 AM          Lawn Bowling, Lake Parker Park, Lakeland
1:00 PM           Punt, Pass and Kick, Bartow High School

1:00 PM           Rifle Shooting, Lakeland Rifle and Pistol

Friday, March 4
8:00 AM          Tennis, Beerman Family Tennis Center,

9:00 AM          Bocce, 50-64, 75+, Carefree Country Club, WH

1:00 PM           Bocce, 65-74, Carefree Country Club, W Haven

1:00 PM           Party Bridge, Sanlan Ranch RV Park

Saturday, March 5
9:00 AM          Field Events, Bartow High School Stadium
9:00 AM          Basketball 3 on 3, Simpson Park Community
1:00 PM           Swimming, Lakeland Family YMCA

1:00 PM           Chess, The Estates At Carpenters, Lakeland

Sunday, March 6   
9:00 AM          Swimming, Lakeland Family YMCA

2:00 PM           Euchre, Bartow Civic Center

Monday, March 7
9:00 AM          Table Tennis, Haines City Community
9:00 AM          Billiards 8 Ball, Men ages 60-79, Wally’s Billiards
1:00 PM           Sudoku, Schalamar Creek Clubhouse, Lakeland

2:00 PM           Billiards 8 Ball, All Women, Men 50-59 and 80+

Tuesday, March 8
9:00 AM          Pickleball Doubles, Solivita
9:00 AM          Billiards 9 Ball, Men ages 60-79, Wally’s Billiards

9:00 AM          Bag Toss (Cornhole), Kelly Recreation Center
1:00 PM           Pepper, Sanlan RV Park, Lakeland

1:00 PM           Billiards 9 Ball, All Women, Men 50-59 and 80+

Wednesday, March 9
9:00 AM          Bowling, Women Singles, AMF Lakeland Lanes

9:00 AM   Pickleball Mixed Doubles, Solivita              
1:00 PM           Bowling, Men Singles, AMF Lanes
1:00 PM           Skeet Shooting, Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Club

Thursday, March 10

8:30 AM          Golf, Men 50-64 and All Women, Schalamar Creek
9:00 AM          Bowling, Men Doubles, AMF Lakeland
9:00 AM          Racquetball, Lakeland Family YMCA         
10:00 AM Fly Casting, Andy Thornal, Winter Haven
1:00 PM           Bowling, Women Doubles, AMF Lakeland Lanes

1:00 PM           Shooting, Sporting Clays, Lakeland Rifle & Pistol
1:30 PM           Golf, Men 65 and over, Schalamar Creek Golf

Friday, March 11
9:00 AM          Badminton, Kelly Recreation Center
9:00 AM          Bowling, Mixed Doubles, AMF Lakeland
9:00 AM          Scrabble, American Legion Post 72, Mulberry
1:30 PM           Darts, Medulla Baptist Church         

Saturday, March 12

8:30 AM           Road Race 5K, Bartow High School Stadium
9:00 AM          Archery, Central FL Archers, Ft Meade
10:00 AM  Walking 5000 Meter, Bartow High School
11:30 AM        Walking 1500 Meter, Bartow High School

Sunday, March 13  DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS

Monday, March 14
12:30 PM         Health Fair, Youkey Theatre Lobby 
2:00 PM           Closing Celebration, Youkey Theatre