O COME ALL YE PLAYFUL

Registration begins in January for the 25th Annual Polk Senior Games. Two weeks of 40 Olympic-style sports and games for men and women 50 years and over. Locations are throughout Polk County.
Pre-registration is required by February 10. Polk County residency is not required. Call 863-533-0055 or email polkseniorgames@verizon.net or checkout the website polkseniorgames.org for more information and a free entry booklet.

Announcing Dates for 2017 Polk Senior Games

The 25th Annual Polk Senior Games are scheduled for February 25 – March 13, 2017. The Games offer a two-week series of 100 athletic and recreational Olympic-style events. They attract nearly 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 including NEW Team Bowling, Bridge, Checkers, Chess, Cribbage, Ballroom and Social Dancing, Square Dancing, Darts, Euchre, Field Events, Fishing, Fly Casting, Golf 18 Hole Singles, Mixed Doubles & Putt & Chip, Horseshoes, Lawn Bowling, Pepper, Pickleball, Punt Pass Kick, Racquetball, Road Race 5K, Scrabble, Senior Smarts, Shooting – Pistol NEW, Rifle, Skeet, Sporting Clays & Trap, Shuffleboard, Softball, Sudoku, Swimming, Table Tennis, Talent Show NEW 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, $36 for Team Bowling, and $50 for Square Dancing. There are also facility fees for some events. Everyone receives a specially designed T-shirt. A free Closing Celebration 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 1991 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 nearly 2,500 participants in 2016.

Polk Senior Games is a non-profit, 501(c) (3), organization managed by a salaried Executive Director 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 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.

Thank You Community Partners

The 24th Annual Polk Senior Games was held February 27 through March 14. 2,500 competitors and over 750 volunteers shared moments of fun, fellowship, sportsmanship, and competition in 100 events.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I thank the Polk County community for their generous financial and in-kind contributions. It is has been our pleasure and privilege for 24 years to join with Publix Super Markets Charities as our Gold and Founding Sponsor. We also thank Silver Sponsor - Watkins Associated Industries, 3 years, and Bronze Sponsors – the James W. Sikes Family, 23 years, and CPS Investment Advisors, 14 years, for their commitment and support.

We are grateful for: Special Events Sponsors - Winter Haven Hospital and The Estates At Carpenters. Hospitality Sponsors - A BJ Brock Estate Sale, WellMed Network of Florida, Grace Manor Assisted Living, INHealth MD Alliance, WellCare Health Plans, Assurance HomeCare, Care Plus Health Plans and Comfort Keepers. Event Sponsors – Southern Archery Outfitters; Home Instead Senior Care; Lake Wales Medical Center; Dee Oeters Family; Bimbo Bakeries; Florida Presbyterian Homes; Better Living for Seniors; CenterState Bank; Palm Terrace of Lakeland; Floral Lakes Seniors; Lake Morton Plaza;  Comfort Keepers; Andy Thornal Company; Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation; Eye Specialists of Mid Florida; AAM, LLC; Highland Park Dental;  The Bruce Bear Family; The Grace Page Family; Paul Meuser; The Thornberry Family; Gus & Lisa Palas; Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Club; Williams Fence Company; Shoot Straight Lakeland; Tri Tech Mechanical; Magnify Credit Union; Janey & Larry Powell; Molina HealthCare; Sarah D McKay Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation; Central Florida Eye Associates; Simply Healthcare Plans; Wells Fargo; Foot & Ankle Associates. Friends of the Games Sponsors – Senior Connection Center; Arbor Hills Independent Living Residence; Nurse on Call Home Health; Southern Homes. Spirit of the Games Sponsors - Mail Processing; Jim & June Barry; Rudy & Camilla Gittens; Baker Industries Aluminum.

We also want to thank the many individuals, sport and civic organizations, municipal departments, and businesses who gave in-kind donations such as media/publicity, venues, services, door prizes, and goody bag items.

Thanks to all of them, we are able to serve the community through an event that touches the lives, not only, of our participants, but their families, friends, volunteers, spectators, and those who support the Games. 

Most Sincerely,

Deena Wilbur

Executive Director

Board Members and Officers Elected for Polk Senior Games

Board members and officers were elected at a recent regular meeting of the organization. New board members are Greg Chambless, Temi Charrier, and Jule Mackenzie. Members of the newly elected Executive Committee are President Larry Powell, 1^st Vice President Dee Oeters, 2^nd Vice President Ron Shultz, Secretary Beverly Mitchell, Treasurer Jean Eissman, Past President Rich Mellock, Member at Large Rob Mason, Member at Large Frank Brooks and Event Coordinator Grace Page. Returning board members are Jim Barry, Pat Bazley, Kathy Benn, Theresa Bright, BJ Brock, Bob Brooks, Frank Brooks, Mary Brooks, Dick Cheney, Frank Collins, J J Corbett, Chery Dee, Cindy Dulin, Jean Eissman, Joe Emory, Helen Grieshaber, Chuck Gugino, Mimi Hardman, Duane Hopkins, Sandy Jones, Rob Mason, Linda Mason, Olga Mellock, Rich Mellock, Steve Miller, Beverly Mitchell, Dee Oeters, Grace Page,  Larry Powell, Susan Prevatt, Lois Shultz, Ron Shultz, Chris Sikes, Susan Smith, Larry Smucker, Linda Smucker, Trish Stark, Nancye Thornberry, Robin Wickman, Howard Wiggs, Helen Wiper, and Ann Wyant. Executive Director Deena Wilbur will be returning for her 24^th year with the Games. The 25^th Annual Polk Senior Games are scheduled for February 25 – March 13, 2017.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2016 POLK SENIOR GAMES

Register now for the 2016 Polk Senior Games! 100 competitive sports and games for men and women 50 years and over. The postmark deadline to enter is February 10. Call 863-533-0055 to get and entry booklet. Check out www.polkseniorgames.org for more information.

REGISTRATION IN PROGRESS FOR 2016 POLK SENIOR GAMES

REGISTRATION IN PROGRESS FOR 2016 POLK SENIOR GAMES

Register NOW for the 24th Annual Polk Senior Games. The Games, scheduled for February 27 – March 14, offer a two-week series of 100 Olympic-style events in 38 athletic and recreational sports. They attract nearly 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. The postmark deadline to enter is February 10.

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 18 Hole Mixed Doubles and Putt & Chip, Horseshoes, Lawn Bowling, Pepper, Pickleball, Powerlifting, 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.

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 and $50 for Basketball 3 on 3. There are also facility fees for Golf, Archery, Shooting and Bowling. Everyone receives a specially designed T-shirt. The postmark deadline is February 10. A free Closing Celebration for participants, family and friends is held at The Lakeland Center on Monday, March 14 and includes goody bags, health fair, special awards, door prizes and entertainment.

Medal Sponsors are: Gold and Founding Sponsor – Publix Super Market Charities; Silver Sponsor - Watkins Associated Industries; Bronze Sponsors – James W. Sikes Family, CPS Investment Advisors.

To request an entry or for more information contact Deena Wilbur, Executive Director, Polk Senior Games, 515 E Boulevard St, Bartow, FL 33830, 863-533-0055, or polkseniorgames@verizon.net.