Local Sports

Orange Blossom Classic on tap

Photos

PAT DELL
Published: January 1, 2013

SEBRING - What a special year. Sebring turned 100 years old in 2012 and now the sport of shuffleboard is celebrating its 100th anniversary in the state of Florida. The city of Sebring has just been named the No. 1 community for retirees and remains the perfect host for the most historic shuffleboard tournament in the state.

The Orange Blossom Classic is always held the first week of January and this year the tournament will run from Wednesday through Friday. There are 36 shuffleboard courts at the Sebring Recreation Club, which is ample room to handle the 150 to 200 state professionals who are expected to attend and compete.

The tournament is for professionals and there are men's doubles and a separate division for the women professionals.

No Sebring man or woman has ever won the event.

Amateurs may enter to play but will be matched against professional players, which can be educational and exciting.

Prize money is tops in the state, giving extra incentive for professional players to travel to Sebring. In short, this will be a short-term economic stimulus for the city's businesses.

Shuffleboard is gaining popularity with the baby boomers who are just being introduced to the competitive sport, which requires offense and defense. Shuffleboard combines bowling, billiards, golf and chess. There is more to the sport than one may think and it's played outdoors.

Spectators are welcome to observe the matches with no admission charge. There are bleachers and benches set up for this purpose.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday. Guest speakers are Denise Grimsley, state representative; Steve Nyhan, president and CEO of the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce; and Sebring Mayor George Hensley, who will sing the National Anthem.

The event would not be possible without Platinum sponsors Highlands Regional Medical Center, Heacock Insurance Company, Highlands Independent Bank, Sebring Animal Hospital, Dr. Michael Kirsch, Heartland Periodontics, Caruso Medical Center, Dr. John Caruso, Lampe & Kirfer Hearing Center, Blue Crab Restaurant, Heartland Real Estate Corp and the Dell Realty Team.

The Sebring Recreation Club is located behind the Sebring Police Department.