(Ocala, FL – March 5, 2025) – Over the weekend, the first annual Battle of the Paddle Pickleball Tournament brought hundreds of players and spectators to On Top of the World. The inaugural, three-day tournament featured a round-robin format for men and women players ages 50 to 70+, with player ratings starting at 3.0 to 5.0. On Top of the World hosted the event with the help of the Top Pickleball Club, and official scoring and tournament management were provided by PickleballMAX.
“We travel across the country for pickleball tournaments, and we are thoroughly impressed with the organization, atmosphere, and volunteers at On Top of the World – especially since this is the inaugural tournament. The feedback we’ve received from players has been extremely positive, and they can’t wait to play again next year,” said Todd Jungling, co-founder of PickleballMAX.
Although the tournament was hosted at On Top of the World, the 264 players traveled all over the East Coast to compete. Over 70% of the players traveled to Ocala for the tournament from Connecticut, Vermont, Pensacola, Okeechobee, Mt. Dora, Lady Lake, and Tampa. “14 of our local pickleball members traveled to On Top of the World for the tournament. We are avid pickleball players and are very impressed with the communication and logistics of the Battle of the Paddle Tournament. The pickleball courts are in excellent condition, and we look forward to participating next year,” stated Matt Schwartz, a Lady Lake, Florida resident.
Pickleball has proven to be a fast-growing sport among players of all ages. The sport combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. An On Top of the World resident, Mary Kay Ripp, moved to On Top of the World from Minnesota due to the sunny Florida conditions and the 29 pickleball courts in the community. “I moved to On Top of the World because I love to play pickleball. The resident pickleball club is very active, with over 600 members. We meet seven days a week, and it’s a great way to exercise and meet new friends!” says Mary Kay Ripp.
Recognizing the popularity among the residents, On Top of the World expanded from six pickleball courts to 29 active courts within the community. A selection of courts also has lights so residents can enjoy play from daylight to 9 p.m. On Top of the World Communities is Central Florida’s premier active-adult community with unmatched recreational amenities, over 175 resident clubs, and superior, energy-efficient homes. On Top of the World is currently selling move-in ready and new construction homes. For more information, please visit OnTopofTheWorldCommunities.com or call 866-228-5878.