The 2020 Florida Senior Games venues will be spread as far north as Alachua to as far south as Tierra Verde in Pinellas County.
Among the locations is a first-time visit to Brevard County, for the 29th Annual Games. Five sports will be held on Florida’s East Coast, December 5-13, including four of the Games’ most popular sports.
During the nine day Olympic-style Sports Festival for athletes 50 and over, in December, Florida Senior Games Bowling, Golf, Swimming, 5K Road Race and Track and Field join the list of activities on the Space Coast. The central eastern part of the state is long known for being home of America’s Space program and live rocket launches, the Kennedy Space Center, and 72 miles of Atlantic Beaches.
The River Lanes Family Entertainment Center, Brevard County’s premiere destination for entertainment, food and fun, hosts two days of bowling in Titusville, on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6. The 32 lanes are equipped with flat screen displays, automatic scoring and high definition large screen televisions.
Athletes will have the ability to enjoy lane-side service with food and beverage from the River City Bar & Grill, at top-notch food and drink experience found only in a modern facility with all of the top amenities.
Also on the Games’ opening weekend, swimmers will be diving off the blocks at the Cocoa Beach Aquatic Center. The 50-meter pool, with eight 25-yard lanes, that will be heated in December, is a local landmark on the Indian River Lagoon waterfront.
The Aquatic Center will provide scenic views for athletes and offers an open-air pavilion adjacent to the pool and a restaurant, open for breakfast and lunch, at the Cocoa Beach Country Club Golf Course clubhouse.
Florida Senior Games swimmer, Tom Bliss, from Merritt Island, is very familiar with the Aquatic Center and says it will be an attraction for all of those in attendance at the 2020 Games.
“I’ve always liked that facility,” Bliss, the 2013 FSG Male Athlete of the Year, said. “It’s a great pool that is used for high school district meets, and international and college swim teams will come to the area to train there during the winter months. There’s plenty of places to walk and enjoy the scenery when the athletes are not swimming.”
The Duran Golf Club of Viera, site of the two-day Golf competition, opened for business in summer 2005. It is a unique course shaped to create a course with links characteristics, including rolling terrain and mounded greens. Some 15 ponds and lakes were created to add beauty and drama to almost every hole on the course.
The fairways have a very open feeling, allowing players to swing freely off the tee and the course plays to every skill level. Duran Golf Club has set itself apart in its ability to appeal to the very talented golfer, as well as the shorter hitters or those still developing their game.
"Duran is very playable for golfers of all abilities," says General Manager David Tomczak. "The course was designed with minimal but strategic bunkering, allowing the average golfer to play without encountering a great deal of trouble."
Track and Field athletes will enjoy the recently renovated track at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, on December 11, 12 and 13. The new field is a small part of the improvements for Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy’s athletic program. The private school launched a $5.5 million capital campaign in 2019 to raise funds for a comprehensive Tiger Athletic Complex to include not only the turf field, but also a high-performance track and a 12,207-square-foot field house. This event will feature the 5000-meter power and race walk as well as the hammer throw on Friday evening prior to running events on Saturday and field competitions on Sunday.
The 5K Road Race will be run at Ryckman Park in Melbourne Beach. This public park is located on the historic district of Ocean Avenue on the Indian River. It is home to the historic Ryckman House and the Nationally Registered Historic Melbourne Beach Pier. The course is new to 2020 as part of a joint collaboration with the Pineapple Man Triathlon also being held on Sunday, December 13.
Once again, the Florida Senior Games is offering the state’s athletes age 50 and over to experience the quality sports facilities available statewide. Visit www.floridaseniorgames.com for competition and registration information about the 2020 Florida Senior Games.
2020 Florida Senior Games Brevard County Facilities and Schedule
River Lanes Family Entertainment Center (Titusville): Bowling, December 5 & 6
Cocoa Beach Aquatic Center (Cocoa Beach): Swimming, December 5 & 6
Duran Golf Club (Viera): Golf, December 8 & 9
Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Melbourne): 5000-meter Power Walk/Race Walk, Hammer Throw, Friday, December 11; Track & Field (Running Events), Saturday, December 12; Track & Field (Field Events), Sunday, December 13
Ryckman Park (Melbourne Beach): Road Race 5K, Sunday, December 13
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