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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | NOVEMBER 2025 | 9 As your Director of Golf for just over a year, I've had an incredible experience getting to know Sun Lakes — playing the courses, attending meetings, and managing our golf operations. Surprisingly, fewer than 10 percent of residents use the golf facilities. at's a very low number, considering the incredible assets we have right here in our backyard. We are fortunate to have two beautiful golf courses — a Championship Course, par 72, stretching 7,002 yards and a challenging Executive Course, par 59. Add to that, a top-tier driving range with dual-direction hitting stalls, chipping and putting greens and we have everything a golfer could want, whether you're new or a seasoned player. If you've ever thought about trying golf, there's no better place to start than right here. We have three PGA-certied teaching professionals ready to help you begin your journey. Our goal is to double our participation, getting at least 20 percent of residents out on the course enjoying the benets of this amazing game. You didn't just move here for a home — you came for a lifestyle, and golf is a central part of that, and it's easy to get involved. Come by the golf shop… we'd love to meet you. One of our friendly pro shop sta members will introduce themselves and help you get started. We oer private instruction, group clinics, "Get Golf Ready" sessions for beginners, and fun events like putting tournaments (Pass Putters), short game socials (Pitch, Putt, Party), and Friday Scrambles. Whether you're brand new or getting back into the game, we have something for every skill level. As we enjoy our golf amenities, it's important we also take pride in maintaining them. Here are a few reminders: • Fix your ball marks and repair your divots. Use the sand bottles provided on every golf cart to ll and level the divots you make. • Always repair your pitch mark on the green — and while you're at it, repair one more if you can. is small habit helps keep our greens smooth and beautiful. • Dress appropriately: As outlined in our Sun Lakes Rules and Regulations, golf attire is required on both courses and practice areas. Blue denim, ip-ops, tank tops, sweatpants, and similar items are not permitted. Dress code signs are posted at both pro shops and at the driving range machines. Golf is a way to stay active, challenge yourself, and connect with others. It's also a place where courtesy matters. Please be mindful of your conversations on the course. Politics, religion, and other sensitive topics can quickly sour the experience for others. Let's focus on what brings us together: our shared love for Sun Lakes. We all chose to live here because we value this unique lifestyle. Let's honor that choice by taking care of our facilities, being kind to one another, and enjoying all that this great community has to oer. See you on the course. ~ David A. Goldstein II PGA, Director of Golf Fall nips the air and leaves are changing colors. November brings Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month. The holiday commemorates a 1621 harvest feast shared by Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people. It's often considered to be a uniquely American holiday, but that's not entirely true. Similar harvest time festivals take place in numerous countries around the world. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland it's called Erntedankfest ("harvest festival of thanks"), a religious holiday in late September or the first Sunday of October. On October 25th, Grenada celebrates to mark the anniversary of the 1983 U.S. military intervention that restored order following a coup. Dia de Ação de Graças is observed on the fourth Thursday of November in Brazil. The tradition began in the 1940s after a Brazilian ambassador to the U.S. was inspired by the American holiday. Canada, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands, Liberia, Ghana, Japan, South Korea, China, Southern India and even Iran all celebrate a version of what we call Thanksgiving. It's good to celebrate gratitude especially when the gravitational pull of negativity is so strong. Unless we consciously choose otherwise, attention fixates on the salacious and sensational … what's wrong in the world. We just seem to be wired that way. Thus, negativity has become the backbone of the media thrust at us because we respond like onlookers at a fatal traffic accident, aghast that such things happen in the world. It's so pervasive one can easily become jaded, cynical. Each time we focus on the trials of life, it's an inadvertent choice to reside in a land of deficit. Dwelling on what we cannot change kindles angst and emotional poverty. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to ref lect on the goodness we find in life. Gratitude shouldn't only f low when times are good — when prayer is answered or illness healed — but at all times. A grateful spirit bolsters resilience and buoys our feelings. Expressing gratitude can open the door to emotional bonds with another person. Life is enriched. Your delegate works self lessly for you. Every month you receive a district newsletter and you might see delegates at the monthly assembly on Channel 97, but that's not all they do. Your delegate handles many different district responsibilities, most of them invisible to residents. Because they're invested in the community, delegates stay informed about the issues that affect residents. They've taken time to learn the truth about topics that affect us and become a great resource of information. Delegates work to brighten the lives of those in their districts and plan social events more than a year in advance. They're problem-solvers, communicators, and friends to all Sun Lakers. The best way of expressing gratitude to your delegate is by your actions. Participate in your district's functions, they do them just for you, or get involved with the people who collectively make your district work. Your Sun Lakes experience will be enhanced and you'll meet many new friends traveling the same path. ~ Cal Martin From the Delegate Assembly From the Pro Shop

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