Larry Martinson and Maxine Amundson have lived in The Villages for 24 years. Larry is an avid golfer who started playing pickleball in 2016 when the Tennis Club was allowing one of their courts to be used for the game.
His friend Charlie had been bugging him to try it and, like many of us, once he started playing, he was immediately hooked. He quickly became involved in the club and was elected president in 2019. He was integral in starting the first “Pickle-Up” introductory six-week session for new players to learn the basics; which is how he began coaching pickleball.
Coaching came naturally to Larry as he spent 14 years as a softball coach for his daughters, along with playing competitive, fast pitch softball himself! In 2019 he was appointed to chair the committee to navigate the permitting and construction of dedicated pickleball courts, keeping Villagers informed of the process and working with the city of San Jose.
When the proposal came before the San Jose City Council, 75 Villagers showed up in support and only one neighbor in opposition. With the agreement that we would use “quiet” paddles and balls, and only play from 9 a.m. to sunset, the courts were approved and construction was completed in December of 2020.
In April of 2021 he started coaching the novice/advanced novice group, along with Donna Quartaro and Liz Kung. Larry loves coaching because he can share his passion for pickleball. He loves to see the players, some of whom start with very few skills, transform over time to dedicated players of all levels. All the humor and laughter along the way is an added bonus! He has taught his four children the game and they also love it, Larry’s enthusiasm for the game has a way of rubbing off on you!
