March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year in sports. It is a period of non-stop college basketball and some of the most exciting games of the year. With the onset of March Madness, we thought it might be fun to look at one of our local communities and get an idea of how many basketball hoops there are lining the driveways. Enter, The Oaks Club, one of the areas most beautiful Golf Course Communities in the Sarasota Area.
The recent recipient of the Distinguished Emerald Club of the World award from BoardRoom magazine, representing the top 4% of all private clubs, The Oaks Club is most known for its two championship golf courses and award-winning tennis program. Equally important but not quite as well known are the large swimming pool, newly constructed Well-Fit Center, Croquet Court and exceptional dining options available in the beautiful clubhouse.
With all this being said, it might seem an unlikely fit for younger families in the area, but that is not the case.
The proximity to nationally ranked Pine View School and all this community has to offer, has led to an increase in families moving to the neighborhood. One of the telltale signs of families in the neighborhood is the prevalence of the basketball hoop. As a father of three boys and owner of a basketball hoop, the basketball hoop in my driveway has been a source of constant entertainment for years. My children have spent countless hours outside shooting hoops or playing pick-up with neighbors and friends into the evening.
So just how many basketball hoops would you expect to see? At my last count, there were 15. At first glance, this may not seem like a lot, but many of the area’s communities have restrictions on basketball hoops, not even allowing them to be left outside for the night. Could there be more? Yes, of course, this was just our first pass at counting the hoops as we thought it would be a fun statistic to show the diverse population living in The Oaks. So shake off those perceptions of the typical gated golf course community and explore The Oaks. You just may find the next LeBron James living next door.
*Written by Joel Schemmel for Sarasota Magazine