Rhodes Ranch R-Club plays ball, opens racquetball courts, league

The R-Club at Rhodes Ranch recreation center has added a racquetball league to its roster of organizations and events. As many as 20 team members have joined and the league is open to all residents of Rhodes Ranch, a guard-gated, golf course community located in the southwest part of the valley.

"We have these two great racquetball courts in the recreation center and I thought it would be fun to start a league for the residents," said Amy Schouten, fitness manager for The R-Club at Rhodes Ranch. "We had 17 people sign up for the Tuesday and Thursday matches. I help to facilitate the league, but the players handle scheduling their own matches and then report their scores to me so I can update the standings."

According to Charles Blen, a league member and Rhodes Ranch resident, the league is a way to get some exercise, compete a little and meet new people in the community.

"Las Vegas is a hermit town and this league is a great way to meet other residents and also a great way to network," Blen said. "The way the program is set up, there are three levels of players - A, B, and C. Many of the C players are new to the sport and this is a good way for them to learn the game without being intimidated by someone who has been playing a while. We have already seen some of these players move into the B category."

The league is in its second 10-week session. A tournament for current league members and other interested residents is scheduled for April.

The 35,000-square-foot R-Club has an indoor workout facility with weights and cardiovascular equipment, full-length basketball court, two racquetball/handball courts and six billiards tables. In addition to fitness amenities, the facility has social seating areas. This summer, it will open the Fun Zone, a 10,000-square-foot water park with three speed slides, five kid slides, rope bridges, multiple squirt gun stations and a 1,000-gallon bucket that fills and tips over every half hour.

The water park will feature a 13,000-square-foot lagoon pool with wading areas, a 25-meter lap pool; two eight-person spas; 12-person group spa; four large covered cabanas; one exterior lighted basketball court; two sand volleyball court; four lighted tennis courts; and children's play area with activity structures.

According to Schouten, The R-Club at Rhodes Ranch also offers a variety of group classes such as Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, core/abs, total body conditioning and circuit training in its group exercise room.

In addition to the recreational amenities of the R-Club, the master plan is anchored by the par-72, signature Ted Robinson-designed 18-hole golf course.

Rhodes Ranch is a guard-gated community with 24-hour roving security patrols and is selling homes in three neighborhoods -- The Collection, Palms Bay and Pacific Mist. All are in proximity to The R-Club.

The Collection offers the Monet, Matisse and Van Gogh series.

The homes range from 1,467 to 4,138 square feet. For more information on The Collection, call 740-4111.

Palms Bay offers three two-story models from 1,734 to 2,400 square feet and is in the heart of the landscaped Rhodes Ranch. The two-story, two- to three-bedroom homes include two-car garages For more information on Palms Bay, call 438-6006.

Pacific Mist offers buyers three floor plans with three different elevations available for each model. The two-story, three- to four-bedroom homes have two-car garages and range from 1,720 to 2,255 square feet. For more information, call 798-5006.

To visit Rhodes Ranch, take Interstate 215, the Las Vegas Beltway, to Durango Drive. Proceed south to Rhodes Ranch Parkway.

Prices in Rhodes Ranch start in the $300,000s. Sales offices are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

For more information on Rhodes Homes and its communities, visit rhodeshomes.com.