Published July 12, 2015 - www.forsythnews.com
NORTH FORSYTH — A sport growing in popularity with senior citizens is getting some recognition from local parks officials.
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday voted 3-0, with members Todd Holbrook and Gary Cooper absent, to move forward with painting two tennis courts at Coal Mountain Park to accommodate Pickleball.
Pickleball is similar to tennis or badminton but the ball and rackets are different. The ball is more like a Wiffle ball, while the paddle has no strings and is entirely wooden.
The court is also smaller than the one required for tennis, thus the need to repaint the courts.
Though all ages can play, the sport is particularly popular with seniors, especially those who had previously played tennis. It is less strenuous than tennis and easy to pick up.
“I have played with people from ages 18 to 87,” said Jerry Killinger, who had requested the change to the board. “It’s an easy game to learn … within an hour [newcomers] can be playing.”
CLICK HERE to read more.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Local Pickleball Guide – Raleigh, North Carolina
Published July 9, 2015 - http:\\blog.pickleballcentral.com
Pickleball is unarguably one of the most popular sports in the South Atlantic region. We send orders to North Carolina more often than nearly any other state (topped by only Florida, California, Arizona, Washington and Michigan). If you happen to live near the Raleigh area, here’s a quick glimpse into pickleball in your area.
Local USAPA Ambassadors:
If you’re itching to play, check out these North Carolina-located pickleball clubs. If you want even more information, the North Carolina State Pickleball website and the Atlantic South Region website are both awesome resources for those in the area.
Pickleball is unarguably one of the most popular sports in the South Atlantic region. We send orders to North Carolina more often than nearly any other state (topped by only Florida, California, Arizona, Washington and Michigan). If you happen to live near the Raleigh area, here’s a quick glimpse into pickleball in your area.
Local USAPA Ambassadors:
- Cary Michael Walsh 919-460-1650 Cary, North Carolina
- Cary Luis Vazquuz 919-561-8732 Cary, North Carolina
- Durham Mark Siewers 617-515-0166 Durham, North Carolina
- Raleigh Joe Borrelli 919-426-1110 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Raleigh Daphne Key 919-706-5639 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Wake Forest Sandy Brasseale 501-772-7439 Wake Forest, North Carolina
- Wake Forest Joe Vartanesian 919-624-6795 Wake Forest, North Carolina
If you’re itching to play, check out these North Carolina-located pickleball clubs. If you want even more information, the North Carolina State Pickleball website and the Atlantic South Region website are both awesome resources for those in the area.
- Mountain Picklers (Connestee Falls) Brevard, North Carolina
- Triangle Pickleball Club Cary, North Carolina
- Wake Forest Legends Wake Forest, North Carolina
- Winston-Salem Pickleball Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Pickleball Carolina (State Website)
Having a (pickle) ball
Published July 8, 2015 - www.tbnweekly.com
BELLEAIR – After just five months on the pickleball court, Mary Stiegler lost 10 pounds and found her new favorite sport.
In the past, Stiegler tried to play golf, but just wasn’t very good at it. When a friend suggested pickleball at the beginning of the year, Stiegler decided to give it a shot. She swapped her golf clubs for a pickleball paddle and hasn’t looked back since.
Now, she bounces between games at the Long Center and drop-in matches at the Dimmitt Community Center, playing pickleball for hours at a time.
“The people are such fun and it’s such good exercise,” Stiegler said.
CLICK HERE to read more.
In the past, Stiegler tried to play golf, but just wasn’t very good at it. When a friend suggested pickleball at the beginning of the year, Stiegler decided to give it a shot. She swapped her golf clubs for a pickleball paddle and hasn’t looked back since.
Now, she bounces between games at the Long Center and drop-in matches at the Dimmitt Community Center, playing pickleball for hours at a time.
“The people are such fun and it’s such good exercise,” Stiegler said.
CLICK HERE to read more.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Culver column: Learning to love pickleball
Published June 30, 2015 - www.tallahassee.com
Full disclosure: I did not want to write a pickleball story when the idea was first pitched to me.
At the time, I knew next to nothing about the sport. I knew it was sort of like tennis, and I remember seeing a notice about it at the senior center on Monroe Street.
I looked up a few videos on YouTube, did a Google search, saw there is a national organization dedicated to pickleball and – after repeated emails from my boss – figured, "Well, what's the worst that could happen? Might as well write the story."
I still didn't see what all the fuss was about.
Pickleball player base growing in Tallahassee Jordan Culver/Democrat
I contacted LaRae Donnellan, set up a time to play a few rounds at Premier Health and Fitness and decided to schedule a story for Monday, when we run community features in the sports section.
Donnellan was all smiles when I arrived at Premier. I'm guessing it's because she knew she was about to run circles around an unsuspecting journalist. She led me to the courts where other players were already in the middle of games – it was 9 a.m., by the way – and gave me a basic rundown of the rules.
CLICK HERE to read more.
At the time, I knew next to nothing about the sport. I knew it was sort of like tennis, and I remember seeing a notice about it at the senior center on Monroe Street.
I looked up a few videos on YouTube, did a Google search, saw there is a national organization dedicated to pickleball and – after repeated emails from my boss – figured, "Well, what's the worst that could happen? Might as well write the story."
I still didn't see what all the fuss was about.
Pickleball player base growing in Tallahassee Jordan Culver/Democrat
I contacted LaRae Donnellan, set up a time to play a few rounds at Premier Health and Fitness and decided to schedule a story for Monday, when we run community features in the sports section.
Donnellan was all smiles when I arrived at Premier. I'm guessing it's because she knew she was about to run circles around an unsuspecting journalist. She led me to the courts where other players were already in the middle of games – it was 9 a.m., by the way – and gave me a basic rundown of the rules.
CLICK HERE to read more.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Pickleball taking Tallahassee by storm
Published June 28, 2015 - www.tallahassee.com
Ever heard of pickleball?
Don’t worry, by the time a group of dedicated enthusiasts at Premier Health & Fitness Center are through, most of Florida will be playing what can only be described as “a combination of tennis and badminton with a wiffle ball and ping pong paddles.”
It’s a game just about anyone can pick up, and given enough time, anyone can rise through the ranks and become a national champion.
Walt Cofer, 56, started off as a racquetball player and said he immediately became addicted to a sport that’s only about 5-years-old in Tallahassee. Pickleball was invented by Joel Pritchard in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, which is close to Seattle, Washington.
“I’ve just about stopped playing racquetball,”Cofer said.
CLICK HERE to read more.
Don’t worry, by the time a group of dedicated enthusiasts at Premier Health & Fitness Center are through, most of Florida will be playing what can only be described as “a combination of tennis and badminton with a wiffle ball and ping pong paddles.”
It’s a game just about anyone can pick up, and given enough time, anyone can rise through the ranks and become a national champion.
Walt Cofer, 56, started off as a racquetball player and said he immediately became addicted to a sport that’s only about 5-years-old in Tallahassee. Pickleball was invented by Joel Pritchard in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, which is close to Seattle, Washington.
“I’ve just about stopped playing racquetball,”Cofer said.
CLICK HERE to read more.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Pickleball Open House and Demonstration/Lessons
Published June 14, 2015 - www.mydelraybeach.com
It's been called the sweet sport with the sour name, but with an estimated half a million active players worldwide, Pickleball is growing locally thanks to the Delray Beach Parks and Recreation Department.
Now with the National Parks and Recreation month celebration coming in July, you’ll be able to see in action this exciting sport designed for all ages.
A Pickleball demonstration and class will be offered as part of the month-long celebration at the Delray Beach Community Center on Saturday, July 18, along with open court time for current players. Playing time is from 1 pm to 3:00 pm.
Now with the National Parks and Recreation month celebration coming in July, you’ll be able to see in action this exciting sport designed for all ages.
A Pickleball demonstration and class will be offered as part of the month-long celebration at the Delray Beach Community Center on Saturday, July 18, along with open court time for current players. Playing time is from 1 pm to 3:00 pm.
CLICK HERE to read more.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Meet Pickleball, the next great American sport
Published June 4, 2015 - www.vox.com
If you go to the exclusive community called the Villages in North Central Florida, which is filled with many retirees, you'll find everything from golf cart tunnels to microbreweries. But one of the most distinctive features might be its 108 courts for a unique sport: Pickleball.
To understand Pickleball, I spoke with David Jordan, president of the United States of America Pickleball Association (USAPA). He shared the secrets of the popular and unusual game — a sport that one retiree said was "like a drug."
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is best described as a cross between table tennis and tennis. It looks a lot like tennis, but it features courts that are much smaller, a wiffle ball instead of a tennis ball, and a completely smooth paddle.
CLICK HERE to read more.
If you go to the exclusive community called the Villages in North Central Florida, which is filled with many retirees, you'll find everything from golf cart tunnels to microbreweries. But one of the most distinctive features might be its 108 courts for a unique sport: Pickleball.
To understand Pickleball, I spoke with David Jordan, president of the United States of America Pickleball Association (USAPA). He shared the secrets of the popular and unusual game — a sport that one retiree said was "like a drug."
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is best described as a cross between table tennis and tennis. It looks a lot like tennis, but it features courts that are much smaller, a wiffle ball instead of a tennis ball, and a completely smooth paddle.
CLICK HERE to read more.
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