City dedicates pickleball courts at event center

Published October 26, 2017 - www.goldsboro.com

New pickleball courts are now open and available for use by the public at the Goldsboro (NC) Event Center.

A recent dedication of the courts drew city leaders, pickleball players and a representative from the Mount Olive Pickle Co., which donated $10,000 to the cost of improving the tennis courts for pickleball games, said Kaye Scott, Goldsboro finance director.

The courts can be used for tennis or pickleball, said Theresa Merritt, a member of the Goldsboro Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. The Goldsboro Event Center is located at 1501 S. Slocumb St.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Pickleballers earn medals

Published October 16, 2017 - www.claycountyprogress.com

Players from more than a dozen states traveled to Hiawassee for the Georgia Mountain Pickleball Fall Classic held Friday-Sunday, Oct. 6-8.

The mountain counties of North Carolina and Georgia were well represented in the event that drew almost 350 players from across the nation.

Players competed in women's doubles, men's singles and mixed doubles during the first two days of the event.

Pickleball tournamemt raises funds for Special Pops

Published October 15, 2017 - www.savannahnow.com

The Landings Club hosted the second annual Special Pops Allstate/David Pence Pickleball Open on Saturday and Sunday — the largest pickleball tournament in Savannah (GA).

Players from the Savannah area comprised about half of the field of 150 competitors, reflecting the growing popularity of the sport in the area. Savannah players also medaled in 11 of the 13 competitive divisions in men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Other players came from the state, South Carolina, Florida and other parts of the Southeast as well as a few from as far away as Michigan and Ohio.

This tournament, sponsored by Allstate/David Pence Insurance Agency, was a fundraiser for the Savannah chapter of Special Pops (short for special populations). The program supports individuals in the community with intellectual challenges.
CLICK HERE to read more.

New sport taking over Tallahassee

Published October 14, 2017 - www.wctv.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Pickle ball, often described as "life size ping pong", is rapidly gaining popularity in the Big Bend.

The sport is a combination of badminton, ping pong, and tennis and is played on a shortened tennis court.

"I describe it as playing ping pong, but you're standing on the table," said Tallahassee Pickleball director Lenin Mongerie.

Players use large wooden paddles and hit wiffle balls over a lowered net.

The city of Tallahassee initially introduced pickle ball at the senior center, but now has nine courts throughout the city.

"Pickleball can be played by all ages," Mongerie said. "The shortened court and paddles make it easier than tennis for seniors, but the fast pace also makes it new and exciting for younger people."

The United State Pickleball Association reports that there are currently around 5 million pickleball players nationwide, and expects that number to grow to about 8 million by 2019.

CLICK HERE to read more.

'An event for everyone': Pensacola (FL) Senior Games brings out competitive spirit

Published September 17, 2017 - www.pnj.com

Robert Blouin knows his parents and grandparents weren't as active as he is at age 67.

"They were on the couch or in the rocking chair,'' Blouin said. "Not very mobile."

Not Blouin and his fellow seniors at the William J. "Red" Vickrey Resource Center on Friday. Dozens of folks ages 50 and older took to the hard courts for a pickle ball tournament — part of the Pensacola Senior Games, which run through Sept. 24.

Minutes later, Blouin was on the court at the Vickrey Center swatting the pickle ball — think wiffle ball — with his paddle, which resembles an over-sized table tennis paddle.

 

CLICK HERE to read more.

 

Enterprise (AL) to host inaugural Pickleball Social

Published September 6, 2017 - www.southeastsun.com

Enterprise Parks and Recreation will be hosting the inaugural Pickleball Social this Thursday, Sept. 7, at 5:45 p.m. at the M.N. Brown Rec Center.

This event is free to people that want to learn to how play Pickleball. All equipment will be provided free of charge after everyone is taught how to play. Games will be played, too.

Hamburgers and chips will also be provided for those in attendance for free.

CLICK HERE to read more.

2017 Aiken (SC) Pickleball Tournament

Published www.pickledillys.com

The fifth annual Palmetto Indoor Pickleball Doubles Invitational was held from August 17 through August 20. Tournament co-directors Mo Garcia and Keith Shaver did an outstanding job putting together a fantastic event. Over 200 participants enjoyed a day of clinics, lessons and pro-am events, a Friday evening social, and last but not least three days of pickleball made up of 24 separate events in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles. Participants also received lunch each day they played and a swag bag stuffed full of goodies that was an actual paddle cover. Where else do you see that?

The tournament owes a debt of gratitude to the many generous sponsors, most especially the Platinum level sponsor Scott Singer, financial adviser w/ Janney Montgomery LLC. Thanks also go out to our Gold level sponsors, the USAPA (c/o Mike & Loretta Beckner, Ambassadors), Mo Power Sport (supplier of paddles, nets, balls, t-shirts, medals and paddle covers). Silver level sponsors included Security Federal Bank, South Aiken Physical Therapy, and G4 Power Products. Bronze level sponsors included CMI-Carolina Muscular Institute, Baker Family Dentistry and Suzy Haslup Realty. Pickleball Central, Paddletek, LongHorn Steakhouse, Golden Corral and Chick-fil-a also contributed. Without their assistance and support, the event would not have been the tremendous success it was. If you get the chance, please show your appreciation by patronizing those who supported us.

Mike Beckner and Jim Kabel marshalled a force of over 90 volunteers who donated time and talent to supporting this year's pickleball tournament. Special thanks go to Nelson Spitnale (in charge of the tournament desk volunteers), Bill Reynolds (court monitors), Loretta Beckner (referees), Connie Dennis (swag bags), Pat Smith (t-shirts) and Sharon McMichael (registration desk). The lunch room was managed by Donna Vetsch, Kathy Reiter, Kathy Clemmens, John and Sherry Myers, Nancy Hughes, Rita Supan, and Jane Deese. Maria James, Denis Bonnet, and Michele Bullington did the facility management. Thanks to all these efforts, this year's tournament was an unqualified success!

The weekend kicked off with world class professional pickleball players and national champions Simone Jardim and Laura Fenton Kovanda running clinics and lessons for 45 players. After the lessons, we were treated to a pro-am event. Eighteen Aiken Pickledillys got to play a game with the pros. The last two games saw our best teams, Tony Quick/Vicki McNair and Josh Booth/Jordan Goetzman, line up on the same side and take on the pros head to head.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Palmetto Indoor Pickleball Doubles International kicks off

Published August 19, 2017 - www.aikenstandard.com

The Palmetto Indoor Pickleball Doubles International is being held at the H. Odell Weeks Activity Center this weekend and has women's doubles, men's doubles, and mixed doubles.

Saturday's games were part of the mixed doubles tournament.

The sport of pickleball was started in 1965, and Keith Shaver, one of the tournament directors, said that while the game started with older people playing, younger demographics have picked it up and estimates are that about three to four million people are playing.

He said that pickleball is considered the fastest growing sport in the country.

There is an intramural program at USC Aiken and schools are introducing pickleball into their gym classes.

CLICK HERE to read more.