The Pickleball Club was busy in October and November.
Pickleball players have a new pony wall outside Court 17, safeguarding eager players from rolling down the hill when retrieving balls that were hit over the fence.
Players on courts 9-12 are happy to see more canvas shades helping to block the setting sun that was shining right through courts 3 and 4 and shining in the players eyes.
October was Breast Cancer Awareness month and a group of the women pickleball players dressed in pink with name tags on their shirts identifying people they knew and have lost to breast cancer. Playing in the group of “pink ladies” were breast cancer survivors representing that early detection can be a life saver.
Fellow pickleball players were excited to look on as Channel 3’s Sports Anchor, Mark McCune, interviewed club members John Angus, Mark Clark and Bonnie Relic explaining to the sports anchor how the game of pickleball is played and why it is the fastest growing sport worldwide.
October 5 began the winter schedule of play and the weekly TGIF social play. Each Friday from 4:00–7:00 p.m. players bring their favorite snack and all levels of players eat and play together. It’s a great opportunity for meeting other players and for new players to be welcomed into the club.
Long time members Poncho Epstein and Helen Hurley enjoyed themselves at the October 21 club’s annual buffet dinner and dancing to the music of the popular band Rhythm Edition. Members are already looking forward to next year’s fall concert.
October 25 was the beginning of this fall’s Ladder Play. Captain of Women’s Ladders, Nancy Popenhagen, and Captain of Men’s Ladders, Alex Potapoff, joined in on the first week of the individual competitive playing season.
The month of November begins the Final Four team competitions. November 12 will be the Mixed Doubles, followed by the Women’s Doubles on December 12 and the Men’s Doubles on January 27.
The year will close the season with the annual December Toys for Tots social and January will begin 2019 with the club’s Chili Cook Off.