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Sunday, December 30, 2018

As we say goodbye to 2018

We reflect on the loss of a very special and giving club member

Laurel Wineinger
1940-2018

Laurel and her husband Dean joined our pickleball club during the 2008-2009 season.
She was a regular at the courts and actively participated in Round Robins.  
Laurel did not lose any time, signing up for our Resident Tournament and winning a Gold Medal!  
It wasn't long until Laurel became a volunteer. She volunteered as a Round Robin Captain and coordinated all the photography for our resident and annual tournaments for four years.  She also took many photos over the years for this Blog. If not busy enough, she also was a coordinator for ordering our club shirts for two years!
Laurel was an active member of the photography club and participated in the annual photo shows.
When not at Palm Creek and not on the pickleball courts at home, she enjoyed RVing with Dean.
During the summer of 2014 Laurel suffered from a life-changing event. She tripped and consequently lost her ability to walk. She spent a great deal of time in rehab and was determined to return to Palm Creek to be with her friends.  With Dean being the best caretaker, they returned to Palm Creek for the 2016 Nationals.
As a testament to Laurel and Dean's generosity of spirit - we had a player who lost her guest housing the day before Nationals was to start, she had made her travel arrangements and was registered to play in the tournament.  We put out a plea for someone to step up.  Laurel and Dean were here only a day and volunteered to host this player! 
Truly inspirational, Laurel was frequently at the courts in her pink wheelchair, always with a smile, sometimes with her camera in hand and a determination to make the best of each day.

God has you in His keeping We have you in our hearts

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Wishing you a VERY MERRY




Twas the Night Before Christmas
When all Through the House,
Not a Creature was Stirring
Not even the Spouse.

When up on the Roof
There Arose Such a Clatter,
We sprang from our Bed
To see What was the Matter.

Then What to Our wondering
Eyes should Appear,
But a Chubby Old Elf
Sporting Pickleball Gear!

He Wasted no Time
But he Started to Dink,
Then Shouting a Challenge
He gave us a Wink.

We Slammed and We’d Lobbed
Then we started to Volley,
He placed his Kill Shot
Then got Oh So Jolly!

We Heard him Exclaim
As he Flew Out of Sight
Maybe Next Year with Practice
They’ll Put up A Fight!

HoHoHo... Merry Christmas Everyone!
 
Author Della Bass 


Thursday, December 20, 2018

Christmas Pickleball Poem


Twas the night before Christmas                                                                   
And out on the courts
Were all types of people
In tennies and shorts.
All of them beaming and shouting with joy.
Happy as children with a new Christmas toy.
Out of their bags, colorful paddles appeared.
To the kitchen, they scurried, lined up, and cheered.
Let's dink it and drop it, let's volley and kill.
The balls started bouncing as if without will.
The sound from the paddles and balls as they rose moved all of the players to the tips of their toes.
Crosscourt and forward, balls started to fly
When appeared an old player with a wink in his eye.
Dressed in all red from his head to his toe.
A smile on his face and a warm, cheery glow.
0-0-2 he shouted as he served me the ball.
He moved like the wind, barely saw him at all.
Then all of a sudden, it was 11 to 0.
As we lightly touched paddles, he said he must go.
Before I asked where he disappeared in a haze,
But I heard his farewell while still in my daze
"Keep playing and laughing and having your fun!
Merry Pickleball to all, my work here is done!"

[A Poem By Greg LaVelle]


Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Tournament season is coming upon us.
The Blog Calendar has been updated with tournaments for the season

The one you really do not want to miss is our Member Tournament:
  • The Tournament is Closed to Outsiders
  • Our Club Members volunteer to make this a "Great" Tournament for all of us
  • As a Fun Tournament, you do NOT need to be a member of USAPA to participate
  • Last year 398 club members played, this year it will be most of our club
  • In your weekly round robins ask one of the players to be your partner and to sign up with you
  • Look above the Calendar and you will see a Tab for "The Members Tournament" this will provide you with all the information you need!
Mark the Date on your Calendar Registration Opens on  December 20th!

The second Great tournament is our 16th Annual Tournament - Duel in the Desert:
  • Registration has opened and it appears that most events are full as are some waiting list.
  • Do not delay, right NOW take a look to see if there is something open in your Age and skill level, or if there is room on a wait list
  • If you are not able to register, by being a volunteer, you will be part an important participant in the success of this tournament

As to the other tournaments listed on the calendar, you need to look now, to see when registration closes. Some are closing soon. Others Registration will open after the first of the year.  
In most cases, you will need to be a USAPA member to participate. Like our Duel in the Desert be prepared for the better tournaments, to close registration quickly!

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

THE LARGEST PAYOUT

Nationals advertised $ 75,000 in prize money. 

It always seems to be a mystery as to who got paid what.  Jennifer Lucore got the scoop!

All Open Player winners were treated equally, young or old, playing singles or doubles. Something new, they paid for 4th place! 


The player winnings per open player:



   1st place =  $ 2,250
                                 2nd place = $1,300                                 
3rd place =  $  750
 4th place =  $  400


Monday, November 19, 2018



The Stars of Nationals 2018

 Referee Coordinators
George and Therese McCulley
Never missed a beat
 scheduling 
166 Referees to cover
4,293 Matches 




Byron and Marsha
Freso

As Certified Referee's
 are wearing the
newly requested  
"Uniform"
and always a smile!





The Warriors
Over the span of 45 courts and with 2,200+ players
it was a bit tricky to find some of our players
 Pattie Decker Focusing


 Chuck Macdonald warming up 


Joel Brown wearing our Club Shirt


This was a hit!


The Facility
Beautiful mountain views
Landscaping that could compete with Disney World
Large shaded Pavilions at the food court

Want More?
USAPA Nationals
Information and Coverage
ESPN  News
November 25th 
1PM EST and 10AM PST


Tuesday, November 13, 2018

November Meeting

New Season Kicking into Full Swing 

Members are filling up the ballroom

Volunteers are on hand to sign up members
348 Members are on the new roster already!

Please see Side Bar - Minutes from the Meeting are posted

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Congratulations !!!


Pickleball Round Up At Sun City AZ


Steve Fischer and Rick DeWeerd
Gold - 4.0 Men’s Doubles


Friday, November 2, 2018

Passing the Baton

After 3 years of having Nationals at home, the time has come for a new venue.
It will be an exciting week as once again Nationals has made another major step in its growth. The following is a great newscast!





Sunday, October 28, 2018

Sunday, October 21, 2018

On the Road


Huntsman World Senior Games

George and Therese Mc Culley  
with Melissa Mc Curley

George and Therese ran the referee tent seamlessly
Next Referee Tent will be at the Nationals!

Sunday, September 2, 2018

2018 Nationals

BY David Hollis
Mission Royale

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden will make room for thousands of pickleball players this November when it hosts the "biggest, baddest pickleball tournament in the world," according to Indian Wells City Manager Wade McKinney. The facility will add championship pickleball courts for the USAPA National Pickleball Championships Nov. 3-11. The city will repaint the tennis courts to accommodate 45 pickleball courts in the Tennis -- or Pickleball -- Garden, including one for the championships. Most courts will be painted back for tennis games after the tournament. The tournament had to wait-list almost 500 players after registration hit its 2,000-player peak in one day on Aug. 1. This will equate to about 550 matches per day and nearly 5,000 matches over the span of the event. USAPA Director Justin Maloof said that shows how quickly the sport is gaining popularity. “This will be the premier event for the sport and will draw top players from all over the U.S. and world,” Maloof said. “The top names mean something in the pickleball world, but we are trying to elevate those names to the mainstream. Indian Wells Tennis Garden is one of the most beautiful venues for the sport and we are hoping this move will bring our players into the national mainstream spotlight.” The tournament has historically been hosted in Arizona across multiple venues, though organizers found themselves in a pickle as they outgrew the space. It will now remain in Indian Wells for five years. The national championships launched in 2009 in Arizona, where over 400 players participated. Last year, that number grew to 1,300, making it the largest pickleball tournament to date, meaning it became what some might call a "big dill." In comparison, the rival U.S. Open Pickleball Championships boasted about 1,000 competitors last year. In addition to observing premier pickling, spectators will have a wide array of food, beverage and entertain selections to enjoy, Maloof said. A number of pickleball sponsors will be on-site selling the latest paddles, balls, equipment, and apparel as well. It is not yet known if pickles will be sold, as pickles have no actual relation to the sport.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Congratulations!!!

Brenda Jmaeff and Barb Parobec

Maurice Writes:
Barbie and Brenda capture first place at the Camano Cup Pickleball tournament today. Congratulations to Barb on her first, first place finish in tournament play.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

What's Up?

Wow, you have been quiet this summer!
Has it been THAT hot, you do not have any pickleball news?

Registration for Nationals opened yesterday and as expected the age/skill events are already closed!

Saturday, July 21, 2018

The Girls are up to ...


USAPA Great Lake Regional SSIPA
Joyce Staffen
Bronze - Mixed Doubles



Ann Earley
Waleska farmers market “peoples choice” first place pie contest! When your bored and recovering from shoulder/rotator cuff surgery, you bake! 

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Monday, July 9, 2018

New Ratings are Here!


The Official Governing Body of Pickleball and the Leading Pickleball Tournament Software Company (PickleballTournaments.com) have created a Player Rating System to Help Tournament Directors & Players Improve Their Tournament Experience.
The Rating system went live on July 9th, 2018 at 5:00 PM PDT, 6:00 PM MDT, 7:00 PM CDT, 8:00 PM EDT!
Use the Links below to locate specific player ratings

Friday, June 8, 2018

Justin plays


On Arizona News USAPA President Jack Thomas and USAPA Director Justin Maloof just returned from China ... promoting pickleball

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

'Heroes' helped save Kelowna man's life at pickleball tournament in Kamloops




Kamloops This Week MAY 28, 2018 08:15 PM 

Monday, May 28, 2018

The Biggest Tournament of the Season

The US Open Pickleball Championships
A lot has been written about this tournament
Some of the Numbers:
47 States and 20 Countries represented
2,000 players and a total of 4,300 matches
855 medals awarded and $44,000 in prize money
VIP Court Side Box Seat $2,750

 Congratulations!!!
to our club members


Carol Lindow
Triple Bronze Medal Winner
Women's Doubles Age - Mixed Doubles Age 
 Women's Doubles Skill/Age

Marsha Freso
Silver Medal  Women's Doubles Age

Marti Gasser
Silver Medal  Women's Doubles Skill/Age

Do you want to see some of the action?
Tune in: June 1st (Friday) on CBS Sports Network - Pro Doubles Final
7 PM - Men   and 8 PM  - Women  Eastern Standard Time

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Find it on Amazon

Many of you know AJ Fraties
He was our club President from 2009-2011
Initiated our training program, started paddle day and much more.

We have several authors in our club, AJ has now joined them as a published author.
Although l fiction, you may be able to identify a few of the characters,

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Summer Intercommunity

Getting Ready for May 1st when Mission Royale and Dave White players come to Palm Creek

                                          photos courtesy of Linda Blevin

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Announcement

Friday, July 20, 2018
2ND ANNUAL "BAINBRIDGE CUP"
Pickleball's Intercontinental Team Competition
International Federation of Pickleball







Format:
Team Competition: Europe versus North America
Men's, Women's, and Mixed Doubles
* Age/Skill-Based Competition
19+, 50+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+ (planned)
One-Day Event
All players will play multiple matches throughout the day
Each match is worth 1 point for your team (Europe or North America)
Limited to 250 participants
IFP sanctioning rules will apply


Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22, 2018
ITALIAN OPEN PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018
Italian Pickleball Association



Format:
Men's, Women's, and Mixed Doubles
* Age/Skill-Based Tournament
19+, 50+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+ (planned)
Limited to 250 participants
IFP sanctioning rules will apply




Friday, April 6, 2018

Shirley Anderson in the news...

Still in her prime
By JOAQUIN AGUILAR H&N Sports Reporter  Mar 23, 2018

Penny English - Shirley Anderson 
Genny Leathers - Connie Emerson - Corey Purvis-Linda McAdam


Some of the most successful athletes are the ones who can endure the most pain.
Shirley Anderson has gone through her share of anguish.
Anderson, 82, is the oldest member of the Klamath Basin Pickleball Association.
Though she is a Klamath Basin native, the cold chill in the winter is something she prefers to live without and for the last 12 years, spends the winter in Arizona.
She has tried every sport imaginable.
If you name it, chances are Anderson has done it.
She has played softball, basketball, downhill skiing, cross country, tennis, to name a few.
To Anderson, not competing in sports is not an option.
With age, and a several setbacks, she found a sport she now invests all her time in.
While playing on a tennis court one day in Arizona, on the court just to her left, she noticed people playing pickleball.
“I asked them what was pickleball. Everyone I talk to now asks me that, 'what is pickleball?' Well, you use a paddle rather than a racquet,” Anderson said. “I ended up liking it better than tennis. It grows on you and you get to the point where you're lost without it.”
Living in Casa Grande, Ariz., Anderson unintentionally encountered likely the most popular place to play pickleball in the country.
While in Arizona, Anderson thrills at playing with and against people from around the country and plays at Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort, the location of the National Pickleball Championships.
The location has 32 courts alone.
She has become quite renown in the sport and has won two gold medals, several silver medals and recently finished with a bronze medal in the Palm Creek tournament with her partner Penny English.
But the sky wasn't always clear and baby blue for Anderson.
Three back surgeries forced her to quit skiing, a sport she became a national ski patrol senior.
She originally had spinal stenosis. After her doctor wanted to fix a disc in her back, she decided she needed to have an x-stop (Interspinous Process Decompression System) surgery.
To her dismay, the surgery did not fix her spinal stenosis when Anderson thought it would have.
A second surgery had to be done, but this time, her doctor did not properly insert the titanium implant of her lumbar spine.
“It hurt like heck. After a five-hour surgery, I still couldn't straighten up. She could have had a big lawsuit on her hands for what she did to me,” Anderson said. “I could have strangled that women but chose not to hold what happened against her. I think they moved to a different place.”
Anderson was lucky.
According to her new doctor, she was a step away from being in a wheelchair the rest of her life.
Finally, she had one last surgery to correct previous procedures.
Though she was unable to be as active as she was and had to give up many of the sports she loved, Anderson still did not give up pickleball after she had both her knees replaced.
Her first replacement was six years ago and replaced her second knee three years after.
After each knee surgery, it took her six months until she was able to play pickleball again.
“I have been in athletics all my life. My body is in good shape for an old lady. There are days when I don't do as well but I am still out there and loving the sport,” Anderson said. “I am still out here.”
To those who know her, Anderson's personality is what makes her standout.
She is the biggest inspiration at the Klamath Basin Pickleball Association.
Standing at 5-foot-3, she might not intimidate at first glance but is very aware on the court.
A Henley High School graduate, Anderson was in high school when there were no team sports and played intramurals.
To state the obvious, basketball was different in the 1950's.
There were six players on a team, three forwards and three guards.
A player could not cross the center line and had to shoot the basketball from there.
She has had her share of tales.
She tried water skiing once and during an exercise, hit her mouth hard and knocked out several of her teeth.
Growing up as a women was different as well.
She played slowpitch against men in regional tournaments and it was how many women made their living.
Anderson will turn 83 years old next month but shows no signs she will give it all up anytime soon.
She struggles with neuropathy in her feet but said she has no pain or discomfort in her knees.
“The Lord blessed me with being an athlete. I want to play as long as I can and will not stop doing this until I have nothing left. I am on a year-to-year basis,” Anderson said. “I have never given up sports and even when I had all those five surgeries, not once did I say I was done or that I would give up.”
“My mom gave me a glove and a bat when I was six years old and from there, I knew I was born to play sports. The people at the courts tell me I am their inspiration and they want to be like me someday. Humbly, I tell them they can. I tell them they will. People quit all the time. I chose not to because I will not let it stop me when I know I have so much more left to give.”