36

Yes, 36!

36 known Medals were won by Palm Creekers in the month of June

Difficult to think of it as the OFF Season

Congratulations to Palm Creeks June Medal Winners

Reminder - if you win a medal this summer, please e-mail me with the details at RosemaryReese@aol.com

San Diego Senior Olympics

Dennis Dacey ( Chairman of the USAPA Rules Comittee) has reached out to Palm Creek for assistance in notifying our club members of the upcoming tournament in San Diego

September 20-23, 2010

Castle Creek Inn, Resort and Spa
29850 Circle R Way
Escondido, CA 92026
At Interstate 15 and Gopher Canyon Rd.

Monday 9/20: Mixed Doubles by age (50 and over)

Tuesday 9/21: Men’s Singles, Women’s Doubles (by age 50 and over)

Wednesday 9/22: Women’s singles, Men’s doubles (by age 50 and over)

Thursday 9/23: Mixed Skill-level Doubles (50+, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5/5.0)

Entry Fee: $25 plus $5 for each event entered. Entry fee includes free T-shirt. Entries must be postmarked 2 weeks before start of event or late fee of $10 will be assessed. Play format is double elimination. Some events may be merged depending on number of players entered in each event. This is a USAPA sanctioned event. Yellow DuraBall will be used.

The Castle Creek Inn has 30 deluxe mini suites and a 3 bedroom/3 bath villa at reduced rates for the Tournament. It is located in the scenic foothills of San Diego County next to an 18-hole golf course. Fitness, swimming, hot soaking pools and banquet facilities are available. Also close by is Lawrence Welk Resort / Restaurant and 40 miles from Downtown San Diego. There is also All Seasons RV Park 1 mile from the Tournament at 30012 Hwy 395, Escondido. Phone (760) 749-2982. Rates are $38 a night.

Information and Registration at USAPA.org

or call Dennis Dacey (760) 731-2440 or Gail Penacho (760) 271-7327

In Memoriam Larry J Peterson

It is with deep sorrow this post is written,  Larry passed away on June 10th

A memorial service will be held with a reception to follow:
Saturday, June 19th at 2:00 PM
Kenmore Community Church
7504 NE Bothell Way
Kenmore, WA 98028

Condolences may be sent to his wife:
Joan Haggerty
1648 Huntwood Lane
East Wenatchee, WA 98802

 
The following is Larry's Obituary found on heraldnet.com.

Larry J. Petersen, of East Wenatchee, WA, was born in Port Angeles, WA March 29, 1940. He grew up in Port Townsend, WA and graduated from high school there where he was very active in music and sports and was an outstanding athlete. After graduation he served three years in the U.S. Army (Airborne Division) and jumped into Cuba when the U.S. was involved there. He spent his early working career in the insurance business in the Seattle, WA area before starting, owning and operating "Pacific Marketing", a direct mail marketing business in Monroe, WA, with his partner, Joan Hagerty. After retiring in 1995 Larry and Joan traveled the U.S. and Canada in their RV before settling in East Wenatchee in 2002 where they spent their summer months golfing and fishing. Their winters were spent in AZ where Larry was very active in golf, softball, pickleball, tennis and also played in a band.
Larry suffered a stroke and passed away at Swedish Memorial Hospital in Seattle on June 10. He is survived by Joan Hagerty; her son, Chris Hagerty, of Seattle; daughter, Lynne Petersen, of Kenmore, WA; son, Lonny Petersen, of Monroe; three brothers, Charles Petersen, Gene Petersen and David Petersen; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ingolf, who was killed in action during WWII; his mother, Mary Hendricks; son, Jerry; and brother, Earl Hendricks.

When reading this obituary it appears that we knew Larry as he was in High School - "Very Active in Sports" and "Very Active in Music".  Larry will be missed on the pickleball courts, his music will also be missed at our annual tournament dinner.

In closing our club sends its deepest sympathy and prayers to his wife Joan and to his entire family

June Medalist

Salina Senior Games
Gold           Dean Wineinger     Men's Doulbes
Silver          Dean Wineinger     Mixed Doubles
Gold           Laurel Wineinger    Women's Doubles
Silver          Laurel Wineinger    Mixed Doubles

Onamia Days Tournament, MN
Bronze         Jeanne Gearhart      Mixed Doubles
Bronze         Tom Gearhart         Mixed Doubles

Mid South Tournament, Baton Rouge
Silver           Pat Lively               Women's Doubles
Silver           Pat Lively               Mixed  Doubles
Silver           John Lively             Mixed Doubles

Wrightwood Open
Silver           Sandi Feller            Women's Doubles - Skill
Gold            Sherry Gusse          Women's Doubles - Skill
Silver           Sherry Gusse          Women's Doubles - Age
Gold             Sherry Gusse          Mixed Doubles - Skill
Silver           Sherry Gusse           Mixed Doubles - Age
Silver           Edie Pries               Women's Doubles - Skill
Gold            Laurie Scott            Women's Doubles - Skill
Silver           Laurie Scott            Women's Doubles - Age

Rocky Mountain Senior Games
Gold           Barb Schmidt           Mixed Doubles
Bronze        Barb Schmidt           Women's Singles
Gold           LeRoy Schmidt        Mixed Doubles
Gold           LeRoy Schmidt        Men's Doubles
Bronze        Marilyn Skees         Women' Doubles 

Northwest Senior Games

Bronze       Bob Sester                Men's Doubles
Silver         Lance Thiede             Men's Doubles
Bronze       Lance Thiede             Men's Singles
Bronze       Lance Thiede             Mixed Doubles
Silver         Jerry Winter               Men's Doubles

North Idaho Senior Games
Gold          Lance Thiede             Men's Singles
Silver         Lance Thiede             Men's Doubles
Bronze       Lance Thiede             Mixed Doubles 

Indiana Senior Games
Gold          Lynn Carlson             Men's Doubles
Gold          Lynn Carlson             Men's Overall
Gold          Al Hager                    Men's Doubles
Gold          Al Hager                    Men's Overall 
Gold          Al Hager                    Mixed Doubles
Silver        Al Hager                    Men's Singles

Joyce Staffen

Joyce is more than a "little" active when it comes to the game of Pickleball, she previously served as our club treasurer for 2 years and for the past two years she has organized a competitive Women's event for our club members. Joyce also does a great job competing in tournaments, this season she won medals in 6 different tournaments and went home this summer and has already picked up another 2 medals. Joyce definitely gives meaning to the expression “She is not getting older, she is getting better". To round out her Pickleball commitment she is also the USAPA ambassador for Mecosta County, Michigan.
Last year Joyce was written up in her hometown newspaper. I did contact Pioneer newspaper for a link to the article, for a clean copy, they have failed to respond. So although there is a small gap in the article below, you will get the gist of the interview

It is starting again .....

Although summer is not officially here- our Palm Creekers have once again started to play tournaments...
The Medal winners are:

Sea Tac Invitational

Bronze    Bob Sester         Men's Doubles

Kalamazoo Pickleball Doubles Tournament

Silver     Judy Moerman  Women's Doubles

Silver     Joyce Staffen     Women's Doubles
Silver     Joyce Staffen     Mixed Doubles

Silver     Doug Kant          Men's Doubles
Silver     Doug Kant          Mixed Doubles

The Sierra Nevada Senior Games

Silver     Cindy + Mark Nelson  Mixed Doubles

First Annual Tri-City Regional Pickleball Tournament 

Gold      Lance Thiede   Men's Singles

Bronze   Bob Sester      Mixed Doubles

Bronze   Noel White      Men's Doubles

Terre Haute Vlasic Classic

Gold      Al Hager          Men's Singles
Gold      Al Hager          Mixed Doubles
Silver     Al Hager          Men's Doubles

Silver     Lynn Carlson   Men's Doubles

Click on link to see Al Hager receive his medal on Fox TV (as posted on USAPA website)

Al Hager on Fox

SAVE THE DATE

November 9th and 10th 2010

Clinics will be held at Palm Creek by:

Mark Friedenberg

Author of "The Official Pickleball Handbook"

Past President of the USAPA

Updates will be posted

TAKE A BOW

The curtain has come down on the 2009-2010 season "literally"

Scheduled play is over for the season, there is no water or pickleballs at the courts. This has not stopped our players, the weather has been good, allowing them to play for hours. It is obvious that they are getting in as many games as they can before they leave and trying to stop this great season from coming to an end.

It is a season that will be remembered for years to come, thanks to our Board of Directors and the many players who volunteer to make this the best club in Arizona.

This blog will continue to be updated over the summer. If you win a medal or have other blog worthy news, please be sure to email - RosemaryReese@aol.com

Palm Creekers make the news promoting pickleball

Tom and Ann Earley attain notoriety in the Cherokee Tribune. They are great ambassadors for pickleball and do much to promote the sport

Click on the link below to read the story:

http://cherokeetribune.com/view/full_story/7172054/article-Pickleball-league-receives-attention-from-PBS-Atlanta?instance=home_news_bullets

Fire at Palm Creek RV Storage Facility

This blog ordinarily post Pickleball and Club news only. Palm Creek news and milestones in our members lives are not typically posted.

An exception is being made this one time, as many of you have just left.

For those of you who do not regularly check or are unaware of the blog that is done by our resident Sue Hepler I am providing the link to her blog. Here you will be able to read the story and see the pictures.

Sue does a great job of maintaining this site over the summer; you may want to check it regularly

http://palmcreekupdate.blogspot.com/

The Raffle more than a success!

April 13, 2010

Palm Creek Pickleball Club

Dear Friends:

On behalf of the Casa Grande Food Bank Board of Directors, we all say "Thank You" for your continued support. Because of your generous donation of $200 we can continue to feed the less fortunate people in the Casa Grande, Arizona City, Stanfield and 11-mile Corner areas.

We are a total volunteer organization and have been serving the Casa Grande and surrounding area for over 30 years.

Thank You

Mike Darby, Casa Grande Food Bank Board of Directors

Palm Creek Pickleball Club Rocks

One of the club's donations from this year's raffle was given to the Ironwood Elementary School, our club donated 2 portable nets, 2 dozen balls and 8 paddles. The school principal Dr. Howell and the PE teacher Sandra Hart Thomas are delighted with this donation. The students love pickleball. The students have fun playing it boosts thier self esteem.

In photo from left to right Dr. Howell, Sandra Hart Thomas, Irene Fraties, Tony Calandrillo and AJ Fraties.

Pickleball on Fox News

Pickleball: America's fastest growing sport!

Wednesday April 14th FOX News will be with us live at the Portage YMCA doing spots about pickleball at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:15 am (maybe more). Set your alarm or your DVR!

Note:

This announcement is from the ambassadors in Kalamzoo Michigan

AN ACTIVE USAPA SEASON

We reached our goal! The season ended with 101 Palm Creek Pickleball players being active members of the USAPA.

Audrey and Michael Hill started the season by being the first members to join and Bobby Jo Gregor ended the season when she joined at our last general club meeting. We had 36 club members join the USAPA this year and several renewals.

The USAPA donated $100 to our club this year as a "Thank You" for volunteering at the Nationals.

The USAPA designed and sold great portable nets, which sold out quickly. Thanks to the foresight of our Board of Directors 10 of these nets were ordered early which allowed us to use our new 4 courts and to maximize Tennis court conversion for our Annual Tournament.

Our 7th Annual Tournament was the last sanctioned tournament that the USAPA awarded points to the medal winners who competed in Masters and Legends.

As of April 15, 2010 USAPA members will be able to log in and search contact information of fellow members. If you do not wish your information to be made public, you must sign in and opt out.

As a reminder if you plan on playing in this year's National Tournament, you must have an active USAPA Membership.

Huntsman World Senior Games

Our Pickleball season is now officially over and there is already a buzz about next season.
Translation the Hunstman Games

Palm Creekers traditionally kick off the tournament season at the Hunstman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah.

The majority of us go for two weeks and stay at Temple View RV Resort, those who no longer RV stay at local motels or rent condo's in the area.

If you are even thinking of going you need to try to reserve a place NOW, most attendees make their reservations as soon as they arrive for the following year.

We typically arrive on October 2nd or 3rd to get settled and leave on October 16th the morning after the Pickleball Dinner.

The first week (according to our players) is the best. Sun River welcomes us to their courts for social play, those of us who play but do not enter the tournament, go the City courts to play.
Those of us who are not "living" at the courts the first week - have a social agenda, with various things to do during the day in the St. George area and lots of activities at night.
The second week we are all at the courts for the tournament and we cap off a great two weeks
at the Pickleball Dinner.

For more information on the games here is the link: http://www.seniorgames.net/

If you have a spouse that will not be in the tournament be sure to register him/her as a Guest, for $39 it is a great value

I would like to get an early start on the social agenda - if you know you are going or think you may go send me an e-mail - RosemaryReese@aol.com and I will keep you updated.

Questions? I will do my best to answer them