Highland Lakes Pickleball: 12/01/2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Christmas to all our Pickleball friends!

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Monday, December 13, 2010

Our Annual Pickleball Pizza Party

Thank You everyone for making our Annual Pickleball Pizza Party such a big success. We had a great group of people who came to enjoy Pizza, salad and so many desserts. Thanks to all who brought the salads and desserts. They also came to play Pickleball and enjoy each others company. There were four nets going and a line of people waiting to get on the courts as you can tell by the pictures.
Everyone seemed to be in the holiday spirit with their Santa hats and Christmas socks. Bob Cuenin even had his Buffalo Bill socks on tonight. It was a fun evening.

Pickleball, Pickleball, Pickleball Rock

Pickle balls ping and Pickle balls ring
Bouncing and volleying up barrels of fun
Now the Pickle hop has begun.
Pickleball, Pickleball, Pickleball rock
Pickle balls ping at Pickleball time
Dinking and lobbing in Pickleball courts
What a good time, it's the right time
To play the day away
Pickleball time is a swell time
To go sliding on a Pickleball day
Giddy-up Pickleball partner, pick up your feet
Pickle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle on the Pickleball court
That's the Pickleball,
That's the Pickelball,
That's the Pickleball Rock.

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Monday, December 6, 2010

Monday Night Pickleball

Tonight we had three new players who wanted to learn how to play Pickleball. Al & Maria are new homeowners here at Highland Lakes. Joe is new to Pickleball and wants to learn how to play the game. They did very well considering this was their first time playing. We even played a couple of games with the help of Dave Wenzel and Dena Randall. Thank You guys for helping out with the new players.

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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Sunday Afternoon Pickleball

This was the largest crowd we've had on a Sunday afternoon for quite some time. At one point we had a total of 18 players. We had a few snowbirds return this week. Welcome Back to Ron Eversole and Dave & Judy Wenzel. The snowbirds have not lost their touch for playing Pickleball even though they have been away for awhile. They had some great games and were having fun playing Pickleball.
Irene Blenis was back from her visit up North. Welcome back, Irene.

PICKLEBALL CODE OF ETHICS

Every person involved in pickleball as a participant, official, volunteer, representative of the USAPA or spectator pledges as follows:
I will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct or encourage others to do so. I will not engage in any behavior that would endanger the health, safety or well being of others. I will not engage in the use of profanity. I will treat others with respect. I will exhibit fairness and honesty in my dealings with others. I will not flaunt my position. I will not use USAPA records or materials for personal gain. I will observe the Golden Rule of doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. The above Code applies in all situations that relate directly or indirectly to pickleball play.

About Pickleball

Whether you have terrible hand-eye coordination or are a racquet sport pro, you will have fun playing pickleball.If you are a novice: The net is set at 34", lower than tennis, and the paddles we play with are solid (composite, graphite, or wood). It is easier to hit the ball where you want it to go in pickleball. We play with a 3" plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball.If you play any sports: You can learn pickleball in less than 5 minutes and start having great rallies, good exercise, and a lot of fun.If you are a tennis player: Pickleball is faster and more fun than tennis. The rallies are longer than in tennis. It can even help your tennis game, especially at the net. The strokes are the same as tennis.

The History of Highland Lakes Pickleball Group

It has already been written about how Pickleball was invented by a U.S. Congressman from Oregon but nothing has been written how it started here at Highland Lakes.
It was introduced by George Hastings around 1993. He posted an ad in our small newsletter asking for people to come out and see what it was all about. As I recall myself and my wife Marie Falcon and Kathy Hart showed up. At that time we only had two courts with thin black lines that you could hardly see from the other end of the court. In time we were able to get better outline courts and were able to increase the courts to four. Through "word of mouth" and advertising we had full courts with as many as eight to ten people waiting to play. We devised a plan of "musical chairs" for people to move up in line to play. In time George Hastings moved back up north and others had to take up the banner of keeping Pickleball going. Our equipment at first was not great. Small thin poles to hold up a flimsy net. Through meetings with the Board of Directors and Reps of Tennis players (since they had an inside court) we were able to get the equipment that we have today. We can write about Pickleball but until you come out and see what it's all about and play it, you won't know just how much fun it is. Come on what are you waiting for?
Joe Falcon

Highland Lakes Pickleball