Highland Lakes Pickleball

Monday, February 9, 2009

Monday Night Pickleball 2/9/09

Tonight was a good night for Pickleball. We had 4 new players join us in our beginners class, (Janet & Bubba Neal, Beverly & Dean Melvin) they are newcomers to our community. Three of our older beginners were there to play and we mixed them in with our regular players to see how they would do, (Donzette, Karen & Ann). We had three courts going with some players sitting & waiting for their turn. We are very pleased to see our beginners doing so well. Don Gullakson our Pickleball coach is doing a super job coaching our newcomers. Thanks Don!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Highland Lakes Pickleball Group Goes To Hawthorne Community to Play Pickleball

On January 31st,Highland Lakes Pickleball Group went to Hawthorne today to play pickleball with the group there. They have 3 nice new outdoor pickleball courts. It was about 60 degrees today so it was not hot but the sun was shining. We all had a great time and the Hawthorne folks were very hospitable furnishing balls and bottled water.
The players from Highland Lakes that attended were Manny, Marie, Cal, Irene, Dick, Marvin, Susan, Cindy, Don, Ken and Lynn.
The Hawthorne group has been invited over to play at Highland Lakes on Monday night so that should be another good pickleball time.

Pickleball Pictures from Monday Night 2-2-09

These are the pictures taken by Lynn in the Highland Lakes arena when we played pickleball on Monday night. We had 4 different community groups attending...the Highland Lakes group, the Hawthorne group, the Legacy group and 2 members (Ken & Lynn) of the Upstate Pickle Group from Greenville, SC. We played on 4 courts.

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