Browsing: Pickleball News

The PPA introduces an enticing opportunity in a bid to accommodate players not playing in the main draw. Its first stop in 2024 is at Palm Springs, California, with the Hyundai Masters offering a 16-team bracket boasting a purse of $1,000, available to anyone seeking to take part. “A High Stake Bracket” Dillon Segur, the PPA Tour’s Pro Player Director, took time out to explain the motivation behind this initiative, stating, “We wanted to provide another way for players to play in more of a high stakes bracket. “There were players who wanted to play a more competitive game than…

Vaughn Baker is “Special” to the Coastal Point newspaper, a monthly publication covering the beach community in the state of Delaware beach community. He recently published a very interesting article talking about nearly 60 years of pickleball history. He says, “Many are surprised when I say “pickleball history,” but in a few weeks, pickleball will be 59 years and counting. I recently took a look at the book written by a friend, Olympian Dick Squires, called The Other Racquet Sports.” Exceptional Prowess Baker recounts Dick’s exceptional prowess in both tennis and squash during his time at Williams College. He clinched…

The Happy Trails Resort, located at 17200 W. Bell Road, is gearing up to host its 18th Annual Happy Trails Pickleball Classic, a cannot-be-missed fixture of the pickleball calendar for those players aged 50 and above. Scheduled to run from January 15 to 19, this event has secured its position as one of the most enduring pickleball competitions nationwide. A Pivotal Gathering Originating in 2005, this tournament has evolved into a pivotal gathering within the pickleball community, drawing participants from various corners of the nation and Canada. Nestled within the vibrant and picturesque setting of Happy Trails, it has become…

It may not be widely known, but when a player joins a professional event within the PPA Tour, they inherently agree to adhere to the complete set of rules and regulations established by the PPA. This mirrors the compliance expected in other professional sports leagues like the ATP, NFL, and NBA. A Comprehensive Guide The PPA Handbook serves as a comprehensive guide encompassing guidelines for players, referees, and line judges across all tiers of officiated PPA Tour pickleball events. It covers everything from officiating protocols and match-play scenarios to player development and administrative affairs. The primary objective of this handbook…

Ben and Julian Slive are relative newcomers to the pickleball scene, having played seriously only since last May, but they have made quite the mark. Their recent display at the sixth annual Franklin Delray Beach Pickleball Classic, which attracted over 700 contenders, showed exactly how far they’d come. Delray Beach Tennis Center This tournament, held at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Atlantic Avenue, was sponsored in the main by Franklin Sports with support from the Delray Beach Pickleball Club. The huge event used 28 courts, including a center stadium hosting the medal matches. Norm Dickman, President of the Delray…

The Glendale Valley in Arizona can now boast a major new pickleball facility courtesy of The Pickleball Space. The courts are located at 5665 W. Bell Road, with the grand opening held at 8 a.m. on December 26th. Grand Opening The 30,000-square-foot indoor pickleball facility will feature 10 courts and a refreshment area providing coffee and ready-to-eat meals. This location also features a Pickleball Pro Shop, where players can buy or rent gear. John Solema, Director of Development And Programs, told Nicole Guttierez of abc15.com, “We are thrilled to bring the Glendale community a welcoming space for players of all…

The St. Luke’s University Health Network has announced the completion of refurbishments to the former Parkland Pickleball Club in Allentown. The newly expanded multi-sport arena will house the prominent Pickleball Lehigh Valley club, among the largest on the East Coast. Soft Launch The company has scheduled a soft launch, which opened on December 26th and welcomes visitors until January 2nd. Situated at 4636 Crackersport Road, St. Luke’s SportsPLex covers an impressive 75,000 square feet, with the revamped pickleball court complex now bearing the names St. Luke’s SportsPLex and Pickleball Lehigh Valley. High-Quality Open Play Mary Jo Cambridge, the operations director…

Students from West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia, engaged in a charity pickleball tournament recently as part of a Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) community initiative, directing the proceeds towards Family Promise of Forsyth County, a nonprofit aiding families towards sustainable independence. On The Crest Of A Wave This event was spearheaded by Dani Mason, Alex Hamm, and Baxley Woodruff, three West Forsyth seniors who are also DECA members. In a double elimination bracket featuring 18 teams, the duo comprising sophomore Lane Margaret Dyer and junior Brooklyn Hoffmann, both tennis players from West Forsyth, emerged victorious. Woodruff, 17,…

Experience an enchanting winter setting filled with excitement and joy at the Holiday Break Kids Camp. Each day promises fresh adventures, making new friends, and creating precious moments and memories that glow as brilliantly as the holiday season. Holiday Break Kids Club Running from 9 a.m. on December 27 to 4 p.m. on December 29 at Fort Myers Racquet Club, 1700 Matthew Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, it’s the ultimate fun holiday getaway. Attention, young adventurers and especially those aspiring pickleballers! Get ready for an exhilarating and entertaining holiday extravaganza—the Holiday Break Kids Camp!  Specially designed to be the ultimate…

Move over golf, skiing, and scuba diving; it is now pickleball getaways that travel organizers are adding to their vacation portfolios.  All-inclusive resorts, from Beaches in the Turks and Caicos Islands to the historic Broadmoor in Colorado, are the latest tourist havens to feature pickleball programs. Road Scholar Lorrie Lynch of AARP recommends travel specialists like the non-profit Road Scholar that can arrange pickleball-centered trips, while individual professional players who now lead trips organize visits for players of all levels. Although there isn’t official data on the surge in pickleball-related travel, Ernie Medina Jr., a USA Pickleball board member and…