Shawne Cryderman The 2016 Tucson Senior Olympics (TSO) Pickleball Tournament was held at Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club on January 11, 12 and 13. This popular tennis venue has 12 permanent Pickleball courts with plans to add more courts in the very near future. Pickleball tournament directors Priscilla Scott and Michael Botwin did a fabulous…
Andrea Molberg and Don Guillette Just as the sport of Pickleball has taken off across the country, our SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) has rapidly grown to more than 700 members. Over six years ago, when the club’s membership was around 200, Membership Chair Judy Cummings and Don Guillette created Demo Day, Introductory Lessons and the…
Leigh Beatty and Andrea Molberg The pickleball clubs from five Arizona Robson communities have formed a Robson Pickleball League with the goal to give pickleball players from the communities an opportunity to socialize and compete. Over a five-month period, up to 60 players per community will be able to play against members from the other…
Andrea Molberg Pickleball keeps growing – and fast. SPA (SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association) now has over 700 members, 20 of whom participated at the USAPA Nationals VII tournament in Casa Grande this November, where there were 895 participants (including players and clinics attendees) and 2,038 matches. What is it with Pickleball? I interviewed some of SPA’s…
One third of the more than 700 SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) members are fairly new to Pickleball, so the SPA board unanimously approved a program Advanced Assisted Play Instruction specifically designed for REC and 2.0 Pickleball players! Every Wednesday (except December 23) from 1:00-2:30 p.m. on Ridgeview court Nos. 4, 5 and 6, an instructor…
Andrea Molberg Recognizing the popularity of the sport, the value to home sales, and the community’s wishes for more pickleball strongly expressed in the HOA2 Strategic Planning survey, the HOA2 Board of Directors has proposed $50,000 for pickleball in the 2016 budget. The funds will be used to help prepare the site for court construction…
Andrea Molberg SPA member Don Guillette has managed the club’s demo day/intro lessons program over the last 4.5 years, sold 450 plus pickleball paddles and knows a lot about pickleball paddle grips. The grip on a paddle, which deteriorates with normal play, distracts a player if it does not feel right. Eventually the paddle will…
Whether you’re a seasoned player or just curious about this crazy game that’s sweeping the country, you’ll definitely want to make plans and join the fun November 7-11, when Robson Ranch Arizona hosts the 2015 USAPA Nationals VII. The USAPA-sanctioned tournament is in its seventh year and consistently brings some of the top ranked players…
Nancy Teeter Is one sport better? I interviewed seven SaddleBrooke residents passionate about both pickleball and tennis to find out. Peter Bidwell, Larry Gray, Greg Hlushko, Mary Hlushko, Kathy Jensen, Jackie Kline and Linda Linegar have long tennis playing histories. Most have played tennis for 40 plus years and, except for Larry Gray, play both…
SaddleBrookers have been talking about Pickleball, the nation’s fastest growing sport for active adults. Test your knowledge of Pickleball in SaddleBrooke with this quiz below. Have questions about this popular activity? Contact Andrea Molberg at 777-0994. 1. The largest club in SaddleBrooke is a) Pickleball b) Hiking c) Tennis 2. How many potential buyers ask…