My first pickleball article appeared in the July 21, 2022 issue. Thirty articles and twelve months later much has happened in the pickleball world, so I want to take this opportunity for a recap.
New Amenities:
The first article, titled Pickleball with the Professionals, was the first to mention Bradley Morse. Bradley joined The Landings Club team early this year, giving the pickleball staff a much needed second full time teaching pro. Four new pickleball courts brought our total number of courts to fifteen, but at the rate at which the sport is growing, we expect to outgrow our expanded space in the near future. With a consulting group retained to study the entire Franklin Creek Complex, we might well have a clear view of the future before the year ends.
More Players:
A year ago, the courts sports headcounters estimated that approximately seven hundred members played pickleball, at least occasionally. According to Chris Kader, while it is currently impossible to know exactly how many members play, the numbers who play regularly has exploded. Back issues have severely limited my ability to play pickleball, but as a frequent spectator, I am amazed at the number of new faces I see when I visit the courts. When I played four or more times a week, I knew most everyone at the courts. Today I see more faces I don’t recognize than ones I do.
Much of the growth comes from New Neighbors. According to Greg Hoff whose term as New Neighbor pickleball coordinator ended in June, for the year he held that position the group averaged fifteen new participants every month. But New Neighbors is not the only conduit for new players. My first article mentioned ten-year-old Benjamin Greene who plays in open play against competition his parents’ age and older. A year ago, young players were an anomaly. Not anymore. Now teens and young children are a regular presence on the courts.
Rating & Organization:
Twelve months ago, very few people at The Landings had heard of the DUPR rating system. In fact, it wasn’t until the September 7, 2022 issue that DUPR was first introduced in TWATL. Charlie Bradford took the lead in introducing DUPR to The Landings, and it is now ubiquitous to anyone playing competitive pickleball. Charlie, working with Chris Kader and several volunteers, created the Landings Pickleball Association, which has helped bring much needed organization to the pickleball program.
Media Attention:
Major media outlets are writing about pickleball with increasing frequency. In the last month alone, the New York Times has published articles, not only about the popularity and health benefits of pickleball, but also the downside, including noise and injuries. They even included pickleball in a recent crossword puzzle! Additionally, the Mayo Clinic has published several articles touting the health benefits of pickleball.
Was there a favorite article this year? Judging from reader comments, It’s for Real – Nude Pickleball finished head and shoulders (and everything else) above all the others.