Save the Date

March 5, 2016

save the date

The Third Annual Joe Levine Mixed Doubles Tournament

at the 

Pickledome, Malden

(Salemwood School)

Nine Courts

more information after the first of the year

Beverly Tourney

Will and Eddie (Malden) win Gold

Mens B Division

Mixed Doubles B Division

From left to right

Bill Z (Andover) and Rosemary Dissel (Reading) Silver Medal

Jane Flynn and John Doherty (Reading)

Gold Medalists

B Division Mike Donovan and Joe Spinale
First Tournament
Bronze Medal

Punta Gorda Pickleball

And here they are 

St George and the Dragon

St. George was famous for having slain the dragon but Marjorie and I received much kinder treatment. We lost 13 to 11 at the hands of St George stand-ins Ron and Barbara but we at least left with our heads.   

  

Marjorie, LaDawn, Ron, Barbara and Millie

St. George has the best pickleball facility I've played on and that includes The Villages, Naples, West Peabody and Surprise AZ, even better than the courts in Reading!

Above is a picture of 24 pickleball courts, with canopies, permanent nets and restrooms. All for the use of the public.

Each court is marked off by a fence so you never have to hear "ball on court"ever again. Finally, the people were friendly and accommodating. We'd be a lot friendlier too I suppose if we had a place like this. On second thought coming from Boston probably not.  

Improve Your Dink Shot: Pickleball 411

Winter Options

Winter is always a difficult time to get indoor access for pickleball as youth basketball takes over. 

Beginning in January, we have more options than last year, although some venues are limited to one court. A single court leaves less flexibility. What is important on a single court is matching players of equal ability. With that in mind, Reading will have 6 single sessions on one court. It will be setup so beginners, advanced beginners and intermediates have their own designated days/times. North Reading and Winchester will also be limited due to a single court. Burlington will have two courts but play is in the afternoon.

Fortunately, Malden and Lexington and Newton have multiple courts. Malden has just added a fourth court for Tuesday's and Lexington will run three courts on Thursdays from 8 PM to 10 PM. Newton will have multiple courts on Sunday afternoons. 

Soon I will send out a time slots for the single courts starting up in January. I will be away for that month and possibly a good part of February so I'd like to get this lined up before I leave. Also, I will continue to look for other potential sites as we are growing in numbers by leaps and bounds. What we will need is for people to step up and help with these sites while I'm away. All and any help is greatly appreciated.

A Vacation Spot

Photo and story by Bob Klarich

Southern Utah has a new and exceptional feature. The Fields at Little Valley recreational complex in St. George now has 24 pickleball courts, making it the first pickleball facility to have so many public courts at a single location in the United States. This special pickleball complex was the brain child of several local pickleball players and the City of St. George to grow a sport that is playable by anyone from ages 8 to 80 year olds. This comes just as the City of St. George has announced they will host the USA Pickleball Association 2016 West Regional Tournament.