Aiken Pickleball News

The minutes for the Leadership Team Meeting held on April 1st have been posted. 

Topics discussed were - April being National Pickleball Month and our celebration with Groovy Tuesdays - with free clinics and drawings for door prizes; Court Time Allocation - results being everyone wanted something different and the majority saying leave it as us; Unused Courts - players not showing up and not canceling their court reservation; Invalid Court Reservations - people still having trouble entering the first initial and last name of two players; October 12 - date of proposed outdoor tournament for juniors; and much more.  Click here to read the full report.

 

 

Over fifty players came out for the first Groovy Tuesday to celebrate National Pickleball Month.  Thirty-five players took over three courts for a free clinic by Mo from 5-6pm.  This was followed by free pizza, brownies and drinks - followed by more pickleball!  The donation box for Golden Harvest was also overflowing.  Thanks to everyone for making the evening a success.  

 
 
 
Check out our Facebook page for additional photos.

 

Aiken Pickleball Inc is hosting a  New Player Clinic indoors at the Gregg Park Civic Center on Saturday,  April 20TH. .  Cost is $10. Sign up and register at the Gregg Park front desk.   Schedule as follows:

830 - 9am - Check-in at front desk

9 - 10am  - New Players Clinic Instruction

10 - 11am -  Practice Play

In this sixty minute clinic you will learn everything you need to get started playing the sport of pickleball.  Please wear tennis shoes and bring something to drink.  Balls and paddles provided. Class limited to eight. Need minimum of three.  Sign up at the Gregg Park front desk.  Cost is $10 per person payable at the Gregg Park front desk.  Non-members are welcome to attend but must also pay a  $10 daily admittance fee.

 

 

 

A lot of fun today and some great pickleball at Gregg Park.  Special thanks to all that helped make this a success.  Check out our Facebook page and below for photos.  The medal winners were -

Mixed Doubles 4.0

Gold  (Center)

Cheryl Breidenbach & Harve Mobley 

Silver (on right)

Amy Buck & Jeff Simizon

Bronze (on left)

Lisa Barrett-Johnson & Doug Weiss

Mixed Doubles 3.5 under 50

Gold (center)

Sarah Porter & Justin Jones 

Silver (on left)

Julie Felder & Jamie Felder 

Bronze (on right)

Mary Ellen Olson & Abel Dela Cruz

Mixed Doubles 3.5 - 50 And Above 

Gold  (center)

Christy Pritchard & Lee Fox 

Silver  (on left)

Miriam James & Dwight Jones 

Bronze  (on right)

Heidi Abele & Rob Harrington

Women’s Doubles 3.0 - 50 And Above

Gold  (center)

Julie Felder & Rene Kein 

Silver

Shana Sutphin & Nancy Woolwine 

Bronze

Marie Klofenstine & Marcy Badertscher

Women’s Doubles Scramble  2.5  Age: (Any)

Gold

Sara Gates (center)

Silver 

Ally Hough  (on left)

Bronze

Rochelle Bergren  (on right)

 

 

We had a player hit in the eye today.  Ricochet off their partner's paddle and hit them directly in the eye.  Fortunately the player was wearing safety glasses.  You can buy them online for less than $20.   Highly recommended.  You can even get prescription safety glasses online or from your local  Optometrist.

 

 

Lexington SC is scheduled to open their new 24 Hour Pickleball facility  this coming Friday, March 1st. Facility will have 8 indoor courts and as the name suggests, will be open 24/7.  Cost -

$100 initiation fee 

Choice of two memberships 

Gold - $90 every four weeks.  

Silver - $60 every four weeks.

 Gold membership includes 

  • Unlimited open play participation

  • 6 hours of court reservations per day

  • Reserve up to 14 days in advance

  • 24/7 access to facility*

Silver membership includes 

  • Unlimited court reservations

  • Unlimited open play participation

  • 2 hours of court reservations per day

  • Reserve up to 5 days in advance

  • 24/7 access to facility*

Future locations planned for Greenville, Charleston, Charlotte, Asheville and Augusta. Franchise options possible for Aiken.  Go to  24hourpickleball.com for full details and investment opportunities 

 

Drills with "Little Mo'' will be every  Saturday until the end of May.  The drills will be held in the morning on Court 4  at Odell Weeks from 915-1030am.   As in the past, each week will have a different theme.     Schedule as follows:

Sat Mar 23 - Return of Serve, down the line.

Sat Mar 30 - Dinks with a purpose; hitting your target spots 

Sat Apr 6 - Half Volley soft drop; Half Volley drives.

Sat Apr 13 - Overhead smash; Volley snap at the kitchen.

Sat Apr 20 - 3rd Shot drop - Canceled - Moved to Saturday, June 1st

Sat Apr 27 - Drive topspin Volley (Starting time moved to 11am)

Sat May 4  - King/Queen of the court, (Doubles)

Sat May 11 - Drop, Chip, Drive.

Sat May 18 - Lobs

Sat May 25 - Specialty shots (Various Big Mo Shot choices).

Sat June 1st - 3rd shot drop (moved from April 20th)

Skill Levels do not matter in Drills with Little Mo.   Players rotate hitting balls fed by a ball machine.  Doesn't make any difference if you are a beginner or an advanced player. Each player hits approximately five-eight balls in a row and then rotates.  "Big Mo" will be there to show everyone the proper technique.

Cost is $15 per person per sixty minute session.  Each session is  limited to a maximum of six players (minimum of three).    Register and pay at the Odell front desks and present the receipt  to the instructor.

For those of you that don't know, "Little Mo" is a ball machine.  "Big Mo" is Mo Garcia our head teaching professional.  

 

 

There was some great pickleball played yesterday afternoon on the fourteen outdoor courts at Virginia Acres Park.  Over fifty girls and boys participated in the Augusta-Aiken Middle School League Pickleball Championship representing their individual schools.  These kids are good!   Pickleball has officially joined basketball, soccer, football, baseball and golf league competition for the fourteen schools that are members of AAMSL.    See photos.

Gold Medal Match 
For 3rd place - Main draw
Consolation 2nd place
 
\
Consolation 1st place
 
 
All fourteen courts in play!

 

We are pleased to announce that Chuck Buchanan has been selected as the USAP Ambassador for Aiken County, SC.  He will be working with Mo Garcia, the District Ambassador, to secure new pickleball venues throughout our area.

 

USA Pickleball is excited to unveil the 2024 schedule and a new format for Golden Ticket tournaments, the only guaranteed path for amateur players to play in the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships.  Eleven tournaments will serve as the path to Nationals for amateurs in 2024.   Click here for more information.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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