Regional
matters
continued
THE ‘OTHER’ PENTAGON PLAYS
HOST FOR PICKLEBALL IN
SIOUX FALLS
T
he name Pentagon
conjures up images of
the unique five-sided
iconic building in
Washington, D.C., that houses the
country’s prestigious Department
of Defense. A few time zones to the
west is another Pentagon—this one a
sports haven in South Dakota.
Pickleball enthusiasts in the
area are forced indoors when cold
weather restricts outdoor play and
the Pentagon, which is part of the
Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux
Falls, is the perfect venue for the
sport that is growing in popularity.
As president of the Sioux Falls Area
Pickleball Club, Larry Plucker, a
USAPA member, knows all too well
the importance of providing year-
round play for its members. “The
motto of the club is ‘Fun, fitness and
friendship.’ Everyone is here for one
or all of those reasons, and to have
the opportunity to hit the courts for
a full 12 months is fantastic,” he says.
For outdoor play, SFAP members,
which currently number 326, play at
a public facility, Riverdale Park.
The Pentagon features six
pickleball courts and has room to
expand, a characteristic not lost
on SFAP members. “Our group was
formed in 2011 and in 2016 we had
160 members. In October of 2018 we
were at 189 members. So, based on
the creative and tireless efforts of
a lot of volunteers, we have grown
tremendously over the last few
years. Some of our youngest players
are in middle school and our oldest
player is 83 years old,” adds Plucker.
In 2007, the Sioux Valley Health
System was renamed Sanford
A PICKLEBALL JAMBOREE
P
By Kathy Getto
ickle Jam! is a jamboree
held in Boise, Idaho.
The first one was in May
2019 and featured 86
players on 12 pickleball courts.
This year’s Pickle Jam! sold out in
two weeks, which would be 130
players on 12 pickleball courts at
a fantastic indoor tennis facility.
To accommodate the increased
54
demand for
the April event,
however, organizers
doubled the capacity,
opening it up to 250 players on 24
pickleball courts.
A successful jamboree
incorporates not only open-play
sessions, but round robins and
crazy competitions within skill
levels. Social events like dinners
and excursions create a sense
TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM
Health after Denny Sanford’s $400
million gift to the organization. The
Pentagon, a 160,000-square-foot,
five-sided facility is an integral part
of the Sanford Sports Complex and
is primarily a basketball facility that
is also used for volleyball.
It’s the home of the Sioux Falls
Skyforce, the NBA G League affiliate
of the Miami Heat. A throwback
hardwood layout within the
Pentagon, known as the Heritage
Court, was inspired by gyms of
the 1950s.
The venue combines state-
of-the-art amenities, including
high-definition video boards and
executive suites, with period-
specific finishes that are a nod to the
nostalgic days of basketball. •
of community for all participants.
Players can discuss with others how
their community handled common
pickleball challenges.
It’s important that jamborees
don’t sign up too many people
for the courts they have available
because players get frustrated
waiting. There’s a fine line between
getting time to catch your breath
and waiting too long and getting too
stiff to play.
For more information about
Pickle Jam! Boise, go to
pickle-jam.com. •