and compete against other players in their age division
and experienced tournament directors, this tour will
and skill level.”
deliver what players want in a tournament experience.
An early recommendation by the advisory committee
There will be continued growth and worldwide interest
was to expand the number of tournaments on the 2020
in the sport and this series.”
APP Tour schedule, growing it coast to coast.
Most recently, the APP Tour partnered with Karl Hale’s
“The APP Tour is a necessary step in the evolution
Professional Canadian Series. As part of that partnership
of the world’s greatest sport. It legitimizes pickleball’s
in 2020, the Hilton Head Open will be included on
professional appeal to
the Canadian Series,
the public and future
counting toward its year-
sponsors,” says Steve
end results, while the
Dawson, owner of The
Peterborough Cup, held
Bobby Riggs Racket &
outside of Toronto in late
Paddle Club, which hosts
August, will count as the
the SoCal Classic. “We’re
13th stop on the APP Tour.
happy to partner with the
Herrmann is grateful
APP Tour to establish our
for the support the APP
club and the SoCal Classic
Tour has received from
as part of the original
so many established
pickleball tour, with
tournaments. And while
hopes to be a key partner
he’s excited about the
for years to come.”
interest from other
Partnerships are the
tournament directors
foundation for great
to become part of the
tournaments, which
APP Tour in 2021, UPM’s
is why the decision to
biggest priority right
partner with the APP
now is making 2020 a
APP Tour founder and CEO Ken Herrmann (right) with Steve Dawson, doing
work for this year’s upcoming So Cal Classic, which will be held at the Bobby
Tour was easy, according
successful launch year.
Riggs Racket & Paddle Club.
to Kristy Wolford,
That includes bringing
Co-Director of The
quality match play into
Tournament of Champions (TOC), played in Bingham
more and more homes.
City, Utah. TOC is a USAPA national qualifier tournament
“Elevating the sport also means making sure its great
with a rich history and highly experienced tournament
players get the exposure they deserve,” says Herrmann,
directors in Wolford and Kyle Klein. And 2020 will be a
explaining that every APP Tour event will have full
big year for TOC, with prize payouts growing to $75,000,
live streaming of matches and an on-site studio APP
up from $57,000 in 2019.
Tour Show hosted by No Smoke Productions’ Lauren
Other well-established tournaments partnering with
McLaughlin and Kyle Selinko, and a media team
the APP Tour for 2020 include The Atlanta Open and The
reporting on the day’s action. “It’s going to be an amazing
Las Vegas Open.
year for pickleball!”
“The APP is the most organized, well-conceived
To register for events on the APP Tour, go to
pro pickleball tour to date,” says Klein. “With
pickleballtournaments.com. •
the combination of Ken’s strong vision, solid locations
Find an event that fits your level
• Pro, Senior-Pro
• Amateur Age/Skill Divisions (ages 19, 35, 50, 60 plus; levels 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0)
Who is the APP Advisory Committee?
The APP Advisory Committee serves UPM as a voice for both pros and amateurs to help enhance players’ experience
at all APP Tour stops. Chaired by Steve Kennedy, the committee members include Dominic Catalano, Chad Cromwel,
Rob Davidson, Byron Freso, Grant Garcia, Kyle Klein, Stephanie Lane, Melissa McCurley, Altaf Merchant, Scott Moore,
Zane Nauratic, Karen Parrish, Irena Tereschenko, Leigh Waters, Rick Witsken and Kristy Wolford.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 |
MAGAZINE
43