REGIONAL matters
UNCANNY REUNION ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT !
In my PPR certification workshop several weeks ago in Dunwoody , Georgia , there were two men , Ashley from Tulsa , Oklahoma , and Shahid from Bloomfield Hill , Michigan . As we were making our way around the circle during introductions , Shahid shared with the group an incredible coincidence — only in pickleball !
Shahid and Ashley had known each other , but had not seen each other in 21 years . The last time was when Ashley was 12 and Shahid 20 , and they
Shahid and Ashley reunite after 21 years ! both lived in Ipswich Town , England . Shahid , a world-champion squash player , was Ashley ’ s squash coach . Ashley was a high-level squash and tennis player and came to the United States in 2006 to attend Tulsa University and play on the tennis team . In 2007 , Shahid left England and has been living in Michigan since 2015 .
Shahid recognized Ashley immediately and we witnessed their remarkable reunion . Ashley is currently a tennis pro and Shahid a squash pro , and both have been called to teach pickleball ! I was so grateful to be the clinician for this particular workshop . Pickleball and the people of pickleball are such an inspiration ! This is just another of the many reasons we love this sport ! •
— Taylor Taylor
THE PICKLE IN VALLEY COUNTY
Within McCall , Donnelly , and the surrounding areas of Idaho , pickleball first began to grow in popularity around 2004 . Hope Ayres first began playing with her community in 2008 . At the time , there were no dedicated pickleball courts , so players would have to put down tape over a tennis court to mark the boundaries of play , and then remove it after they finished playing .
Within the next few years , this community realized it would be beneficial to establish a pickleball club to support local players , run tournaments , and establish dedicated courts . “ Just a handful of players were enjoying the fast-growing game of pickleball ,” the club writes in a statement about the history . “ By July 2011 , there were enough local players to justify becoming an official nonprofit club .”
As the club grew , it filed for 501 ( c )( 3 ) status and became a nonprofit in 2014 . At this point , the club operated out of Donnelly and had established its first painted pickleball court . The club ’ s mission is to provide a fun , healthy , recreational activity for locals and visitors by growing the sport of pickleball in Valley County .
By 2019 , the group had paid for the painting of four courts in the space of one of the two tennis courts in Donnelly . The club had grown beyond 80 members , hosting free community lessons , small tournaments , and social events . “ It was working wonderfully ,” says Ayres . “ We had 16 to 25 players playing every day .” Now , with about 100 paid members and fellow clubs popping up all around the county , she and her pickleball pals decided it was time to find a place to establish a facility to call their own . They intend to break ground in 2022 .
There will soon be an eight-court pickleball complex , complete with restrooms and parking , on property dedicated by the county and maintained by the pickleball community . Developing the courts complex is estimated to cost about $ 400,000 , which would be paid by the club through donations and grants , Ayres says , adding , “ Hopefully we ’ ll get a lot of the groundwork done this year , as far as funding . Once we get the funding , we can begin pouring concrete in 2022 .”