Give Al Buenning a Round of Applause
Al Buenning, left, and Sarah German present EPC paddles to EHS PE teacher, Beau Brake, center.
Today, Al steps down as president of Evergreen Pickleball Club. He is the only president the club has ever had. So that tells you a lot about his accomplishments over the last six years.
Al was one of the original players to pick up the sport under Ted Pritchett in 2011. Pickleball failed to gain traction initially and it grew slowly over the next five years. Then “the Group of 5” - Al, Tom Karas , Sarah German and Kathy Fasold - organized and launched EPC with Al as its president. The Evergreen Pickleball Club is to be the voice of the pickleball community and advocate for the game and its facilities.
And advocate he did. He’s why Wulf went from two courts two days a week, to four courts every day. How Marshdale went from two tennis courts to four dedicated pickleball courts and four lined courts on the remaining tennis court. He’s why a slab of cement behind Evergreen Middle School now holds three pickleball courts for summer play. Behind the scenes he has actively sought to bring year round pickleball facilities to Conifer and North Evergreen.
Al’s leadership spurred two pickleball players - Monty Estis and Don Rosenthal to seek - and win - election to EPRD board of directors. The club has sponsored many member tournaments each of the last three summers, quarterly social events (when allowed), and supported pickleball at Evergreen High School with the donation of 35 new paddles by members and a USA Pickleball grant for three new nets.
Today, more than 325 pickleball players subscribe to the EPC newsletter, and we close out the year with nearly 200 paid members.
Ted Pritchett may be the “father of Evergreen pickleball,” but Al Buenning will forever be its first president. Read the history of EPC and the people who’ve worked with Al to make pickleball the fun, thriving sport it is in our mountain community.
USA Pickleball 2022 Official Rulebook is, Well, Official
Nothing like waiting to the last minute to release the new, revised rules for 2022 - which take effect Jan. 1. Good idea to familiarize yourself. As we say, knowing and playing by the rules are what good players do.
Here’s a quick rundown of the changes that most affect our play.
Section 4 – The Serve, Service Sequence and Scoring
Rules 3. Rule 4.A.5: New Rule: The Volley Serve (the type of serve we all did before The Drop Serve.) The server shall use only one hand to release the ball to perform the serve. If the ball is visibly spun by the server during the release, the part(s) of the hand contacting the ball must be bare. The server’s release of the ball must be visible to the receiver.
4. Rule 4.A.6.a: New/Revised Rule: The Drop Serve. There is no restriction how many times the ball can bounce nor where the ball can bounce on the playing surface. The server’s release of the ball must be visible to the receiver.
6. Rule 4.K: New Rule: Wrong Score Called. If the server calls the wrong score, once the serve is made, play shall continue to the end of the rally and the correction made before the next serve. After the serve is made, a player who stops play based solely on an incorrect score call, will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.
Section 7 – Fault Rules
10. Rule 7.N: New Rule: Players may carry additional pickleball(s) as long as the ball(s) are not visible to their opponent during play. If an additional ball that a player was carrying falls on the playing surface during play, a fault shall be declared.
To summarize:
1. When being served, the ball must be visible to the receiver - don’t try to hide it.
2. On a drop serve, the ball can bounce as many times as server wants and can bounce anywhere on the court.
3. If the wrong score is called you must either call it before it’s served or after the point is made. To stop play to correct the score is a fault. (That’s going to be a hard habit to break.)
4. If you carry an extra ball put it in your pocket or under your clothes. If you drop it, that’s a fault.
Of course, there are many more rules changes that have to do with referees and tournament directors, but generally speaking, we’re not in those situations.
Let’s help each other adapt to these new rules over the next few weeks. And don’t let the changes take the fun out of playing.
Wulf Returns to Previous Schedule Starting Wednesday, Jan. 5
Kids are still out of school so only two courts open Monday and Tuesday before 10 am. But on Wednesday we return to the previous schedule with all four courts playable. Check the schedule.
New Beginner, Next Steps and Skills & Drills Classes Return to Wulf Starting Jan. 8
Sarah German’s wildly popular EPRD classes are taking registrations for Saturday morning classes through January. Don’t wait. They fill up fast.
Pickleball Food Pub Coming to Westminster in January 2022
Westword reports that the 25,500-square-foot Pickleball Food Pub will be coming to Westminster, and while its eight indoor courts will be the main attraction, the facility will also include a full bar, ping-pong tables, a party room for private events, and indoor and outdoor seating.
Oddly, while "food" is in the name, there is no kitchen on site; instead, Marco's Pizza and Baskin Robbins in the Mission Commons Shopping Center will take call-in and website orders for delivery. There will also be some prepared food available — a requirement for Pickleball Food Pub's liquor license.
As the facility is in an empty Sears store, there should be plenty of room for the pickleball courts - next to the appliance department.
Don’t Forget to Renew Your 2022 EPC Membership
January 1 starts the new year for EPC and its membership registration. If you renewed or started your membership Oct-Dec of 2021 you’re good for all of 2022. If you haven’t yet, renew your membership here.