Grab your spot in the Round Robin
Registrations for the EPC Round Robin at Mount Vernon Canyon Club on Saturday, June 8, will be accepted until the field is full at 48 players, or at noon on Wednesday, June 5, whichever comes first. As of this afternoon, 34 players have signed up.
After registration closes, the seeding committee will do its job—placing players in groups of eight by skill level. A meeting for tournament volunteers will take place Thursday, June 6. Of the all-important volunteers, tournament director Mick Pearce said, “We could still use a few more scorekeepers,” Mick said. Email him if you can help with this crucial job.
Only EPC members may register for the Round Robin. Click here to register and here to renew or start your EPC membership. Tournament cost is $25, membership is $20 per year.
Warmups will start at MVCC at 7:30 a.m. the day of the tournament, with play to begin promptly at 8 a.m. Food will be handled by Kathy Kincannon, with help from Lindy Groscurth and Pat Theno, so you know it will be exceptional.
Jim Mosby will be manning the merch tent, and may model something for you if asked nicely.
Heads up! New Wulf schedule posted
EPRD has posted the Wulf Gym schedule effective now through Aug. 11, with exceptions to regular drop-in pickleball times noted in red and footnoted. When in doubt, you’ll find the Wulf front desk personnel are helpful and well informed about the day’s activities. Call 720-880-1200.
Pickleball classes this summer will take place Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9 a.m., Fridays from 7 to 9 a.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m. with the exception of June 29. Ladder will occupy the gym on Fridays from 9 to 10:45 a.m.
Drop-in pickleball will be available in the gym Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Local Marshdale alternatives aren’t quite ready
No admittance, yet. EPRD ran into a paint problem at Evergreen Middle School.
Here’s the latest scoop on courts from EPC President Bob Kerr: “Marshdale renovation is indeed going to begin on Friday the 31st. Courts will be closed in the afternoon.”
Two local alternatives are in the pipeline, but not quite ready for play yet.
EPRD ran into a snag while preparing the Evergreen Middle School courts last week. “Apparently the paint used last year is not very compatible with the sanded court paint being used this year,” Bob said. “An inordinate amount of prep work has been required to get the court (only one that's painted) repainted.”
Approximately 15 hours was invested in prep and paint time as well as almost four times the paint, hence the reason all the courts are not ready for play, he added. The goal is to have them completed by the end of next week. Until then, there will be no access.
At Marshdale Elementary, the painting crew was getting started on lining three pickleball courts today. “They have a lot of ground to cover,” Bob said. “The entire playground to the parking lot is getting paint.” He suspects a week will be required to finish paint and then the courts will be striped. “Good chance we will need about five volunteers to assist at both locations starting next week to help paint and stripe,” he said. Let Bob know if you’re available.
“We will keep the club apprised of the progress being made at each location via newsletter and TeamReach,” Bob added.
Where can I play right now?
Pickleball must go on, even if it’s down the hill. Clement Park in Littleton, with 10 pickleball courts, is popular with many Evergreen players, as is Prospect Park in Wheat Ridge. Carmody Park in Lakewood has six outdoor courts.
Also, see Wulf schedule above, buy a net and line your driveway, or become pickleball pals with people who already have their own courts at home. You probably already thought of that.
Carmody Park in Lakewood has six dedicated pickleball courts, with windscreens and lights.
Little paddle packs a punch
We all know it when the ball contacts the paddle in the sweet spot, and we’d all like to feel it more often. For EPC-er Alan Cusey, the answer is the Franklin Sweet Spot, a paddle with a 5.1-inch wide face that means you’re contacting the ball in the right spot, or not at all.
“I used a friend's (top level player) and was pleased, so got my own,” Alan said. “One of my weaknesses is looking at the ball as I strike it, so this paddle gives me immediate (and undesirable!) feedback if I don't.
“This week was the first time I used it in game play and I was surprised how well it played. I do think I am more focused since using it.” Ultimately, it comes down the user, he added: Any paddle will do if you will do.
Alan Cusey presumably gets good feedback from his training pal at Marshdale.